List of articles (by subject)
-
Open Access Article
1 - Identifying economic and cultural criteria affecting aesthetic values using Delphi approach and public questionnaire in Gorgan city
Somayeh Amirian Marjan Mohammadzadeh Hamed Mirkarimi Sepideh SaeidiLandscape aesthetic value is one of the ecosystem services, which has many social and economic benefits for the society and the residents. Therefore, identifying the economic and cultural criteria affecting aesthetic values by considering the experts and stakeholders pe MoreLandscape aesthetic value is one of the ecosystem services, which has many social and economic benefits for the society and the residents. Therefore, identifying the economic and cultural criteria affecting aesthetic values by considering the experts and stakeholders perspective in order to assess and evaluate the aesthetic value is very important. The purpose of this research is to identify economic and cultural criteria affecting aesthetic values regarding the experts’ perspective and to examine the role of these criteria by considering the residents view of five districts of Gorgan city. The Delphi method was used to identify these criteria and using a public questionnaire, the role of these criteria on increasing the aesthetic quality of the study area was investigated. According to the results of the Delphi method, nine factors, including the cultural and historical heritage in the region, the number of visitors of natural areas, the existence of man-made tourism areas, the level of people's attitude and knowledge towards environmental protection, infrastructure and welfare services, environmental quality, urban design, safety and security were recognized as the most important economic and cultural criteria affecting the aesthetic values of Gorgan city. The results of surveying of the selected economic and cultural criteria in the public questionnaire showed that, the desirability of the studied districts is decreasing from South Estrabad, Roshan Abad, Qoroq, North Estrabad to Angirab according to public attitudes. The results of this research showed that considering the stakeholders perspective along with the expert’s opinion to determine the economic and cultural criteria can encourage residents and managers to better protection of the aesthetic values of the region. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
2 - Analysis of spatial heterogeneity and driving factors of land surface temperature using spatial regression models
Zahra Parvar Marjan Mohammadzadeh Sepideh SaeidiLand surface temperature is a significant factor affecting thermal variation and balance in global studies. In the last two decades, the great necessity for LST data in environmental studies and land resource management activities has made the measurement of LST as a ma MoreLand surface temperature is a significant factor affecting thermal variation and balance in global studies. In the last two decades, the great necessity for LST data in environmental studies and land resource management activities has made the measurement of LST as a major scientific debate. Discovering the spatial heterogeneity of land surface temperature and analyzing the key factors and specific effective spatial relationships that are affected by time series have great importance in land management. The aim of this study is to analysis of land surface temperature driving factors and spatial heterogeneity using spatial regression models. To review this issue, daily LST maps were prepared by the radiative transfer equation method using Landsat 7 and 8 data for 2002, 2013, and 2021 years in Bojnord city. The analysis of land surface temperature in areas where barren lands prevail requires nighttime temperature data. Therefore, MODIS night LSTs were also prepared as auxiliary maps. Pearson correlation, spatial autocorrelation, ordinary least square, and geographically weighted regression models were used for data analysis. Then, the performance of the models was compared using the coefficient of determination and the Akaike information criterion. The results showed that the GWR approach had a better prediction accuracy and a better ability to describe spatial non-stationarity than the OLS approach. The spatial response of LST and different influencing variables from 2002 to 2021 showed that the development of green space plays an important role in modulating land surface temperatures. Since LST is influenced by various variables, including topography, climatic and atmospheric variables, and vegetation, therefore, understanding spatial relationships and analyzing the areas with high LST can be useful as a way forward in the planning strategies. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
3 - Detecting of spatio-temporal relationship between drought and fire events in the fields of natural resources in Lorestan province
Rezvan Safdary Seyed Masoud Monavari Sasan Babaie Kafaky Hadi KiadaliriImproving decisions in fire management requires a complete understanding of the spatio-temporal relationships between droughts and fires. To achieve this, the natural areas of Lorestan province were selected as the research site. The fire data from MODIS satellite produ MoreImproving decisions in fire management requires a complete understanding of the spatio-temporal relationships between droughts and fires. To achieve this, the natural areas of Lorestan province were selected as the research site. The fire data from MODIS satellite products and monthly rainfall data of the province were extracted to estimate SPI drought index for the statistical period of 2000 to 2022. The spatial and temporal relationship between the frequency of fire occurrences and the spatial and temporal distribution of droughts in terms of annual and monthly scales was investigated with the Pearson correlation model in the province. The results showed that the trend of fires in the region is increasing. The months of June and July have experienced the highest frequency of fires in the natural areas of the province. Poldokhtar city has had the most frequent fires in natural areas. The whole region has tended to be dry, but the eastern parts mostly included classes with higher degrees of drought. The results of the correlation matrix showed that only the drought events in spring to summer had a significant but moderate negative correlation with the fire events in spring and summer. Despite the obtained results, this study emphasizes that the connection between fires with drought needs more studies and it is not possible to prove the real relationship between the two phenomena with just one calculation index. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
4 - The potential of compost-based organic nano-adsorbent (Compost/Fe3O4NPs) for contaminated soil remediation
laleh Ghafghazi Lobat Taghavi Behnam Rasekh Hadi Farahani Amir hesam HassaniOne of the most important emerging pollutants in human health, food safety, and environmental protection challenges is phthalate esters. Among these, the contamination of agricultural soils with the endocrine-disrupting chemical Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has be MoreOne of the most important emerging pollutants in human health, food safety, and environmental protection challenges is phthalate esters. Among these, the contamination of agricultural soils with the endocrine-disrupting chemical Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been confirmed globally. In this research, the DEHP-absorption potential of compost enriched with Fe3O4 NPs was identified. The effects of the sorbent dose in the range of 2–5 g.L-1, 3–11 pH, and DEHP concentration at 5–10 mg.L-1 on absorption efficiency (%) were optimized via response surface methodology in design expert software. The kinetic equilibrium experiment results showed a two-step process, requiring 6 hours of equilibrium time for the exothermic adsorption process at 25ºC. The adsorption process of DEHP fitted best to the pseudo-second-order kinetic (R2 = 0.9932) and the linear form of the Freundlich isotherm models. In the central composite design, the significant quadratic model was validated and used to predict the interaction of variables (P-value <0.0001, adjusted R2 = 0.9753). The optimum conditions of absorption efficiency (74.173%) were obtained at a sorbent dosage of 4.157 g.L-1, pH 5.85, and a DEHP concentration of 4.88 mg.L-1 with a desirability of 0.987. The comparison of FTIR absorption spectra confirmed the active participation of O-H bands (functional groups of phenol, alcohol, and carboxyl) and primary amine (N-H) in the DEHP absorption through interaction with the oxygen atom of the phthalate ester group (C=O). As a result of its successful and acceptable efficiency, using compost/Fe3O4 NP absorbent based on organic wastes is a low-cost and eco-friendly technique for DEHP removal from sensitive ecosystems and also to improve the efficiency of bioremediation in agricultural soils amended by compost. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
