Rangeland and Watershed Management Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Khatam al-Anbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
Abstract: (48 Views)
Extended Abstract
Introduction and Objective: The watershed, as the main source of human needs, should be such that maximum use of resources does not cause its deterioration in the long term; therefore, comprehensive watershed management requires a holistic and systemic approach that, while paying attention to the living standards of watershed residents, economic and social health, reducing conflicts in decision-making and wasting capital, providing human resources by attracting public participation and creating compatibility between physical, biological, social and cultural systems, minimizes environmental risks and problems in the watershed and leads to optimal utilization of resources in line with sustainable development. Therefore, the overall goal of watershed management is to develop sustainable livelihoods based on comprehensive management of natural resources, with the participation of all stakeholders. In this research, in addition to evaluating the effectiveness of watershed management activities, we attempt to provide desirable strategies to meet the needs of watershed residents of Chah-Telkh (Basht) watershed, by considering the affective factors and a long-term attitude in order to achieve sustainable development.
Material and Methods: The first step in evaluating watershed management projects is to determine the possibilities, potentials, limitations, and problems of the basin. Therefore, in order to adequately understand the affective factors of Chah-Talakh watershed, after reviewing the detailed-executive studies and field visits, by designing a questionnaire with AHP and identifying internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (threats and opportunities), each with eight criteria and 32 criteria in total, the main parameters affecting the watershed were selected for evaluation using the SWOT model. Strategies were developed to solve the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats with the aim of resolving the problems of the watershed residents, and finally, prioritization of comprehensive watershed management strategies with the QSPM matrix was carried out.
Results: Based on the results of the internal factors evaluation table, the highest importance coefficient was assigned to strengths (existence of skilled and specialized experts with a weight of 0.102) and weaknesses (Weak educational and promotional system and lack of awareness among users of long-term management benefits with a weight of 0.038). Based on the evaluation of external factors, the highest importance coefficient was assigned to opportunities (People's interest in participating and cooperating in the implementation of watershed management projects with a weight of 0.104) and threats (incompatibility of departments for construction and implementation of mechanical operations with a weight of 0.040). The results of the SWOT internal and external factors evaluation matrix showed that the total final score of internal factors was IFE=3.01 and the total final score of external factors was EFE=3.12. The strategic position in the offensive strategy quadrant (SO) was selected as the best strategy, which indicates the ability of strengths to overcome weaknesses and by relying on opportunities, weaknesses and threats can be mitigated. In order to prioritize strategies with the QSPM matrix, for each of the criteria of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats according to offensive strategies (SO1) to (SO7), importance coefficient, Attractiveness Score (AS) and Total Attractiveness Score (TAS) of the strategy, which indicates the relative attractiveness of that strategy, were calculated. And finally, the strategies were prioritized based on their scores. Strategy SO4 (Comprehensive watershed management planning by holding educational, promotional and cultural courses) was ranked first with a score of 5.952, and strategy SO1 (Proper utilization of surface and groundwater resources) was ranked second with a score of 5.321. Strategy SO7 (Attracting tourists and developing tourism to increase people's income) had the lowest score with a score of 4.384 and was ranked last among the aggressive strategies. The consistency rate of the criteria for strengths was CR=0.065, weaknesses CR=0.095, opportunities CR=0.048, and threats CR=0.028. Since the consistency rate is less than 0.1, the criteria are logically consistent and the obtained criterion weight values are correct.
Conclusion: In general, it should be noted that the goal of watershed management operations, especially in projects related to erosion and flood control, is not to achieve zero levels of erosion and flood at all levels of the basin. Accordingly, it is recommended that the scope of these measures be proportionate to the conditions of the entire basin and that mechanical and biological activities be implemented around the socio-economic axis and all existing relationships in the watershed. Also, in addition to carrying out the operations carefully and adapting the proposed operations to the implementation, careful management and supervision by the project supervisor and continuous follow-up and monitoring after the implementation of the project are necessary. Field visits and review of reports showed that if watershed management projects are implemented correctly, this basin has the potential to reduce the severity of erosion and peak flood discharge. According to the results of the assessment, in order to achieve sustainable development, a model of correct actions and appropriate solutions to solve basin problems was presented for the effectiveness of watershed management measures and to facilitate the decision-making process by watershed managers and even watershed residents. For example, given the weakness of the extension and educational system, the low knowledge and awareness of the Chah-Talakh residents regarding development plans, and the lack of sufficient attention to indigenous knowledge, it is essential that the rich and valuable local knowledge of the region be included in policy-making and basic decision-making, and that monitoring and updating studies with new knowledge be considered. The use of indigenous knowledge has a suitable potential for comprehensive watershed management due to its features such as feasibility, less need for financial resources, easier implementation, and compatibility with nature. Of course, combining indigenous knowledge and modern knowledge with financial support from relevant organizations leads to the effectiveness of management measures. These strategies can be useful in guiding users (research and implementation departments) to reduce the negative effects of these measures, implement successful watershed management plans, allocate future credit and investments to develop research activities, and generalize solutions to other similar watersheds in the country.
