Journal of Watershed Management Research

Watersheds are changed positively or negatively as biotic and abiotic factors in natural circumstances impact them. Landslides, as a physical factor, one of the negative consequences on these catchments. Masoleh watershed, in North of Iran, is one of the susceptible areas to explode the natural landslides. In other to landslide hazard zonation, the Dempster-Shafer model is which is used has 14 effective factors including, geology, slope, slope aspect, altitude, distance from faults, distance from road, distance from stream, distance from the fold, Stream Power Index, Compound Topographic Index, Rangeland condition, soil texture, rainfall and land use. Results showed that geology formation and distance from the fold factors have a consequential role to construct the lands life hazard in this area. Overgrazing, grazing in forth off-season, early grazing, late term departure of animal from rangeland and surplus livestock are considered as direct affecting factors on vegetation condition have simultaneous role to make the landslide hazard. From the other point of view, results showed that there was a close relationship between landslides and rainfall. So that parts of the study area which have the bare ground, high stocking rates, maximum rainfall; numerous landslides have occurred. Evaluation result of Dempster-Shafer model using ROC method has a superior accurate to evaluate the landslide risk in the study area. Therefore, regarding the affecting factors of the landslide hazard and knowing that status in each region, as an influence tool, has important role to exhaustive management of the watershed.