5 - Identification and comparison of citizens' climate perception in different temperature strata of Isfahan city
Mohsen Veisi Mozhgan Ahmadi NadoushanAbstract: Identification of citizens' climate perception is one of the key elements in formulating policies related to mitigating the heat island effect. This study also examines some influential aspects of climate perception and its relationship with individual ch MoreAbstract: Identification of citizens' climate perception is one of the key elements in formulating policies related to mitigating the heat island effect. This study also examines some influential aspects of climate perception and its relationship with individual characteristics in the city of Isfahan. For this purpose, the central core of Isfahan City was divided into four temperature zones ranging from 27 to 43 degrees Celsius. A random sample of 100 individuals was selected from each temperature zone, and their personal information, along with their perception of temperature increase, disruption in life, location-dependent temperature differences, and voluntary willingness to change behavior, were collected. The results showed that as the temperature increased in each temperature zone, citizens' views on the increased difficulty of life and efforts to adapt to higher temperatures were more pronounced. They indicated that the air temperature inside Isfahan City is relatively higher than in the surrounding rural areas. Regarding the perception of the urban heat island, a significant correlation was found between the intensity of the heat island and age, and educational level. The temperature increase elicited similar responses among all interviewees in all parts of the city, and the existence of an urban heat island has led to various disturbances (in terms of intensity) in the lives of different individuals residing in different temperature zones. Overall, attention can be focused on individuals in younger age groups and those with higher education as target groups for improving their climatic conditions and maximizing citizen participation as a benchmark. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
6 - Application of nanozeolite technology in the removal of sulfate from the Gamasyab River
Amin Rezaei Hossein Babazadeh Amir Khosrojerdi Mahdi Sarai TabriziHuman activities, the presence of salts in riverbeds and runoff, as well as pollutants carried by the air lead to the contamination of rivers as one of the main sources of water supply. In this study, the Gamasayab River was selected and sampling was conducted at 16 des MoreHuman activities, the presence of salts in riverbeds and runoff, as well as pollutants carried by the air lead to the contamination of rivers as one of the main sources of water supply. In this study, the Gamasayab River was selected and sampling was conducted at 16 designated points for three-time intervals in the most polluted location with the highest pollutant levels compared to other stations after spectrophotometric testing of the samples, in different seasons of the year. The collected samples were transported to the laboratory for measurement and determination of the target pollutant levels. Then, they were simulated using natural and modified zeolite nanoparticles for the purpose of purification. In the following, using the Design Expert model and assuming two factors, pH and absorbent-to-pollutant ratio, the optimal absorption points were determined, and the theoretical absorption values were also obtained. The research results showed that the absorption efficiency for the modified sample with 0.2 M nitric acid and sulfuric acid was estimated at 77%. From the investigation of the interaction between sulfate and three other pollutants including phosphate, nitrate, and iron, which was investigated by simulating the solution and in order to neutralize the effect of other dissolved substances, it was found that phosphate and nitrate ions led to a decrease in sulfate ion absorption by the absorbent, while iron ions increased the absorption of sulfate by the absorbent. The simulation results of the proposed model also indicated that the optimal absorption point for the absorbent was at a pH of 9.6 and a D/C value of 17.01, resulting in an absorption of the pollutant by 5.86%. Finally, the Freundlich isotherm was chosen for this absorbent with a coefficient of determination of 0.92 as the superior isotherm compared to the Langmuir isotherm with a coefficient of determination of 0.79. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
7 - Synthesis of activated carbon cellulose lignin residue in order to reduce nitrate from aqueous solutions, case study of drinking water in Mlard city
Maryam Khandani Lobat Taghavi Fariba Zamani HargalaniNitrate pollution is a pervasive and international challenge worldwide and trigger various environmental issues and negative effects on the earth. Therefore, studies and researches in the field of nitrate reduction from drinking water are crucial. The present study synt MoreNitrate pollution is a pervasive and international challenge worldwide and trigger various environmental issues and negative effects on the earth. Therefore, studies and researches in the field of nitrate reduction from drinking water are crucial. The present study synthesized activated carbon from plum kernel and then the effect of activated carbon produced in reducing the concentration of nitrate in the water of wells supplying drinking water in Mallard region. In this study, a sample of activated carbon adsorbent was synthesized by pyrolysis furnace method. The structure of synthesized activated carbon was confirmed using XRD, FTIR and BET analyzes. The results showed that at 25 °C, 120 min, pH=5 and with the activated carbon 80 mg L-1, nitrate concentration can be reduced 45%. Studies in Friendlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models also showed that the nitrate adsorption process completely followed the Langmuir adsorption equation and the value of R2 was 85 percent. The findings of the present study showed that activated carbon synthesized from plum kernel lingocellulosic residue is an acceptable option for reducing nitrate from aqueous solutions. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
8 - Introducing a novel zoning model in protected areas based on habitat connectivity analysis in habitat patches of Ovis orientalis in Varjin protected area
Nasim Kheirkhah Ghehi Seyed Ali JoziThis article presents a novel zoning model for protected areas, emphasizing habitat connectivity analysis, in Varjin protected area, province of Tehran. Protected areas are an approach to biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services in ecologically MoreThis article presents a novel zoning model for protected areas, emphasizing habitat connectivity analysis, in Varjin protected area, province of Tehran. Protected areas are an approach to biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services in ecologically valuable areas. Habitat connectivity analysis is becoming more important by increasing the intensity of human pressures and the emergence of resilience-based management plans. As a result, the location of each patch in the whole landscape plays a vital role in conservation. Considering this perspective, the zoning pattern of Varjin protected areas is discussed in this article based on habitat patches of wild sheep (Ovis orientalis). The selected connectivity indices are IF (patch scale) and IIC (landscape scale), modeled based on graph theory in the Graphab software and calculated on the Euclidean distance. After overlaying the obtained results, the patches on the east side of the region (patches 1 and 4) in both scales (local and landscape) have the highest index values. The results show 0.75 and 0.56 for the IIC index and 3.17E+15 and 3.84E+12 for the IF index. It is determined that patches located on the east side of the area (patches 1 and 4) at both scales show the highest index levels and should be prioritized in conservation plans. Finally, new areas for conservation have been introduced by overlaying the maps of habitat connectivity and conservation zoning of Varjin Protected Area. This article introduces the connectivity analysis for biodiversity conservation as a new step in developing a protected area zoning pattern. The model can be used for other areas as well. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
9 - Groundwater quality assessment of Dehroud and Tang Eram regions of Dashtestan using Water Quality Index (WQI)
