Environmental Sensitivity of Coastal Ecosystems in Hormozgan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc of Environment, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Associate professor, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

Sensitive coastal areas are fragile ecosystems affected by geographic features and in the same time settlements were developed around these areas due to their ecological capability. Coastal ecosystems due to their countless benefits are very important for protection. Hence, this paper attempts to determine the sensitivity of coastal ecosystem to disturbances in Hormozgan Province. We reviewed 22 international and national studies to notice identification criteria for determination the coastal sensitive areas. We used 6 criteria and 29 indicators to select these regions. Exclusiveness and wilderness were the most important coefficients while industrial dependency had the lowest priority among the indicators. Moreover, 10 ecosystems were studied to determine importance and priority of sensitivity of ecosystems in the study area in shore and coastal zone. According to the results, mangroves in seashore besides protected coastal area are of the most important sensitive regions. Zoning of sensitive ecosystems shows that the most extent areas are the least sensitive ones in the coastal zone. Few areas are in the highly sensitive in the vicinity of Bandarlenge city. 6.96% of Very high sensitive parts are in southwest of Bandarlenge city that overlap with Seraj and Harra Protected Areas.

Keywords

Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 67, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Spring 2014
Pages 121-134

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