Search

The aim of this study is to solve the forest park site selection problem using a Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) framework in the Galegol Basin, Lorestan province, Iran. The Delphi screening method was used to select the most relevant criteria and sub-criteria to the forest park problem. Using the FAHP weighting approach, the weight of each criterion and sub-criterion was calculated. Then, the suitability map of forest park location was mapped by the weighted linear combination (WLC) method. The results revealed that 7 criteria (climate, water resources, physiography, landscape, vegetation cover, wildlife and economic criteria) and 16 sub-criteria received the required values and can be involved into the decision-making process of the forest park site selection problem. Using the derived weights of sub-criteria by FAHP and the WLC method, the final results showed that most of the study area is moderately suitable for the forest park location problem. The results of this study can be valuable in the planning of local forest park and future land use planning.

Mangrove tide etangs which are placed at border line between the arid and sea-land, have a considerable ecological and social–economical value. This study uses (LARS-WG) along with two GCM models (MIRH and HadCM3) and the A1B scenarios to simulate climatic variables of minimum and maximum temperature and rainfall in the past and future periods. In reviewing the uncertainties, the results indicate the high capability of LARS-WG model in simulation of climatic variables simulation specially in arid ecosystems. Based on MIHR downscaling results, minimum and maximum temperatures will increase in cold season from November to March up to ~+4.21°C and +4.7°C respectively. While increasing up to ~+3.62°C and +3.55°C in the warm season from June to October as well. Based on HadCM3 results, minimum and maximum temperatures will increase in cold season up to +3.03°C and +3.3°C in warm season at the end of this century(2100) . Maximum temperature will increase above 38°C during the warm season within the years 2080-2099. It is predicted that the difference between day and night temperature will reach to the minimum level. In this manner, this condition will affect ecological and biological Mangrove processes. The linear regression of observed T-min data shows a +3.14 °C increase over the past 42 years. Based on HadCM3 and MIRH model results, precipitation will increase in warm months and decrease in cold months within the years 2080-2099.

From a long time ago, researchers in the fields of wood science, dendroclimatology and tree physiology were interested in variation of tree-ring width and vessel features within a tree. However, mutual relationship and interplay between these anatomical features were less studied. In this regard, the main question is whether the pattern of adjustment in wood anatomical traits (tree-ring width and vessel features) is similar in all hardwoods and in every site? Or may the same species chose different strategies in different sites? To answer these questions, two growing sites of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) with completely different micro-climates (dry and brackish) were selected near Astara city. In each site, a few trees were selected, cut or cored. After preliminary treatments, wood cross sections were prepared from the bark to the pith of each tree. These sections were scanned and by using an image analysis software, tree-ring width (TRW), average vessel lumen area (AVLA), number of vessel in the unite of an area (VF), and the porosity (Porosity) of a tree ring were measured in the last 20 annual rings of each tree. To study the inter-relations between variables at each site, they were analyzed using different statistical tests. The results showed that the inter- and mutual-relations between tree-ring width and vessel features were similar in tow studied sites. In brief, it can be concluded that regardless of site and climatic condition, in alder trees, wider tree rings leads to fewer vessels and these two anatomical traits are controlled by the same component but AVLA is affected by a different component and is not associated with the tree-ring width.

Background and Objectives: Solid waste municipal landfill can have injurious effect on society health, economic and environment. Therefore, spread evaluation in locating landfill is necessary to identifying the best places. The purpose of this paper is locating landfill for solid waste municipal for center of Alborz province.Materials and Method: In this paper, suitable areas are identified for land filling solid waste municipal by weighted linear combination and cluster analysis in 20 years period. Thus, suitable areas were weighted by FAHP method. Those weights were used for ranking areas by DEA technique.Result: Results showed among five landfill alternatives for solid waste municipal for center of Alborz province, alternative 1 is the best for land filling. This place is just 7 percent of total suitable places. Conclusion: The approach are used in this article (combination method of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process & Data envelopment analysis) can be suitable for locating in other areas because when an option add or delete; option ranking is not different with previous.

