Environment and Interdisciplinary Development

Abstract Abstract

Introduction: The Sistan Plain, located in southeastern Iran, has a hyper-arid climate and is highly dependent on limited water resources, especially the Himand River. Agriculture has historically been the dominant land use in this region, but in recent years it has experienced severe instability due to a sharp decline in water inflow. This research was conducted with the aim of identifying agriculturally sustainable areas in the Sistan Plain over the period from 1991 to 2021 based on changes in the volume of water entering the region. Considering the drastic reduction in water inflow into the Sistan region, planning for agriculture in the most sustainable areas is essential in order to achieve agricultural sustainability and prevent environmental degradation and financial losses for farmers.

Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in the Sistan Plain, located in the northern part of Sistan and Balouchestan Province. The data used in this research included Landsat satellite images from five time periods (1991, 2000, 2019, 2020, and 2021), Google Earth imagery, field data, and interviews with local residents. The area of water-covered lands in hamoun wetland and the Chahnimeh reservoirs of Sistan was considered as the amount of water entering the Sistan region. Land use and land cover maps were produced at two spatial scales: one covering the entire Sistan region including the hamoun wetland, and another focusing specifically on agricultural lands. These maps were generated using supervised classification of the satellite images into four categories: agricultural land, abandoned land, bare land, and water-covered land. The accuracy of the classifications was assessed using an error matrix and by calculating the Kappa coefficient and overall accuracy.

Results: The findings showed that in 1992 (1371 in the Iranian calendar), more than 280,000 hectares of land in the region were covered by water. However, this area decreased to less than 3,000 hectares in 2000 (1379), indicating a reduction in the inflow of the Helmand River. Similarly, in 1992, the cultivated agricultural land in the region amounted to 98,504 hectares, but by 2000 it had decreased by 31,689 hectares compared to 1992. In 2020 (1399), with the inflow of water from the Helmand River, an area of 102,506 hectares was inundated, and 105,948 hectares were cultivated by farmers. However, in 2021 and 2022 (1400 and 1401), with the complete cutoff of the Helmand River’s flow, only 45,552 and 27,899 hectares, respectively, were cultivated

Discussion: An analysis of land cover maps at a broad scale showed that in 2000, the hamoun wetland had dried up, water-covered areas decreased by 278,800 hectares, and bare land increased to more than 394,000 hectares—clear indicators of the direct consequences of reduced water resources. In 2000, vegetation cover declined from 281,000 to 139,000 hectares on a broad scale. The extent of cultivated lands in 1991 was the highest during the study period, at 98,504 hectares. Despite 2000 being the year with the least water coverage during the study period, the extent of agricultural lands still ranked third, amounting to 66,815 hectares. Results from field interviews and literature reviews showed that most wells in the region contained fresh water. In 2019, following sufficient water inflow, farmers resumed cultivation, and the highest cropping activity since 1991 occurred. With the continued reduction in water from the Helmand River during 2020 and 2021, cultivated land area also declined, and agriculture remained sustainable only in areas near the Chahnimeh reservoirs, where fresh water wells are present. Analysis of maps showing agricultural lands revealed that farmlands—especially those located in western Sistan exhibited the greatest instability during this period and were abandoned as water availability declined.