Mahdieh Eidi Fazel AmiriGroundwater quality assessment can be very important in managing these resources and planning for the future. This research aims to monitor the groundwater quality of the Dehroud-Tange Eram plain in Bushehr province in southern Iran using the water quality index (WQI). MoreGroundwater quality assessment can be very important in managing these resources and planning for the future. This research aims to monitor the groundwater quality of the Dehroud-Tange Eram plain in Bushehr province in southern Iran using the water quality index (WQI). Therefore, 10 groundwater sources in the plain have been selected and their water quality has been measured from the years 2013 to 2020 in two seasons, dry and wet. The water quality index has been calculated using pH, TDS, total hardness, nitrate, sulfate, bicarbonate, chloride, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. The results of the study showed that the best water quality index with an average of 142 belongs to well number 5 (close to Tange Eram village) and the worst water quality index with an average of 789 belongs to well number 10 (near Dehroud village). A comparison of zoning maps drawn using the Kriging method shows that wells near Tange Eram have better quality. As we move towards the village of Dehroud in the southeast of the aquifer, the quality of groundwater has decreased. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
10 - Investigation of water resources threats in GIS with passive defense approach
مرضیه عبدالهی Zahra AziziWater shortage is one of the most important and fundamental crises in the country, which in addition to environmental problems, has also occurred in the social and security fields. Investigating the water crisis in different areas is necessary to predict the defensive m MoreWater shortage is one of the most important and fundamental crises in the country, which in addition to environmental problems, has also occurred in the social and security fields. Investigating the water crisis in different areas is necessary to predict the defensive measures needed in management and to prevent social consequences. The present study was conducted using GIS and participatory analysis of factors affecting the creation and intensification of water crisis in Boenzahra city. For this purpose, first information layers including drought, soil categories, rate of evapotranspiration, average annual rainfall, surface geological outcrops, distance from permanent rivers, discharge rate or discharge of deep wells The user was prepared and standardized using a triangular fuzzy function, and the final layer of water crisis areas was generated using a linear weighted integration function. The results showed that the three main components of water discharge through deep wells, evapotranspiration and population density in the city are the most important factors involved in creating and exacerbating the water shortage crisis. Also, three water crisis floors were identified in the city, the middle risk class including the northern parts of Boenzahra city (area of 1016 square kilometers and about 34% of the total area of the city), the second floor or critical areas of water resources Which covers most of the eastern and central areas of Boenzahra city (39% of the city area, which is equal to 1155 square kilometers) and the third floor or areas in crisis (its area is about 830 square kilometers and 27% of the city area). Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
11 - Development of a strategic tourism management plan for Hormoz Island
Aida Forouzesh Khobdeh Jalil Imani Hersini Nematollah KhorasaniThis study tried to analyze the relationship between tourism and the destruction of Hormuz Island as one of the important tourism destinations in Iran by analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of tourism through a questionnaire and SWOT matrix, a MoreThis study tried to analyze the relationship between tourism and the destruction of Hormuz Island as one of the important tourism destinations in Iran by analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of tourism through a questionnaire and SWOT matrix, and finally, management strategies were presented. The results showed that the progress of the Island requires serious management actions promptly to prevent the destruction of the environment and attractions of Hormoz Island. Based on the analysis of the matrix of internal and external factors, the evaluation of the internal and external environment was equal to 2.37 and 2.07, respectively, which led to the selection of defensive strategies (WT) as the best strategies. Among the defensive strategies, the strategy of setting rules for buying and selling and preventing of launching tourism-related businesses by non-indigenous people to support the local community and preventing capital outflow from Hormoz Island was selected as the first management priority and the second strategy of regional management for tourism was to establish an electronic system to record the entry and exit of ecotourists to the pristine beaches to reduce damages to the ecosystems and encouraging tourists to use ecotourism resorts to support the local community. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
12 - The four areas of the environment and the challenges of ownership and property rights
Masoud Mansour Iraj Hosseini Sadr Abadi Dariush KarimiAccording to the law of hunting and fishing, the law of protection and improvement of the environment, and the conventions and regulations of the IUCN, some parts of the country are classified as four environmental areas (national parks, national natural monuments, prot MoreAccording to the law of hunting and fishing, the law of protection and improvement of the environment, and the conventions and regulations of the IUCN, some parts of the country are classified as four environmental areas (national parks, national natural monuments, protected areas, and wildlife refuges). By the end of 2021, a total of 309 areas with 18.9 million hectares, equivalent to 11.5% of the country's area, have been approved as four areas, which can be considered in the field of public ownership (Anfal), government, private or a combination of them and be exploited with a specific use. While examining the effect of determining the four regions on the ownership and its documents, the ownership rights and exploitation, the adequacy or inadequacy of the existing regulations that need to be amended or supplemented to the system has been investigated. The relevant executives should follow up their approval process through the Islamic Council or the Board of Ministers, it is suggested as follows:- Adding two notes to articles 2 to 5 and one note to article 12 of the Executive Regulations of the Environmental Protection and Improvement Law.- Adding a note to Article 6 of the aforementioned law.- Adding a note to Article 9 of Hadnagar Law.- Amendment of Note 4, Article 31 of the Law on Protection and Exploitation of Forests and Ranges.The result shows that if these suggestions are applied, the ambiguities and challenges related to obtaining the ownership documents of natural resources located in the four regions and the system of its exploitation along with the problems between the two organizations of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and Watershed Management regarding judicial and administrative measures, especially issues related to damages caused by public and construction projects in the mentioned areas, will be resolved Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
13 - Hydrological drought intensity classification with SMMD30 index (Case study of snowy-icy flow regime rivers in Mazandaran province)
Miromid HadianiDrought occurrence is more than wet years in the North of Iran, while no specific climatic trend has been observed in the region in terms of declining precipitation in the years leading up to recent decades. In terms of spatial pattern, the occurrence of droughts and we MoreDrought occurrence is more than wet years in the North of Iran, while no specific climatic trend has been observed in the region in terms of declining precipitation in the years leading up to recent decades. In terms of spatial pattern, the occurrence of droughts and wet years did not follow a specific trend and mostly did not have special synchronicity and coordination between different regions of the province. In this study, the intensity of hydrological droughts in the rivers with a snowy-icy flow regime in Mazandaran province was studied and classified (weak, severe, and very severe) by sequence theory method with the standard index of minimum flow of 30 days. The independence of the hydrological behavior of the rivers, especially in drought status, the differences in the topographic and physical attributes of watersheds, the independence of the minimum discharge threshold in drought conditions, and consequently the difference in the microclimates caused that this index was different even in different seasons of the year. The very severe intensity index of the Chalous river was -1.486 in the autumn and this index was -0.743 in Cheshmeh Kile river with a similar hydrologic regime and at the same time, in the regional analysis, it was possible to express the classification index of the very severe intensity of hydrological drought in the snowy-icy flow regime was -1.385 in the autumn. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
