Journal of Natural Environment

Integrated assessment of habitat quality and environmental risks for natural ecosystem protection (Case study; Savojbolagh and Chaharbagh Counties, Alborz Province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agroecology, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Environmental Planning and Design, Environmental Sciences Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/jne.2025.404158.2849

Abstract

Modeling habitat quality and identifying risks in order to identify priority conservation areas is an essential tool for managers to implement conservation planning. For this purpose, this study uses InVEST and GIS software in four steps to achieve its objective: 1) prepare land cover and land use (LULC) maps, 2) modeling habitat quality, 3) habitat risk assessment, and 4) identify priority conservation areas in Savajbolagh and Chaharbagh counties (Alborz Province) between 2004 and 2024. The results showed that LULC change has severely impacted over the past two decades, especially the conversion of pasture and agricultural lands into orchard, residential, and industrial zones. Also, the results of habitat quality modeling showed that habitat quality decreased by 4.8%, while risks to it rose by 37.5%. In 2004, conservation priorities were distributed among the first, second, and third categories at 0.4%, 53.5%, and 46.1%, respectively. By 2024, these distributions shifted to 3.5%, 56.1%, and 35% for the same categories. Conservation areas of first and second priority increased by 11.1% in the past 20 years, particularly in the northern rangelands and river valleys. It was also determined that the pasture and river valleys of the northern part, contains 3,498 hectares suitable for inclusion in existing protected areas. This study proves that decision-makers and land-use planners can combine spatial data and modeling tools to identify priority conservation areas to support their conservation and development plans.

Keywords

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Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 78, Issue 4
February 2026
Pages 629-647