Journal of Natural Environment

Assessment of the biocultural diversity of Hamoon biosphere reserve

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Environment, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

2 Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran.

10.22059/jne.2023.364433.2593

Abstract

Studies on the biocultural diversity are important in complicated social-ecological systems of natural areas and especially in the biosphere reserves to understand the relationships between human society and natural environment. In this study, the Index of BioCultural Diversity (IBCD) was measured using ten cultural indicators of dialect, religion, customs, clothing, handicrafts, traditional architecture, food, livelihood, and beliefs, play and entertainment and three biodiversity indicators of birds, mammals, and plants in Hamoon biosphere reserve between 2020 and 2021. Indices of cultural diversity were calculated using Shannon-wiener based on the 30 questioners and their random distribution between people in nine villages next to the wetland areas of biosphere reserve.  Biodiversity indices were measured based on the determination of proportion of plants and animal species number to total species number and then calculation the average between them. With using average of biodiversity and cultural diversity, an index of biocultural diversity was calculated. With preparing maps of biodiversity scape, cultural diversity scape and their overlapping, bio-cultural landscape was provided. The rate of biocultural diversity (1.126) indicates the poor state of biosphere reserve. The correlation between cultural diversity and biodiversity shows that the indicators of diversity of beliefs and diversity of customs and diversity of traditional architecture did not have a significant correlation with any of the indicators of cultural diversity and biodiversity (P>0.05). In return, there was a significant positive correlation between the livelihood, food and handicrafts diversity with plants and animals’ diversity (P<0.05). In general, the assessment of the bio-cultural diversity of the Hamoon biosphere reserve showed that in the areas where the biodiversity had better conditions, the cultural diversity was parallel to it, which shows that the cultural and biological diversity are affected by each other. The results of the study are important for the managers of the protected areas and indicate that for environmental management, the approach should not be only the approach of biodiversity protection, but the management of these areas should be focused in a correct and sustainable manner with the attitude of biocultural diversity management.

Keywords

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Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 76, Special Issue Protected Areas
January 2024
Pages 213-230