14 - A review on application of biochar (biological coal) bioabsorbent in environmental sustainability with the approach of energy, water, and agriculture
Laleh Ghafghazi Lobat TaghaviProviding sustainable sources of energy, global warming, and maintaining soil health are the main challenges of the 21st century. Biochar has great potential in addressing these global issues and can be effective in achieving sustainable development goals. Biochar obtai MoreProviding sustainable sources of energy, global warming, and maintaining soil health are the main challenges of the 21st century. Biochar has great potential in addressing these global issues and can be effective in achieving sustainable development goals. Biochar obtained from waste biomass (plant residues, urban and rural wastes) is a catalyst for the anaerobic digestion process and increases bioenergy production due to its mineral content and buffering capacity. This article is the result of reviewing valid online papers from Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate, Elsevier, and Springer. The Results showed high advantages of biochar for using in the production of renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gases. Biochar potentially increases methane and hydrogen productions in anaerobic digestion and is efficient in on-site biogas enrichment, leading to biomethane production with a purity of more than 90%. On the other hand, it can be a cheap and potential replacement for the electrode of microbial fuel cells and reduce the cost of ion-based batteries. The application of biochar in the agricultural ecosystem increases carbon sequestration in soil and reduces methane and nitrogen oxide emission. The structural characteristics such as high surface area, optimal pore distribution, surface reactivity, hydrophobicity, and many functional groups make this adsorbent a suitable choice for the remediation of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The potential of sustainable use of biochar in biological energy production (biogas and biohydrogen), reduction of greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration and soil health, and wastewater treatment along with its future challenges and perspectives is necessary with the Nexus approach of energy, water, and agriculture. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
15 - Optimizing Reservoirs Exploitation for irrigation system Based on New butterfly Algorithm Model
Miromid Hadiani Hamid Reza VaziriExploitation of dam reservoirs is one of the major problems in the management of water resources. In this context, artificial intelligence algorithms are used as a useful tool for optimizing. Crow algorithm is used in the current research for the first time to exploit r MoreExploitation of dam reservoirs is one of the major problems in the management of water resources. In this context, artificial intelligence algorithms are used as a useful tool for optimizing. Crow algorithm is used in the current research for the first time to exploit reservoirs. Also, results related to the exploitation of a single-reservoir system to meet low dam’s requirements were compared to particle swarm and genetic evolutionary algorithms. Time reliability, volume reliability, vulnerability and reversibility indices were used to select the preferred method. Also, a multi-criteria decision-making model was used to select the preferred method. Results showed that the crow algorithm’s is close to the problem’s absolute optimal response so that the average of responses in the crow algorithm is 99% of absolute optimal response. Besides, except time reliability index, the crow algorithm has better performance in the rest indices compared to particle swarm and genetic algorithms. Also, the coefficient of variation of obtained responses by crow algorithm compared to genetic and particle swarm algorithms are 14 and 16 times smaller, respectively. The multi-criteria decision-making model revealed that compared to two other algorithms, the crow algorithm has the first rank and high potential in solving reservoir exploitation problem. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
16 - Evaluating the effectiveness of natural resources and environmental education in schools in district one of Tehran using the Kirkpatrick model
NastaranZahra Moradsaleh Sahar RezaianThe present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of natural resources and environmental education in schools in district one of the Tehran Education Department using the Kirkpatrick model. For this purpose, the amount of textbook information was assessed am MoreThe present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of natural resources and environmental education in schools in district one of the Tehran Education Department using the Kirkpatrick model. For this purpose, the amount of textbook information was assessed among the students of five schools (girls and boys) in the primary and secondary schools of this district in the academic year of 1397-1397. For this goal, first, textbooks for all grades of primary school and the first year of high school were studied, and among them, materials related to natural resources and environment were extracted and categorized, and according to the contents of each grade and its shortcomings, appropriate educational packages based on the texts and documents were prepared and available to students by the center for environmental training and environmental education of the environmental protection organization. These included: PowerPoints, films, stories, and short films suitable for the topics of natural resources and environment of each age group and educational level. The training sessions were held in one, two or three sessions in the volunteer schools, and in the first session, a pre-test was conducted and after the end of the training sessions, a post-test was conducted for the students. The results of this study showed that holding face-to-face and face-to-face environmental education classes was the most effective. In this study, the results showed that the most effective way is to hold environmental education classes in face-to-face status. The results were analyzed in SPSS software version 22. The results showed that holding face-to-face and face-to-face environmental education classes was the most effective procedure and the results of pre-test and post-test scores and statistical analysis of the third and fourth levels questionnaires of Kirkpatrick model also indicated the effectiveness of face-to-face training. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
17 - Spatial flood susceptibility assessment using boosting and bagging in machine learning techniques
مریم جهانبانی hossein aghamohammadi Mohammad Hassan vahidnia Zahra AziziEvery year flooding causes countries billions of dollars’ worth of damage that threatens the livelihood of individuals. As a result, it poses significant socio-economic threats to populations worldwide. Therefore, it should be controlled and restrained. In this re MoreEvery year flooding causes countries billions of dollars’ worth of damage that threatens the livelihood of individuals. As a result, it poses significant socio-economic threats to populations worldwide. Therefore, it should be controlled and restrained. In this regard, machine learning algorithms, along with geographic information systems, are primary tools that are effective in flood control modeling and analysis. The purpose of this research is to identify a part of flood-sensitive regions across the Heraz catchment area in Mazandaran province using ensemble methods in machine learning algorithms. The research process is as follows: first, the data of flood points were prepared. Next, 70% of approximately 240 sample positions were used for modeling and map preparation. The remaining 30%, which were randomly selected, were used to validate the produced maps. Then, the effective factors, including slope angle, slope direction, topography, soil type, land cover, distance from the river, annual rainfall, normalized difference vegetation index, index of sediment transmittance, index of topographic wetness, and index of stream density have been used to weight the impact of each factor using machine learning algorithms. Based on the results of this study, the system performance characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to validate the flood-prone area map. Findings demonstrated that the Adaptive Boosting model is more accurate than the Bagging model in preparing a flood sensitivity map. Predictive susceptibility mapping plays a pivotal role in enabling urban planners and managers to mitigate and safeguard proactively against the adverse consequences of flooding. Flood management authorities in the Ministry of Energy can employ the proposed ensemble model to assist disaster management and mitigate hazards in future studies. . Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
