Journal of Natural Environment

Vulnerability assessment of Golestan National Park for sustainable development using DPSIR model

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Environment, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Protected areas are considered as an important tool for maintaining the integrity of the habitat and species diversity, and the construction of these areas does not mean leaving them alone, but continuous and efficient management practices to achieve the set goals. The effects of threats make protected areas vulnerable. Therefore, reviewing and evaluating threats in protected areas is necessary and essential to provide management solutions. Vulnerability is important for developing integrated management policies for decision makers in order to prioritize activities and improve vulnerability. Golestan National Park is one of the most valuable and unique areas under management and protection not only in Iran but also around the world and has countless natural values, lush and pristine forests and diverse species. It is plant and animal. This research is a descriptive-analytical study with the aim of assessing the vulnerability of Golestan National Park by combining the DPSIR model and the new vulnerability method in order to provide management solutions. In this method, first, using DPSIR model, driving force, pressure, status, effect and response, threats and values ​​of the region and the relationship between them were studied and evaluated. Finally, strategies in the form of possible responses to each component of the DPSIR model are presented. 5 The main driving forces such as population development, tourism development, road development, overgrazing, settlement development and lack of coherent management for the identified area and consequently the pressures, situation and effects of the area are identified and studied. Were located. The results of this study indicate that in Golestan National Park, the most effects of regional threats on ecological values, including the extinction of animals, plants, wildlife habitat and biodiversity loss, and in terms of vulnerability, illegal hunting of animals. In addition, fires cause the most damage to the area. Finally, management strategies to deal with threatening factors were presented.

