Hosseinzadeh, A., Moameri, M., Ghorbani, A., Mostafazadeh, R., Mofidi Chelan, M. (2023). Spatial Variability of Socio-Ecological Systems Using Multi-Criteria Evaluation in the North of Ardabil Province. , 26(3), 157-182. doi: 10.30490/rvt.2023.360813.1501
A. Hosseinzadeh; M. Moameri; A. Ghorbani; R. Mostafazadeh; M. Mofidi Chelan. "Spatial Variability of Socio-Ecological Systems Using Multi-Criteria Evaluation in the North of Ardabil Province". , 26, 3, 2023, 157-182. doi: 10.30490/rvt.2023.360813.1501
Hosseinzadeh, A., Moameri, M., Ghorbani, A., Mostafazadeh, R., Mofidi Chelan, M. (2023). 'Spatial Variability of Socio-Ecological Systems Using Multi-Criteria Evaluation in the North of Ardabil Province', , 26(3), pp. 157-182. doi: 10.30490/rvt.2023.360813.1501
Hosseinzadeh, A., Moameri, M., Ghorbani, A., Mostafazadeh, R., Mofidi Chelan, M. Spatial Variability of Socio-Ecological Systems Using Multi-Criteria Evaluation in the North of Ardabil Province. , 2023; 26(3): 157-182. doi: 10.30490/rvt.2023.360813.1501

Spatial Variability of Socio-Ecological Systems Using Multi-Criteria Evaluation in the North of Ardabil Province

روستا و توسعه
Volume 26, Issue 3 - Serial Number 103, January 2024, Pages 157-182    PDF (789.66 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.30490/rvt.2023.360813.1501
Authors
A. Hosseinzadeh1; M. Moameri* 2; A. Ghorbani3; R. Mostafazadeh4; M. Mofidi Chelan5
1PhD in Range Sciences, Department of Range and Watershed Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
2Associate Professor, Department of Plant Science and Medicinal Plants, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
3Professor, Department of Range and Watershed Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran..
4Associate Professor, Department of Range and Watershed Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
5Assistant Professor, Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction
Resolving social, economic and ecological challenges, analyzing the relationships between stakeholders and their surrounding environment is one of the requirements for empowering rangeland users. The interaction of humans and nature is defined as socio-ecological systems. Vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity have been identified as three characteristics related to the socio-ecological system. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to investigate the spatial changes of socio-ecological systems based on vulnerability, resilience and adaptation capacity criteria. Also, prioritization of the northern rural districts of Ardabil province using multi-criteria evaluation is another objective of the current study.
Materials and Methods
In this study, the research was conducted in the northern villages of Ardabil province. As per the Iranian Statistics Center's report from 2015, the northern region of Ardabil province comprises four cities: Meshginshahr, Germi, Bilasuvar, and Parsabad, along with 31 rural districts and 980 villages. The total population in this area is 237,907, residing in 61,412 households. The study focused on rural districts as the primary socio-ecological management units. These units encompass rural communities and rangeland ecosystems, each evaluated based on criteria such as resilience, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity. Based on the purpose of the research and different dimensions of socio-ecological systems, the research sub-criteria were selected. Data for the sub-criteria were gathered through mapping, climate data, and questionnaire analysis. To standardize the values across different rural districts, the maximum method was applied due to the varying nature of the criteria. Then, different weighting methods were then employed to evaluate and prioritize the rural districts accordingly.
Results and Discussion
The analysis results indicate that Shaban and Lahrud rural districts in Meshginshahr county have the highest vulnerability scores (0.871 and 0.867), while Aslandoz and North Qashlaq rural districts in Parsabad county have the lowest scores (0.448 and 0.483). This suggests that Shaban and Lahrud are in a more vulnerable situation compared to Aslandoz and North Qeshlaq. In terms of resilience, central Arshagh and West Qashlaq rural districts in Parsabad county have the lowest values (0.252 and 0.286), while the two western Meshgin and Meshginshahr Ghareso rural districts have the highest values (0.692 and 0.691) among all rural districts. Additionally, the adaptive capacity criterion shows that Dasht and Lahrud rural districts in Meshginshahr exhibit the highest favorability (0.797 and 0.864), whereas Angirlu and South Qeshlaq rural districts in Bilasuvar have lower favorability compared to other districts (0.111 and 0.145). Furthermore, the zoned maps of socio-ecological system index values revealed that when applying equal weighting or adjusting the weight of each criterion, there were no significant variations in the socio-ecological system index across rural districts. Notably, the analysis indicated that the southern rural districts in the research area exhibited more favorable socio-ecological conditions compared to other regions. Consequently, it is imperative to implement robust measures to conserve nature and the environment, provide support to rural communities, and align efforts with sustainable development objectives. This approach will facilitate informed decision-making and effective management of plans and projects aimed at enhancing social-ecological systems.
Conclusions
The results showed that the index of socio-ecological systems of Dasht, Lahrud, Qarasu, Western Meshgin and Eastern Meshgin rural districts in all four weighting approach conditions (with the same weighting, emphasis on vulnerability criteria, emphasis on resilience criteria and emphasis on adaptation capacity criteria) are more desirable compared to other rural districts. Overall, it is important to acknowledge that rural communities face greater challenges compared to urban areas in various aspects. When natural disasters strike, these communities are particularly vulnerable and have limited resources to recover. Therefore, it is crucial for management efforts to focus on maintaining favorable conditions and enhancing vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity in lower prioritized regions. Based on the research results, it is recommended to prioritize intra-regional and inter-regional equity to establish sustainable development and service indicators effectively. Special attention should be given to the spatial and physical organization of rural villages.
Keywords
Adaptation Capacity; Vulnerability; Resilience; Sensitivity Analysis
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