18 - Evaluation of trophy status of Aynak wetland in Rasht using Carlson index
Mohammad Dehdar Dargahi Mohammad Reza Rahimibashar Reza Zamani Pouya RahbariAbstractNutrition or enrichment is an important issue in all aquatic ecosystems of the world and wetlands are one of the most sensitive habitats to this problem and assessing the trophic status of a wetland is the first step in assessing its quality. The aim of this stu MoreAbstractNutrition or enrichment is an important issue in all aquatic ecosystems of the world and wetlands are one of the most sensitive habitats to this problem and assessing the trophic status of a wetland is the first step in assessing its quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the water quality characteristics and nutritional status of Ainak wetland in Rasht using the Carlson trophy index. The area of this water zone is 36.5 hectares and its water supply source is rainfall and urban wastewater and Sefidrud river. This wetland is located in the west of Rasht metropolis and consists of four different parts. In order to determine the physicochemical factors of water in each section of a station, sampling and sampling from autumn 1396 to summer 1397 were performed seasonally in them during a year and the annual average of the factors showed that: water temperature 3 times / 18 ° C, pH equal to 7.21, Water soluble oxygen 2.75 mg / L, BOD59 / 10 mg / L, COD42 / 24 mg / L, TDS25 / 733 mg / L, total nitrogen 21.5 mg / L, chlorophyll A 0.062 mg / L, total phosphate 0.95 mg / L, depth Disk visibility was 0.35 meters. The average annual Carlson trophy index of this wetland was determined based on the depth of viscous disk viscosity 76.78, total phosphate 99.80 and chlorophyll A 69.74. It has a fundamental action to improve nutritional conditions. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
19 - Investigation of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the peripheral sediments of the coral ecosystems of the Persian Gulf islands (Case study: Qeshm, Hengam and Lavan)
Mehdi Soltani Saber Ghasemi Ehsan KamraniThe second richest habitat on the planet after tropical forests is dedicated to coral ecosystems. This ecosystem plays a significant role in balancing the amount of carbon and nitrogen, maintaining coastlines against destruction caused by continuous waves, storms, flood MoreThe second richest habitat on the planet after tropical forests is dedicated to coral ecosystems. This ecosystem plays a significant role in balancing the amount of carbon and nitrogen, maintaining coastlines against destruction caused by continuous waves, storms, floods, creating a marine environment, nutrients for the food chain, and also balancing the delicate system of nature. Today, the extraction, exploitation and transportation of oil have left the biggest role in the destruction of the coral coasts of the Persian Gulf. Samples of marine and coastal sediments of Qeshm, Hengam and Lavan coral islands from a depth of about 0-5 cm were randomly collected according to the MOOPAM method and the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons was measured by UVF device in μg/g of sediment. The texture type of sediments indicated that the highest percentage of fine particles (Silt+Clay) in marine and coastal sediments of Lavan Island is 51.58% and 51.01%, respectively. The average detected concentrations of TPH are lower than the environmental risk background value (4 μg/g). The highest concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons is observed in the marine and coastal sediment stations of Lavan Island, which can be due to the facilities and activities of oil and fishing vessels in this island. Also, the assessment of the environmental risk caused by TPH pollution on aquatic organisms using indicators of sediment quality guidelines (SOGs) and contamination factor (Cf) showed that the investigated sediments do not have any adverse biological effects on aquatic organisms. Exploitation, marine transportation, oil spills and its derivatives are considered as one of the main reasons for the destruction and negative ecological effects on the coral reefs of the Persian Gulf, which this challenge of the need to protect the coastal areas and the environment makes marine life more obvious with a sustainable development approach. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
20 - Connectivity analysis of mountain sheep habitats (Ovis vignei arkal) to locate a highway corridor in Golestan National Pak using an integrated approach of Circuit and Graph theories
Nasim Kheirkhah Ghehi Seyed Ali JoziRoads and highways, as one of the biggest threats to wildlife survival, severely affect the ecological connectivity status of the landscape leading to the fragmentation of existing habitats. This research examines the effect of the Tehran-Mashhad bypass road through the MoreRoads and highways, as one of the biggest threats to wildlife survival, severely affect the ecological connectivity status of the landscape leading to the fragmentation of existing habitats. This research examines the effect of the Tehran-Mashhad bypass road through the Golestan National Park on the movement of Ovis vignei arkal to identify the best point for locating a connectivity corridor. In this study, multiple scales and theories have been selected to analyze species connectivity. The circuit theory was used for the landscape scale by modeling the bottleneck index, and graph theory was used for the patch scale by calculating the betweenness centrality index (BC). The optimal place for locating the corridor was identified by overlaying the range of the bottleneck index and the shortest path to the patch with the highest BC value. By integrating the circuit and graph theories, the results demonstrated the higher movement patterns in the region's west side due to the higher habitat suitability. Installing a corridor in this spot will be increased the species' movement, maintain its population, prevent species isolation, and consequently improve the state of the downstream habitats. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
21 - Simulating Cd transport in undisturbed soil columns using FADE model
Samira Morsali Hossein Babazadeh Shahram Shahmohammadi Hossein SedghiAccurate expression of the solute transport in porous media is critical for evaluating and remediating pollutants in soils and aquifers. An important aspect of the transport of solutes and pollutants is the use of appropriate models to describe their transport behavior. MoreAccurate expression of the solute transport in porous media is critical for evaluating and remediating pollutants in soils and aquifers. An important aspect of the transport of solutes and pollutants is the use of appropriate models to describe their transport behavior. In this study, the concentration of the heavy metal cadmium in the column of undisturbed loamy soil was measured using the miscible displacement experiment. This experiment was repeated in three initial concentrations (50, 100, and 150 mg/L). Then, Cd metal transport was simulated by fractional advection-dispersion equation (FADE). The breakthrough curves obtained from the simulation of FADE and the results of the experiments were fitted and the effect of C0 on its performance was investigated. The order of fractional differentiation (α), dispersion coefficient (D) and retardation factor (R) in all three initial concentrations were estimated and compared using the inverse modeling. The results showed that the FADE model simulates cadmium transport well with r2=0.98 and RMSE=0.05. The comparison of BTSs fitted by the FADE model and the observed laboratory data also confirms this issue. The order of fractional differentiation (α) obtained by the FADE model for Cd was almost the same and equal to 1.7, which indicated the anomalous and non-Fickian transport of cadmium metal in loamy soil columns. It seems that the lack of effect of C0 on α, which is the main parameter of the FADE model, has caused the performance of FADE to have no special trend with the changes of C0 and can be ignored. The hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient in the transport of Cd was increased by increasing C0 and its process is non-linear and unpredictable and the relationship between R and initial concentration is inverse. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