Introduction and Objective: The watershed, as the main source of human needs, should be such that maximum use of resources does not cause its deterioration in the long term; therefore, comprehensive watershed management requires a holistic and systemic approach that, while paying attention to the living standards of watershed residents, economic and social health, reducing conflicts in decision-making and wasting capital, providing human resources by attracting public participation and creating compatibility between physical, biological, social and cultural systems, minimizes environmental risks and problems in the watershed and leads to optimal utilization of resources in line with sustainable development. Therefore, the overall goal of watershed management is to develop sustainable livelihoods based on comprehensive management of natural resources, with the participation of all stakeholders. In this research, in addition to evaluating the effectiveness of watershed management activities, we attempt to provide desirable strategies to meet the needs of watershed residents of Chah-Telkh (Basht) watershed, by considering the affective factors and a long-term attitude in order to achieve sustainable development.
Material and Methods: The first step in evaluating watershed management projects is to determine the possibilities, potentials, limitations, and problems of the basin. Therefore, in order to adequately understand the affective factors of Chah-Talakh watershed, after reviewing the detailed-executive studies and field visits, by designing a questionnaire with AHP and identifying internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (threats and opportunities), each with eight criteria and 32 criteria in total, the main parameters affecting the watershed were selected for evaluation using the SWOT model. Strategies were developed to solve the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats with the aim of resolving the problems of the watershed residents, and finally, prioritization of comprehensive watershed management strategies with the QSPM matrix was carried out.
Results: Based on the results of the internal factors evaluation table, the highest importance coefficient was assigned to strengths (existence of skilled and specialized experts with a weight of 0.102) and weaknesses (Weak educational and promotional system and lack of awareness among users of long-term management benefits with a weight of 0.038). Based on the evaluation of external factors, the highest importance coefficient was assigned to opportunities (People's interest in participating and cooperating in the implementation of watershed management projects with a weight of 0.104) and threats (incompatibility of departments for construction and implementation of mechanical operations with a weight of 0.040). The results of the SWOT internal and external factors evaluation matrix showed that the total final score of internal factors was IFE=3.01 and the total final score of external factors was EFE=3.12. The strategic position in the offensive strategy quadrant (SO) was selected as the best strategy, which indicates the ability of strengths to overcome weaknesses and by relying on opportunities, weaknesses and threats can be mitigated. In order to prioritize strategies with the QSPM matrix, for each of the criteria of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats according to offensive strategies (SO1) to (SO7), importance coefficient, Attractiveness Score (AS) and Total Attractiveness Score (TAS) of the strategy, which indicates the relative attractiveness of that strategy, were calculated. And finally, the strategies were prioritized based on their scores. Strategy SO4 (Comprehensive watershed management planning by holding educational, promotional and cultural courses) was ranked first with a score of 5.952, and strategy SO1 (Proper utilization of surface and groundwater resources) was ranked second with a score of 5.321. Strategy SO7 (Attracting tourists and developing tourism to increase people's income) had the lowest score with a score of 4.384 and was ranked last among the aggressive strategies. The consistency rate of the criteria for strengths was CR=0.065, weaknesses CR=0.095, opportunities CR=0.048, and threats CR=0.028. Since the consistency rate is less than 0.1, the criteria are logically consistent and the obtained criterion weight values are correct.
Conclusion: In general, it should be noted that the goal of watershed management operations, especially in projects related to erosion and flood control, is not to achieve zero levels of erosion and flood at all levels of the basin. Accordingly, it is recommended that the scope of these measures be proportionate to the conditions of the entire basin and that mechanical and biological activities be implemented around the socio-economic axis and all existing relationships in the watershed. Also, in addition to carrying out the operations carefully and adapting the proposed operations to the implementation, careful management and supervision by the project supervisor and continuous follow-up and monitoring after the implementation of the project are necessary. Field visits and review of reports showed that if watershed management projects are implemented correctly, this basin has the potential to reduce the severity of erosion and peak flood discharge. According to the results of the assessment, in order to achieve sustainable development, a model of correct actions and appropriate solutions to solve basin problems was presented for the effectiveness of watershed management measures and to facilitate the decision-making process by watershed managers and even watershed residents. For example, given the weakness of the extension and educational system, the low knowledge and awareness of the Chah-Talakh residents regarding development plans, and the lack of sufficient attention to indigenous knowledge, it is essential that the rich and valuable local knowledge of the region be included in policy-making and basic decision-making, and that monitoring and updating studies with new knowledge be considered. The use of indigenous knowledge has a suitable potential for comprehensive watershed management due to its features such as feasibility, less need for financial resources, easier implementation, and compatibility with nature. Of course, combining indigenous knowledge and modern knowledge with financial support from relevant organizations leads to the effectiveness of management measures. These strategies can be useful in guiding users (research and implementation departments) to reduce the negative effects of these measures, implement successful watershed management plans, allocate future credit and investments to develop research activities, and generalize solutions to other similar watersheds in the country.
Keywords: Participatory Approach, Comprehensive, Integrated, Prioritization, Evaluation Matrix, sustainable development.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
مديريت حوزه های آبخيز
Received: 2025/08/30 | Accepted: 2025/10/29
Received: 2025/08/30 | Accepted: 2025/10/29
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