Keywords

Adger, W.N., Brooks, N., Bentham, G., Agnew, M., Eriksen, S., Adger, W., Brooks, N.N., Kelly, M., Bentham, G., 2004. 'New indicators of vulnerability and adaptive capacity'.
Akhani, H., 1999. Studies on the flora and vegetation of the Golestan National Park, NE Iran. III. Three new species, one new subspecies and fifteen new records for Iran.' Edinburgh Journal of Botany 56, 1-31.
Amirkhani, M., Mesdaghi, M., Diamati Tilaji, G.A., 2006. An investigation on ecological characteristics of Agropyron cristatum in Golestan National Park. Pajouhesh and Sazandegi 71, 81-88. (In Persian)
Blouchi Rahimi, L., Malekmohammadi, B., 2013. Vulnerability Assessment of Wetland Ecosystems Based on their Ecological and Hydrological Values. Journal of Environmental Sciences  11, 56-57. (In Persian)
Dashti, S., Changizi, M., 2017. Study of Persian Gulf ecosystem with emphasis on mangrove forests and coral reefs and the impact of marginal countries on it using the index In Fourth National Conference on Energy, Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Architecture  pp: 4-5. (In Persian)
Faramarzi, H., Hosseini S.M., Pourqasemi H.R., Farnaqi M., 2018. Assessing the role of the Asian highway on Golestan National Park fires in the GIS environment (In Persian)'
Gholami, N., and Mansour Misdaghi M., 2012. An investigati on of spatial pattern of woody plants in shrublands of Golestan National Park ', Iranian Range and Desert Research 18. (In Persian)
Gitay, H., Finlayson C.M., Davidson N., 2011. A framework for assessing the vulnerability of wetlands to climate change. In.: Ramsar Convention Secretariat. pp. 1-2.
Harandi, M., Tabash M.R., Dariush Karimi D., 2020. Legal-Environmental Survey of Bamu National Park from Destruction and Rape. Animal Environment Quarterly 12, 34-42. (in Persian)
Hou, K., Li X., Zhang J., 2015. 'GIS analysis of changes in ecological vulnerability using a SPCA model in the Loess plateau of Northern Shaanxi, China', International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, 305-429.
Ismaili, Z.,2012. 'Arasbaran protected area assessment using by threats, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses(SWOT), Journal of Environmental Management and Planing. 13, 59-60.
Jahani, F., Malekmohammade B., Zebardast L., Adele F., 2015. Investigate the Potential and Application of Ecosystem Services as Ecological Indicators in the DPSIR Model (Case Study: Choghakhor Wetland). Environmental Research 5, 19-20. (In Persian)
Jahanishakib, F.,  Malekmohamadi B.,  Yusefi E.,  Alipour M., 2017. 'Developing management strategies using a new method for vulnerability assessment of wetland ecosystems (Case study: Choghakhor wetland). Quarterly Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 19, 77-91. (In Persian)
Jahdi, R., and  Arabi M., 2020. Modeling of fire paths in forest-grassland ecotones in Golestan National Park. Geography and Environmental HHazard 9, 25-42. (In Persian)
Karimi, S. ,  Keikha A.A., Ahmadpour M.,  Moradi M., 2014. Investigating the threatening factors of national parks (case study of Golestan national park). In The second national conference on environmental hazards in Zagros. (In Persian)
Khatibi, A.,  Danehkar A., Pourebrahim Sh., Vahid M., 2015. 'Introduction of DPSIR Model and Its Applicable in Environmental decision making. Humans and the Environment 13, 65-79. (In Persian)
Hassan Zadeh Kiabi, B.,  Zehzad B., Farhang Daershori B., 1994. Golestan National park' (Department of Environment). pp. 28-30. (In Persian).
Leylian, M. R., Amirkhani A., Ansari M., Bemanian M R., 2010. Investigating the perceptions of residents in Golestan National Park, Iran', Asian Social Science  6, 64.
Malek Hosseini, S. F., Dashti S., 2017. Assessment and ranking of environmental risks of Dena Protected Area using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Journal of Natural Environment 70, 49-50.
Khosravi Mashizi, A., 2017. Ecosystem Services A New Criteria for Assessing Ecosystem Capacity and Land Management. In The Second National Conference on New Approaches to Land Management in Iran. (In Persian)
Mohammadzadeh, Z., Sabzqabai Gh., Dashti S.. 2016. 'Identifying and investigating the pressures and threats of the protection zones of Golestan National Park. In National Conference on New Research and Educational Findings in Iranian Civil Engineering, Urban Architecture and Environment.
Mohseni, F., Sabzeqabaee Gh. R., Dashti S., 2018.  The Effectiveness of Special Protected Management for Sustainable Development (Case Study: Dez, Shimbar, Karai)', Geography and environmental sustainability 8, 99-111.
Nandy, S., Singh C.D.K.K., Das K.K., Kingma N.C.,  Kushwaha S.P.S., 2015. 'Environmental vulnerability assessment of eco-development zone of Great himalayan National Park, himachal Pradesh, India', Ecological Indicators 57, 82-95.
Nematollahi, Sh., Fakheran S.,  Soffianian A., Purmanafi S., 2016. Environmental Vulnerability Assessment in Abassabad Protected Area in the Face of Human Impact and Natural Disturbances. Animal Environment Quarterly 8, 1-8. (In Persian)
Ness, B., Anderberg S., Olsson L., 2010. Structuring problems in sustainability science: The multi-level DPSIR framework. Geoforum 41, 79-88.
Nikandish, A., Dashti S., Sabzghabaee Gh., 2018. Environmental hazards assessment of Karkheh National Park and Protected Area based on TOPSIS method. Spatial analysis of Environmental Hazards 5, 55-72. (In presian)
Robati, M., Ghazanchaei E., winter 2019. 'Socioeconomic and Environmental Situation Analysis of Mazandaran Province with Conceptual Model Approach DPSIR ', Humans and the Environment 50, 81-100. (In Persian)
Rounsevell, M.D.A., Dawson T.P., Harrison P.A., 2010. A conceptual framework to assess the effects of environmental change on ecosystem services. Biodiversity and Conservation 19, 28-42.
Schrevel, A., Kumar R., 2010. The Livelihoods concept integrated into the DPSIR analytical tool. In.: Alterra [etc.].
Stratford, Ch.J., Acreman M.C., Gwyn Rees H., 2011. A simple method for assessing the vulnerability of wetland ecosystem services. Hydrological Sciences Journal 56, 485-500.
Van Dam, R.A., Mapalo A., Peiying L., Finlayson C.M., Watkins D., 2002. Vulnerability assessment of two major wetlands in the Asia-Pacific region to climate change and sea level rise 1, Research Institute. 150 p.
Wang, X. D., Zhong X.H., Liu S.Z., Liu J.G., Wang Z.Y.,  Li M.H. 2008. Regional assessment of environmental vulnerability in the Tibetan Plateau: Development and application of a new method. Journal of Arid Environments 72, 29-39.
Zebardast, L., Yavare A., Salehi E., Makhdoum M., 2012. Using Landscape Ecological Metrics to Investigate Impacts of Road on Structural Changes in Golestan National Park During 1987 to 2010 , Environmental Research 2, 11-20 (In Persian)
Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 75, Issue 1
June 2022
Pages 22-37