Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi *1, Reza Chamani1, Mostafa Zabihi Seilabi1, Mohammad Tavosi1, Azadeh Katebi Kord1, Hamid Nouri2, Abdulvahed Khaledi Darvishan1, Vahid Moosavi1, Padidehsadat Sadeghi1, Mehdi Vafakhah1, Hamidreza Moradi Rekabdarkolaei1
1- Tarbiat Modares University
2- Malayer University
2- Malayer University
Abstract: (32 Views)
Introduction: Protection, exploitation, and sustainable management of watershed resources are priorities in meeting the needs of the growing population. Damage to natural resources leads to irreparable effects such as severe floods, soil erosion, and, as a result, human and financial losses. Therefore, on the one hand, it is necessary to implement programs for the protection and restoration of natural resources. On the other hand, the lack of credits and economic, technical, and time limitations in different watersheds cause management measures to be taken in parts of watersheds that have more sensitive conditions than other areas. Based on this, prioritizing different areas of a watershed based on the severity of the problem is a valuable tool for the government in preparing regional development strategies. However, it is necessary to use an appropriate approach to make a management decision, considering the opinions of all stakeholders and reducing expert opinions. However, this issue of the watershed area has received less attention. In this regard, in the current research, game theory has been used for the comparative prioritization of second-order watersheds in the country due to the reduction of the effect of expert opinion. The results of this research will help policymakers, managers, and decision-makers in the comprehensive management of watersheds in the country and the conservation of water and soil resources. Achieving detailed and operational approaches on operational scales requires extensive research on a larger scale and in sectors or watersheds with high management priority.
Materials and methods: Some 44 national and accessible climatic, human, hydrological, and natural criteria were initially selected for the comparative prioritization of the country's second-order watersheds. In the following, the values of study criteria were extracted for each of the watersheds of the second category, and according to the nature of the criteria and the type of their effect on the performance of the watersheds, the necessary scaling was done. The statistical measure of the variance inflation factor was used to eliminate the internal correlation of the study criteria. In this regard, 26 criteria for comparative prioritization were finalized. The Condorcet approach was used for comprehensive comparative prioritization, considering 26 criteria in the next step. In this regard, the values of the final criteria were ranked in 30 watersheds. In this regard, the watershed with the best condition in terms of study criteria was ranked first, and the watershed with the worst condition was ranked last. This procedure was considered for all study criteria. After ranking the watersheds by considering the criteria, a comparative prioritization was done between the second-order watersheds in the country, and the watersheds with the highest and lowest range in pairwise comparisons were identified as low and high-priority watersheds, respectively.
Results: According to the results, the 30 watersheds of the country have been ranked first to fourth among the 26 study criteria at least once. In this regard, Jarahi and Zohreh Watershed, with 3 points, and Daranjir and Saghar Desert Watershed, with 54 points, respectively, have the lowest and highest points and the worst and best conditions according to the 26 final criteria. Examining the condition of the Jarahi and Zohreh Watershed showed that this watershed could be in a better condition regarding drainage density, specific erosion, and the density of streams order 4. On the other hand, the result showed that the condition of the Daranjir desert is better in the index of naturalness index, recharge volume of groundwater, carbon monoxide concentration, density of stream ordered 4, migration, specific erosion, population, and human outflow compared to the majority of watersheds. Also, according to the study criteria of the status and functional conditions of SJarahi and Zohreh Watershed in the southwest, Hamon Jazmurian watersheds in the southeast, Bandar Abbas and Sedij Border Watershed in the south, Central desert and Abarghou- Sirjan Desert watersheds in the center, and Urmia Lake, Sefidroud and Haraz Watershed in the northwest comparison with other watersheds is weak and should be given more attention. Based on the results, it was found that the watersheds of Jarahi and Zohreh, with 3, and Deranjir desert, with 54 points, respectively, have the least and the most points and have the worst and the best possible conditions. Based on the obtained results, various variables are effective in prioritizing the country's watersheds, which requires a detailed and scientific evaluation of the effects of each on the performance of watersheds. Also, the results of this research can contribute to allocating funds to provide management solutions and conducting detailed implementation studies on larger scales and smaller watersheds.