22 - A comparison of different heuristic, mathematical, and intelligent methods in urban landscape aesthetic evaluation (Case study: Gorgan city)
Sepideh Saeidi seyed hamed mirkarimi marjan mohamadzadeh abdoulrasoul salman mahiniIn today's era, human interventions have caused chaos in landscape patterns and degradation in landscape quality. Therefore, identifying landscape aesthetic beauty, and also fundamental planning and valuable areas, and proper planning and design in order to protect and MoreIn today's era, human interventions have caused chaos in landscape patterns and degradation in landscape quality. Therefore, identifying landscape aesthetic beauty, and also fundamental planning and valuable areas, and proper planning and design in order to protect and promote the aesthetic value seem to be necessary and unavoidable. In this research, the aim is to investigate the performance of various experimental methods (multi-criteria evaluation using weighted linear combination), mathematical (logistic regression), and intelligent (neural network)) in estimating the suitability of the aesthetic value of Gorgan city. After theoretical studies and determination of effective criteria, mapping and standardization of the criteria were done and finally, the map of aesthetic-value suitability was prepared based on the methods of weighted linear combination, neural network, and logistic regression. In order to evaluate the performance of different methods and choose the optimal method, ground control points and ROC validation methods were used. The results showed that in the map resulting from the weighted linear combination method, a large part of the data was lost as a result of the linear combination of layers and weighting, and the neural network method with intelligent performance and the ability to combine and analyze non-linearly compared to the weighted linear combination method and also performing back and forth analysis compared to the logistic regression method, better separates the value of the studied area. According to the results of this research, it can be concluded that when there is little knowledge about the studied area and it is not possible to conduct field surveys to record valuable points of view, performing the weighted linear combination method can be a solution, but if it is possible to conduct field surveys to prepare a map of real educational samples as a dependent variable, more accurate results can be obtained with the help of the neural network method and logistic regression, more accurate results can be achieved, and in the meantime, the intelligent neural network method has a higher ability to distinguish the values of the environment image. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
23 - Optimizing the exploitation of the Shahryar plain aquifer by simulating the groundwater flow using the combined modeling method
Nima Salehi Shafa Hossein Babazadeh Fayaz Aghayari Ali Saremi MohammadReza Ghafouri Masoud Safavi Ali PanahdarIn this study, a multi-objective simulation model was presented and six scenarios were defined based on the groundwater budget for optimal exploitation of Shahryar plain aquifer. For this purpose, first, using the GIS based models and using fuzzy and weight methods, the MoreIn this study, a multi-objective simulation model was presented and six scenarios were defined based on the groundwater budget for optimal exploitation of Shahryar plain aquifer. For this purpose, first, using the GIS based models and using fuzzy and weight methods, the regions with high water and low water in the study area were identified in order to prioritize resources and uses. Then the desired scenarios were simulated and evaluated by the (GMS) model. Finally, in order to increase the accuracy of the research results, the (TDS) concentration and the groundwater budget were simulated using the artificial neural network model (ANN). According to the results of fuzzy and weighted methods, the areas of Rabat Karim, then Islamshahr and finally Shahryar were identified as low water areas. Based on the obtained results, the unsteady state budget and verification were calculated as -344.68 and -109.98 (MCM), respectively. The third scenario with a budget of 203.33 (MCM) was chosen as the best scenario and the budget resulting from that, ratio to the budget resulting from the model (GMS) and the neural network for the year 95, has increased by 284.87 percent and 284.83 percent respectively. Also, the concentration of total dissolved solids in the groundwater obtained from the desired models in the entire study period was estimated by 655 and 651 mg/liter on average. The criteria of correlation coefficient and determination coefficient obtained from neural network models for groundwater budget and total data were estimated to be equal to one and for the total dissolved solids concentration of groundwater were estimated to be 0.997 and 0.994, respectively. In the present research, the multi-objective simulation pattern as a comprehensive and practical method by providing new simulation methods has the ability to support several effective scenarios and leads to increase the stability of the groundwater system. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
24 - Analyzing the sixth economic, social and cultural development plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran to achieve sustainable development of agriculture, natural resources and environment
Somayeh EsmaeiliDevelopment for the purpose of managed intervention since 1948 and sustainable development for the purpose of continuation of managed actions in the future since 1995 have been the focus of the country's plans. Despite the experience of eleven long-term planning in this MoreDevelopment for the purpose of managed intervention since 1948 and sustainable development for the purpose of continuation of managed actions in the future since 1995 have been the focus of the country's plans. Despite the experience of eleven long-term planning in this process, the country is still facing the big challenge of not fulfilling the development goals of the program law based on the approved documents. The present research has been carried out by the review and meta-analytical studies by analyzing the law of the sixth five-year economic, social and cultural development plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2017-2021) with a focus on the natural resources sector. Due to the close relationship between the agricultural sector and its impact on the environment, the relationship between all three sectors has been integrated into one structure. The results of the review of the country's sixth planning law in the natural resources, environment and agriculture sectors show that there is a serious gap in the formulation of the plan and its implementation, which is due to the lack of a desirable, coordinated and optimal planning system and the lack of coherent and institutional communication between It leads to planning, policy making and budgeting. A set of general rules, ideal goals and numerous and diverse topics in the programs and the lack of precise determination of the required and achievable resources along with other combinations of development programs lead to the failure to achieve the goals of the program and development of the country in this regard, which shows a serious contradiction in the sustainable view of natural compatible resources with agriculture and environment district. Therefore, it is necessary to make a serious change in the treatment-oriented view of development planning and instead use a systematic prevention-oriented and prediction-oriented view. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
25 - Rehabilitation of Aquatic Ecosystems Based on environmental water rights upstream of Water Reservoirs with Inlet Flow Prediction Approach (Case Study: Taleghan Dam Basin)