To investigate the vegetative parameters of mangrove communities, sampling was performed in random- systematic method using 8 transects and 37 plots (100m2) in Govater Bay at the southeast part of Iran in Sistan and Baluchestan province (Govater and Bahu creek). The area of mangrove in this location is 672 ha and consists pure communities of Avicennia marina (Harra). On the basis of performed measurements, mean density of mangrove trees was measured 1623 trees per hectar. Mean of height trees and canopy height trees were obtained 264.90 cm and 180.58 cm respectively. Crown mean diameter of trees measured 263.34 cm and the mean of crown density was 54.60 percent. Nature of data (parametric or nonparametric) surveied by tests relating to normality of data and equality of variances and then each variable was analysed according to its nature. Analysis of statistical information performed by spss 13 softwar in format of descriptive statistic of vegetative parameters and investigation of statistical differences and correlations between these parameters. Results showed that, although the Avicennia marina is the only tree species existing in this area, these forests have significant differences regarding to many parameters in two creeks, different transects and along sea to land, that altogether indicate heterogenity of grey mangrove pure stands on basis of these parameters.

The article presents a case study for determination of ecovillage lifestyle at wetland ecosystem of rural society in Miankale, Iran including description of instability of wetland ecosystem, observation of population density at sustainable community and comparison of ecological dimensions.

Background and Objectives: Solid waste municipal landfill can have injurious effect on society health, economic and environment. Therefore, spread evaluation in locating landfill is necessary to identifying the best places. The purpose of this paper is locating landfill for solid waste municipal for center of Alborz province. Materials and Method: In this paper, suitable areas are identified for land filling solid waste municipal by weighted linear combination and cluster analysis in 20 years period. Thus, suitable areas were weighted by FAHP method. Those weights were used for ranking areas by DEA technique. Result: Results showed among five landfill alternatives for solid waste municipal for center of Alborz province, alternative 1 is the best for land filling. This place is just 7 percent of total suitable places. Conclusion: The approach are used in this article (combination method of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process & Data envelopment analysis) can be suitable for locating in other areas because when an option add or delete; option ranking is not different with previous [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hara Biosphere Reserve in southern Hormozgan province with 85686 hectares areas is located between Bandar Khamir and Queshm Island. This area can be considered as the most spectacular regions of Iran for a unique coastal Seascape. Mangrove forests and amazing biodiversity make this region as the most significant ecotourism areas throughout the country. This research attempts to determine recreation value of Mangrove forests and willingness of the tourists to pay for ecotourism areas using Contingent Valuation Method and dichotomous choice questionnaire. Socio-economic assessment of the study area was carried out through the analysis of the touristfilled questionnaires in 2006 based on proper and logical time and place distribution. Logit model was used to determine the willingness of individuals, because the model's parameters are based on methods of Maximum likelihood. Results show that 81.2 % of the individuals are willing to pay for recreation value forms of Mangrove forests. The annual average Willingness-to-Pay for this region is us 5 per visit. Moreover, the annual economic value of Mangrove forests was estimated us 97.5/ acre which shows Existence values of these kinds of forests and also the necessity for planning to employ the recreation capabilities in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Solid waste municipal landfill can have injurious effect on society health, economic and environment. Therefore, spread evaluation in locating landfill is necessary to identifying the best places. The purpose of this paper is locating landfill for solid waste municipal for center of Alborz province. Materials and Method: In this paper, suitable areas are identified for landfilling solidwaste municipal by weighted linear combination and cluster analysis in 20 years period. Thus, suitable areas were weighted by FAHP method. Those weights were used for ranking areas by DEA technique. Result: Results showed among five landfill alternatives for solid waste municipal for center of Alborz province, alternative 1 is the best for land filling. This place is just 7 percent of total suitable places. Conclusion: The approach are used in this article (combination method of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process & Data envelopment analysis) can be suitable for locating in other areas because when an option add or delete ; option ranking is not different with previous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]