Conclusion: In the current research, the set of influential and available variables in watersheds has been used for comparative prioritization. It should be noted that considering that the basis of comparison in the Condorcet approach is pairwise comparisons, Jarahi and Zohreh and Daranjir Desert Watersheds are the sub-watersheds that have experienced the highest and lowest losses, respectively, in the pairwise comparisons between other sub-watersheds in the criteria as mentioned above. Therefore, the prioritization results will be reliable when the relevant manager is fully aware of the prioritization process, the type of criteria, and the purpose of the present study. Naturally, the results of the scale used in the current research need to provide the possibility of preparing and compiling executive plans for watershed management in the country. However, they provide a reasonable basis for focusing the attention of the departments and organizations in charge of protecting the country's water and soil resources for policy-making and planning on a national scale. It also provides detailed and goal-oriented studies on a large scale in high-priority watersheds. However, conducting more extensive research with other prioritization methods based on game theory and similar approaches based on technical criteria is recommended.
Materials and methods: Some 44 national and accessible climatic, human, hydrological, and natural criteria were initially selected for the comparative prioritization of the country's second-order watersheds. In the following, the values of study criteria were extracted for each of the watersheds of the second category, and according to the nature of the criteria and the type of their effect on the performance of the watersheds, the necessary scaling was done. The statistical measure of the variance inflation factor was used to eliminate the internal correlation of the study criteria. In this regard, 26 criteria for comparative prioritization were finalized. The Condorcet approach was used for comprehensive comparative prioritization, considering 26 criteria in the next step. In this regard, the values of the final criteria were ranked in 30 watersheds. In this regard, the watershed with the best condition in terms of study criteria was ranked first, and the watershed with the worst condition was ranked last. This procedure was considered for all study criteria. After ranking the watersheds by considering the criteria, a comparative prioritization was done between the second-order watersheds in the country, and the watersheds with the highest and lowest range in pairwise comparisons were identified as low and high-priority watersheds, respectively.
Results: According to the results, the 30 watersheds of the country have been ranked first to fourth among the 26 study criteria at least once. In this regard, Jarahi and Zohreh Watershed, with 3 points, and Daranjir and Saghar Desert Watershed, with 54 points, respectively, have the lowest and highest points and the worst and best conditions according to the 26 final criteria. Examining the condition of the Jarahi and Zohreh Watershed showed that this watershed could be in a better condition regarding drainage density, specific erosion, and the density of streams order 4. On the other hand, the result showed that the condition of the Daranjir desert is better in the index of naturalness index, recharge volume of groundwater, carbon monoxide concentration, density of stream ordered 4, migration, specific erosion, population, and human outflow compared to the majority of watersheds. Also, according to the study criteria of the status and functional conditions of SJarahi and Zohreh Watershed in the southwest, Hamon Jazmurian watersheds in the southeast, Bandar Abbas and Sedij Border Watershed in the south, Central desert and Abarghou- Sirjan Desert watersheds in the center, and Urmia Lake, Sefidroud and Haraz Watershed in the northwest comparison with other watersheds is weak and should be given more attention. Based on the results, it was found that the watersheds of Jarahi and Zohreh, with 3, and Deranjir desert, with 54 points, respectively, have the least and the most points and have the worst and the best possible conditions. Based on the obtained results, various variables are effective in prioritizing the country's watersheds, which requires a detailed and scientific evaluation of the effects of each on the performance of watersheds. Also, the results of this research can contribute to allocating funds to provide management solutions and conducting detailed implementation studies on larger scales and smaller watersheds.
Conclusion: In the current research, the set of influential and available variables in watersheds has been used for comparative prioritization. It should be noted that considering that the basis of comparison in the Condorcet approach is pairwise comparisons, Jarahi and Zohreh and Daranjir Desert Watersheds are the sub-watersheds that have experienced the highest and lowest losses, respectively, in the pairwise comparisons between other sub-watersheds in the criteria as mentioned above. Therefore, the prioritization results will be reliable when the relevant manager is fully aware of the prioritization process, the type of criteria, and the purpose of the present study. Naturally, the results of the scale used in the current research need to provide the possibility of preparing and compiling executive plans for watershed management in the country. However, they provide a reasonable basis for focusing the attention of the departments and organizations in charge of protecting the country's water and soil resources for policy-making and planning on a national scale. It also provides detailed and goal-oriented studies on a large scale in high-priority watersheds. However, conducting more extensive research with other prioritization methods based on game theory and similar approaches based on technical criteria is recommended.
Keywords: Comprehensive watershed management, Condorcet approach, National planning, National scale.
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