Zahra Nafariyeh Mahdi Sarai Tabrizi Hossein Babazadeh Hamid Kardan MoghaddamLimited water resources and increased water demand in recent decades have caused irreparable damage to the country's water resources. One of the important components in surface water optimization and management is long-term and short-term river flow forecasts. The aim o MoreLimited water resources and increased water demand in recent decades have caused irreparable damage to the country's water resources. One of the important components in surface water optimization and management is long-term and short-term river flow forecasts. The aim of the present study is to compare the performance of two Bayesian BN network models with probabilistic approach and MLP neural network. Then selecting the best structural model for flow prediction is another goal of the present study. Monthly meteorological data including precipitation, monthly average temperature, evaporation and. Also, the volume of water transferred from five hydrometric stations entering the Taleghan Dam from 2006 to 2018 was introduced as input data to the models. and runoff to the dam was considered as predictable. Then, with the aim of estimating the best Prediction pattern structure, Input data with different layouts were introduced to the models. In the next step, using the hydrological method of Tennant, The environmental discharge was calculated And the probability of these discharges occurring in the registration data and seventeen patterns in the Easyfit software environment was calculated. Then comparing the selected pattern according to the probability of occurrence and the criteria of the index, Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NS), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute prediction error (MAPE) was performed. The best model in BN model with 43.3% similarity and index criteria were estimated to be -3.98, 300, 17.3 and 0.06, respectively. MLP model with 80% similarity and index criteria were introduced as -10.3, 8266, 23.9 and 122.3 in the best model, respectively. As a result, both models performed well in runoff estimation, but comparing the environmental probabilities of the two models in the top five patterns, the BN model has an acceptable accuracy . The basin was also found to be at environmental risk. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
26 - Evaluation of pollution and potential ecological risk of dusts contaminated with toxic elements, the case of residential buildings in Isfahan metropolis, Iran
Makkiyah Abdulhssein Hammood Atefeh Chamani Soheil Sobhan ArdakaniAir pollution is a major contributor to chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, resulting in an estimated annual premature death toll of 6.2 to 8.4 million individuals. The objective of this study is to investigate the concentration of potentially toxic element MoreAir pollution is a major contributor to chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, resulting in an estimated annual premature death toll of 6.2 to 8.4 million individuals. The objective of this study is to investigate the concentration of potentially toxic elements in dust collected from residential complex in Isfahan during the winter (2022-2023). To ensure comprehensive coverage, 31 residential residential complex were chosen across the entire Isfahan City. Dust samples were collected in triplicate (totaling 93 samples) from from the internal surfaces of the ground or first floor of residential complexes, except for common spaces. The samples were transferred to the laboratory and the concentrations of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Zinc, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Chromium, and Vanadium were then measured using an ICP-OES device, model Optima 83. The average concentrations of Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt, Lead, and Vanadium in the collected samples were found to be 5.55, 0.95, 32.6, 241, 3.87, 300, and 30.6 mg/kg, respectively. According to the enrichment factor analysis, the concentrations of Lead and Cadmium were of non-natural and anthropogenic sources in all sampling stations except for West Allameh Amini. A notable positive correlation was observed between the Lead enrichment factor and the traffic index at a 95% confidence level (p-value=0.021, r= 0.369). Similarly, a significant strong positive correlation was found at a 99% confidence level between the ecological risk assessment index and the traffic index (Pvalue=0.00, r= 0. 619). This suggests that traffic has a major impact on the concentration of potentially toxic elements at the sampling stations. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
27 - Ecological potential evaluation of the Kabgian basin for aquaculture
Zeynab Mehrabi Soheil Sobhan Ardakani Lima TayebiGrowth of population and economic-social needs of human being led to impressive growth of industries including aquaculture as an important source of protein needs in recent decades. This development which is usually associated with lack of environmental impact studies l MoreGrowth of population and economic-social needs of human being led to impressive growth of industries including aquaculture as an important source of protein needs in recent decades. This development which is usually associated with lack of environmental impact studies leads to environmental degradation in many countries. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluation of ecological potential of Kabgian basin for aquaculture. In so doing, texture, depth and erosion of soil, slope, temperature, pH and water flow, stone, sensitive habitats, protected areas, conservation value of species and ArcGIS 10.2 according to 'Makhdoum Aquaculture Model' were used for site selection of fish farming ponds along the Kabgian River. The results showed that from 192 ha extent of the study area, 78.7 ha in the vicinity of Botari village was suitable for the development of aquaculture industry. As regards spatial distribution of fish farming ponds along the Kabgian River is not in a good condition and just focused on a specific part of the river, therefore, self purification potential of river will be decreased. So to reduce of environmental impacts of aquaculture on the water quality of Kabgian River, move the fish farming ponds to suitable areas for aquaculture development is recommended. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
28 - Applications of the life cycle assessment method with the aim of energy conservation in the construction industry
Kiana Rasekh Mamak Salavatian Marzie KazemzadeNowadays, there has been an increasing interest in the study of life cycle assessment in all industries namely the construction industry in developed countries with the increasing awareness of the environmental effects of buildings and the emergence of powerful tools fo MoreNowadays, there has been an increasing interest in the study of life cycle assessment in all industries namely the construction industry in developed countries with the increasing awareness of the environmental effects of buildings and the emergence of powerful tools for their evaluation. Despite various articles have been published in different countries in this field, none of them has focused on the challenges of using life cycle assessment, related studies, and potential solutions to address the challenges. The purpose of this article is to present a systematic report of a comprehensive review of applied studies in the life cycle assessment method in the construction industry to provide a potential solution for future targeted research in this field. The research method of this paper included a brief review of the subject literature to provide an overview of the life cycle assessment method and systematic selection and study of review articles/books to examine the benefits and challenges of life cycle assessment research. By examining the valid research articles from 2000 to 2023 in the collection of ISI articles and Persian scientific research articles, a total of 72 related articles were studied. First, statistical reports on the geographical and thematic distribution according to the variety of factors affecting the life cycle assessment in construction were presented, and then the objectives of the study, fields of action, databases, tools and environmental effects of the published authoritative articles were examined and the strengths and weaknesses of the recent researches were revealed. The findings showed that the use of integrated databases and also the computational principles and coordinated calculator software along with the unification of functional units lad to the alignment of research within the framework of unit standards, as well as the possibility of comparing and expanding the conclusions and as a result, they provide a more comprehensive picture of the environmental effects of construction products and systems for professionals. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
29 - Qualitative study of surface water sources to achieve sustainable agriculture and natural resources (case study: Aras Border River)
