Locating areas prone to biological restoration of mangrove habitat (case study of Sirik, Hormozgan province)

Natural Resources Master Thesis - Desertification

Abstract

Mangrove forests are located in the southern coastal areas of Iran and due to their numerous functions and environmental values, their protection, restoration and development is necessary. Deciding the way to act in a certain way is consciously to achieve the goals, so as to choose a suitable option among various options. A problem based on spatial decision-making arises when there is a difference between the desired and existing situation from the point of view of the decision-maker. Regarding the issue of location decision making, correct evaluation of the methods and choosing the most appropriate place for the implementation of the project according to the current conditions is one of the important issues facing the decision makers. The multi-criteria nature of decision-making, choosing the right technology, the lack of complete and up-to-date information and the lack of experience of the decision-makers cause the complexity of the issue and create challenges in choosing the decision-making method and finally choosing the right place to implement the project. Mangrove forests are one of the sustainable resources that have attracted a lot of attention nowadays. The capabilities of the geographic information system in the field of location have caused it to be used in the location of areas prone to biological restoration. The purpose of this study is to determine the most suitable areas for the biological restoration of mangrove forests using the multi-criteria spatial decision-making method in Sirik habitat. In this research, the most effective criteria for the areas prone to biological restoration included water depth, distribution of mangrove and mangrove species, presence of sedges, slope classes, soil texture, electrical conductivity, tide line, coastal geomorphology, land use (coastal) and estuaries. Then, the criteria were zoned and weighted by using the opinion of experts and using the Analytical Hierarchy (AHP) method. Decision rules of index overlap, hierarchical analysis, FUZZY AHP were used to identify optimal locations. The interpretation of the outputs shows the difference in the results of the methods. Finally, to ensure the accuracy of the results, it was checked with ground control. The overlapping method was introduced as the best decision-making rule to identify suitable areas for the biological restoration of mangrove forests in Sirik habitat of Hormozgan province.

Key words:

decision-making, index overlap, fuzzy, AHP, mangrove forests, Sirik habitat

Chapter 1: Introduction and generalities

mangrove forests, wetland ecosystems of coastal communities The regions of Harihand, which do not belong to the land or the sea, but are considered to be the joint contribution of the sea and the land. Mangrove originally means standing floating tree and its root is Portuguese, mang means floating tree, grove means standing, mangrove forests are from the special ecosystems of Harihand regions and usually with words such as vital habitats, unique, conservation, evergreen and so on. are described and these characteristics indicate their importance from the ecological, environmental and aesthetic aspects, and it is not without reason that today these forests are in the focus of three international environmental treaties, namely the Convention on Wetlands, Biodiversity and World Heritage. The other name of these forests is tidal or dead forests.

Mangrove forests are the center of biodiversity, because due to their special characteristics and location, they provide a unique and coherent habitat for countless species from amphibians to terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates, and they are considered one of the most important habitats for native and migratory aquatic birds, especially rare and endangered species, therefore their protection is a priority. It has also been emphasized by relevant international organizations.

Mangrove forests are called sensitive habitats because their ecotonic position has made them benefit from the biological richness of both sea and land ecosystems and become one of the richest ecosystems in the world, but this position is also considered their vulnerability because they can be threatened from both sides.

These forests are vital ecosystems. They are also because their functions cannot be converted to the usual material values ??and they have almost no alternative options (Zhakri and Mousavi, 2017).

Mangrove forests are coastal wetlands covered with tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs in the tidal lands of the warm, brackish and salty coasts between 30°N and 30°S latitude. Mangrove plants are from the group of hygrohalophytes and from the group of swamp halophytes.Mangrove plants belong to the group of hygrohalophytes and from the category of swamp halophytes, which form a transition stage from land to sea by settling on silty lands covered with granular sediments. The difference between native species of mangrove forests and land-dwelling plants is in their structural characteristics, ecological requirements and tolerances, and the way they regenerate; So that despite the diversity of species in terms of taxonomy, they have the same structural similarities and create similar formations in areas with special ecological conditions (Danekar, 1374/b).

1. 1.  Statement of the problem

Obviously, in the absence of a correct and integrated management plan that takes into account both the protection of natural reserves and the restoration and restoration of damaged forests, one cannot be optimistic about the future of these sensitive forest communities in coastal ecosystems. Considering the loss of many mangrove habitats in the world, paying attention to the external protection and development of these forests outside their natural distribution ranges has become an inevitable necessity. Studies have shown that resorting to such management not only reduces the complications of exploiting mangrove forests and optimizes production, but also provides the best economic basis for a long time without destroying the ecosystem (Vin O, 2004) without the risk of losing genetic diversity. The management of mangrove forest ecosystems is based on measures related to the protection, restoration and development of existing habitats (Lewis, 2005; Kilman, 2006).

Today, international sensitivities and attentions regarding mangroves have prompted the government to prepare and implement various programs and research projects for the restoration of these ecosystems by helping their regeneration. In general, the goals of such programs are often development and protection and they try to restore the ecosystem to its natural and initial state (Cairo, 1995; Kumar, 1990).

mangrove forest management with the aim of sustainable productivity of the ecological (ecological) services of these coastal plant communities is based on a detailed assessment of the habitat, determination of plant structure and vegetation zoning, determination of importance, function and method of protection and The productivity of each zone and since the appearance and type of communities of mangrove forests changes from the sea side to the land side, it is important to know the habitat structure from the sea side to the land side in determining the appearance zones and the general structure (floristic and physiometric) of plants, their demarcation and management planning (Zehzad and Majnounian, 1998).

In recent decades, the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in The atmosphere has caused the global warming. The warming of the air and climate change, in parallel with the increase in the consumption pressure of human societies on primary natural resources such as water resources, soil and vegetation, have destructive effects on life on the planet and cause the destruction of natural ecosystems, floods and droughts, and the disruption of the climatic and ecological balance. by the vegetation, it creates a cycle of feedbacks that has accelerated and increased the development of the desert and reduced the capacity and performance of the primary net production of ecosystems (Danekar et al., 1388). colleagues, 2013).

Biological revitalization is the best way to deal with such destructive phenomena, and in fact, by using the natural potentials in each region, it makes possible the stability and reconstruction of biological and natural cycles. For this reason, in many restoration and reform projects, steps are taken to increase vegetation cover and prevent the reduction of the biological power of the land by applying correct ecological management, because any effort to increase the biological potential of the land and restore the lost capacities of natural resource areas is in line with sustainable development (Zhakri and Mousavi, 2017).

One of the very important ways to combat desertification is to increase vegetation cover. Therefore, it is necessary to select the correct plant species that are compatible and resistant to the conditions of the desert ecosystem in order to restore and create suitable vegetation on the one hand and to provide cheap water sources for their establishment on the other hand.