Milad Tabatabaei Hashemi Mahdi Sarai Tabrizi Hossein BabazadehSince the agricultural sector is the main consumer of water in the country, achieving sustainable agriculture without considering environmental issues may lead to risks in the long term, therefore, the quantity and quality of surface water is so important in agriculture MoreSince the agricultural sector is the main consumer of water in the country, achieving sustainable agriculture without considering environmental issues may lead to risks in the long term, therefore, the quantity and quality of surface water is so important in agriculture. This research has investigated the Ares River catchment area with the aim of qualitative monitoring of surface water resources to achieve sustainable agriculture and natural resources. More than 100 collected samples from 9 stations of Aras River between Yaichi village in Azerbaijan and near Aras Dam from October 2017 to August 2018 have been investigated, classified, and evaluated using the Wilcox agricultural water quality index and Grapher software. The results of this research showed that the samples in Schuler's diagram were within the acceptable range but for drinking, other effective elements should also be investigated. The lowest amount of sodium absorption ratio was in June (1.40 mg/L) and the highest amount was in November (3.43 mg/L). Also, the electrical conductivity of water was the lowest value in June (840 µs/cm) and the highest value in October (1375 µs/cm). According to the Wilcox diagram, all the samples were in the qualitative range of C3S1 and they are considered saltwater. Despite the high level of salinity in the samples of this river, there was no significant difference in the qualitative trends of the stations during the investigated period for agricultural use, but the necessary measures should be taken in using these waters. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
30 - Identification and prioritization of criteria and indicators in the forest landscape restoration (case study: Chehl-Chay watershed, Golestan Province)
Mitra Emami Marjan Mohammadzadeh Seyedhamed Mirkarimi Shaban Shataee MohammadHadi MoayeriDeforestation and forest degradation have led to the formation of poor landscapes all over the world. Although in the past conservation strategies have emphasized intact natural systems, today the strategies have focused on the conservation and restoration of degraded e MoreDeforestation and forest degradation have led to the formation of poor landscapes all over the world. Although in the past conservation strategies have emphasized intact natural systems, today the strategies have focused on the conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems. The forest landscape restoration approach (FLR) is considered an important approach for the restoration of ecological and socio-economic services of forest ecosystems in landscape scales. Identification and prioritization of efficient and effective criteria and indicators in the process of prioritizing areas to restore the forest landscape are a necessity that has not been done in Iran so far. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to introduce effective criteria and indicators for prioritizing appropriate areas for forest landscape restoration in the selected area. In this study, a total of 26 criteria and 68 indicators from ecological and socio-economic points of view were identified with an emphasis on directing restoration efforts towards areas that guarantee maximum profits from two perspectives of necessity (the need for restoration) and opportunity (feasibility of a restoration) and then, they were prioritized using the Delphi method. The results showed that in the section on the need for restoration, the process of landscape degradation from ecological criteria and poverty from socio-economic criteria were the first priorities. Besides, the ecological criteria of destruction and natural regeneration potential with equal priority and socio-economic criterion of the budget in terms of feasibility of reconstruction were the first priority. The results of this study, in addition to helping decision-makers and planners dealing with protecting nature protection and its use, can lead to the attraction of active participation of stakeholders in the forest landscape restoration programs with a balanced attention to both aspects of the necessity and the opportunity of restoration. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
31 - Investigation of Species richness of Birds in Bushehr Province to Determine Biodiversity hotspots
Mohammad Papari Zarei Maryam Rafati Mohammad Reza AshrafzadehAbstract Species richness is one of the biodiversity parts calculated by counting the number of species present in a given area. In this study, the species richness of the birds in Bushehr Province was examined to identify biodiversity hotspots and assess their conserv MoreAbstract Species richness is one of the biodiversity parts calculated by counting the number of species present in a given area. In this study, the species richness of the birds in Bushehr Province was examined to identify biodiversity hotspots and assess their conservation status. To achieve this, bird presence data were collected, and the conservation status of each species was determined. Subsequently, using a grid system with one-by-one-kilometer cells, table of distribution of birds species richness was prepared, and biodiversity hotspots were calculated using the Getis-Ord Gi statistic in a geographic information system (GIS). The results indicated that out of 320 bird species with continuous observation records in Bushehr Province, none were categorized as critically endangered according to the 2021 IUCN Red List. However, three bird species included saker falcon(Falco cherrug), Steppe Eagle(Aquila nipalensis), and Egyptian Vulture(Neophron percnopterus) were classified as Endangered, and Marbled duck(Marmaronetta angustirostris), Common pochard(Aythya ferina), Long-tailed duck(Clangula hyemalis), Macqueen's Bustard(Chlamydotis macqueenii), Socotra cormorant(Phalacrocorax nigrogularis), Pallid Harrier(Circus macrourus), and Eastern Imperial Eagle(Aquila heliaca) were considered as vulnerable. Furthermore, the study of species richness revealed that 21.58% of the study area was covered by the presence of these 320 species, with species diversity ranging from one to 26 birds per cell. The calculation of hotspots at the province level also identified the presence of 30 hotspots, covering a total area of 151311.90 hectares (6.33% of the province's area). These hotspots were mostly located in close proximity to major rivers, rangelands, and agricultural lands, particularly date palm orchards, emphasizing the need for greater attention to these habitats for bird conservation. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
32 - Investigating the water quality index (WQI) using Landsat 8 satellite images and the application of univariate and multivariate models in Sefidroud River in northern Iran.
Yousef pourhabib ebrahim fataei Fatemeh Nasehi Behnam Khanizadeh Hossein SaadatiIn this research, the water quality of Sefidroud River during the years 2013-2018 using Landsat 8 satellite images as well as 10 qualitative chemical and physical parameters including Ca2+, Na+,Mg2+, (Cl-,SO4-2, HCO3-, TDS, EC, TH and pH were studied in three hydrometri MoreIn this research, the water quality of Sefidroud River during the years 2013-2018 using Landsat 8 satellite images as well as 10 qualitative chemical and physical parameters including Ca2+, Na+,Mg2+, (Cl-,SO4-2, HCO3-, TDS, EC, TH and pH were studied in three hydrometric stations. Drinking water quality index (WQI) was calculated and its relationship with satellite bands and band ratios (28 parameters) was analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression models. The results of the univariate regression model showed that the WQI index with band 5 and the ratio of band B4/B3 had a linear and power correlation at a significance level of 1% with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.55 and 0.51, respectively. The implementation of the stepwise linear multivariate regression model of WQI with all the studied bands and ratios showed that the three band 5 variables and band ratios B4/B3 and B6/B5 were correlated with WQI, with an R2 of about 0.80 at a 5% significance level. After preparing the spatial changes map of WQI using multivariate linear regression model, the results indicated that the water quality in the head branches of Sefidroud, that is, the Qezaluzen and Shahroud rivers, was lower compared to the lower areas and Manjil Dam Lake, although the water quality of the Qezeluzen and Shahroud rivers was lower. Shahrood was weak, but after entering Manjil Dam, it became a good water class. However, the WQI of the water coming out of the dam had gradually increased by passing through the agricultural lands, residential and industrial areas along the river until it reached the Caspian Sea, and it had weakened water class. In general, the results of the research showed that the use of Landsat 8 satellite images and multivariable regression model has a high power for water quality monitoring. Manuscript profile