Abstract Introduction: Freshwater ecosystems are valuable ecosystems that support a significant biodiversity, from microscopic to macroscopic organisms, in these dynamic habitats. Streams and rivers are freshwater environments that are essential for maintaining a variety of aquatic organisms and ecological balance. Fishes of these ecosystem are important part of the diverse range of organisms that live in these environments. Fish, especially those found in tropical rivers, play an important role in the entire ecosystem. Aquatic organisms, including fish, require a number of physical and chemical factors for their survival and successful reproductive cycle in an aquatic ecosystem. The Sistan basin, located in southeastern Iran, is separated from all internal waters of Iran due to its geographical location and is shared with the Hirmand basin with Afghanistan. The Anjak fish is exclusively native to the Sistan basin, in the waters of the east of the country. The triple Hamun wetlands and the Chah Nimeh reservoirs of Sistan, including Chah Nimeh 1, 2, 3, and 4, with an area of approximately 15,000 hectares and a volume of approximately 1.5 billion cubic meters of fresh water, are one of the habitats of the Anjak fish, which has become rare in this habitat due to recent droughts.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, to investigate the habitat preference of Anjak in the Hamun Dam (Sistan Basin), sampling was conducted from 6 stations with 3 replicates each, for a total of 18 stations. A total of 9 physical and chemical variables of the water, including pH, water depth, river width, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), Altitude, bed slope, and total dissolved solids, were measured and recorded simultaneously with sampling at each station. Also, the Sodium absorption rate (SAR), Sodium, Magnesium, and Calcium ions were recorded.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the suitability of the studied species increased with an increase in all the factors studied except water depth, altitude, and pH. Increasing EC and TDS values led to a decrease in the suitability values of the studied species. In other words, the highest suitability was at a certain value and no significant fluctuation was observed. The results showed that the EC and TDS with values of 0.99 had the highest SI and Na absorbed in water with a value of 0.74 had the lowest SI index among the studied factors. The calculation of the total habitat suitability index for Anjak showed that the total value was 0.82. The results also showed that all the habitat variables studied had a significant relationship and high correlation with the suitability indices of habitat characteristics. According to the obtained results, it can be stated that the floodplain habitat of the Hamun (Adimi) wetland is a suitable habitat for the Anjak. Our finding showed with increasing depth, the suitability of the habitat for the studied species increases, given that Anjak has a large body height and depth, therefore such a mechanism is efficient and suitable for deeper parts of the habitat. Species with greater body depth prefer deeper parts of the habitat, which prevents body washing in aquatic environments and consumes less energy to cope with the water velocity.

Abstract Introduction: Despite their crucial role in preserving biodiversity, national parks and protected areas are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to growing human pressures, such as land-use change, the expansion of settlements, and local economic activities .The Sarigol national parks and protected areas, with their rich ecosystem and high biodiversity, are no exception. It faces serious local threats like mining, agriculture, and excessive livestock grazing, which endanger its long-term sustainability .
Therefore, a precise vulnerability assessment of this region, with a focus on local threat factors, is a management necessity. The primary objective of this research is to comprehensively analyze and evaluate the ecological vulnerability of the Sarigol Protected Area using the DPSIR model and to propose suitable management strategies to mitigate these threats.

Materials and Methods: This research employed a descriptive-analytical and mixed-methods approach to assess the vulnerability of the Sarigol Protected Area. The *DPSIR conceptual framework* was used to systematically analyze the interactions between human activities and the ecosystem. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire, which was designed based on the input of 20 local experts and specialists. The questionnaire items used a Likert scale to identify and prioritize the driving forces and environmental pressures .To ensure data reliability and validity, content and logical validity were confirmed through a Delphi process, and reliability was assessed using internal consistency measures.
The vulnerability assessment was conducted by quantitatively measuring the severity and probability of each threat, with the final score calculated as the product of these two metrics. Additionally, the area's values (ecological, hydrological, economic, and social) were rated based on their magnitude and significance. Finally, the overall vulnerability score was computed by simultaneously considering the threat score, the value score, and the impact of the threat on the value, and was categorized into three levels: low, medium, and high
Results: The DPSIR analysis identified seven key driving forces in the region: population growth, tourism development, expansion of rural settlements, agricultural and livestock activities, transportation infrastructure development, and mining activities. The threat assessment revealed that several high-risk factors, including road construction, illegal hunting, overgrazing, and deforestation, are endangering the area. Concurrently, the ecological value assessment confirmed the very high importance of the area's flora, fauna, and wildlife habitats. It was also found that traditional livestock farming has the highest economic value, yet overgrazing is a major threat—revealing a key paradox.
Discussion: The final vulnerability analysis confirmed the severe vulnerability of ecological values to transportation infrastructure, drought, deforestation, and livestock farming. These findings suggest that the intrinsic value of the ecosystem alone is not enough for its protection, and that the high vulnerability results from a lack of cohesive management and effective responses.
In conclusion, this study applied the DPSIR framework to assess the vulnerability of the Sarigol National Park and Protected Area, finding that it is caused by human driving forces and pressures such as overgrazing, deforestation, and infrastructure development. The results reveal a paradox between the area's high ecological value and its severe vulnerability due to a lack of integrated management. Therefore, the long-term sustainability of Sarigol will require the development of adaptive management strategies, attention to local livelihoods, and the decisive implementation of macro-level management responses.

Abstract Introduction: Benthic macroinvertebrates are fundamental components of aquatic ecosystems and, through their roles in nutrient cycling and as a food source for higher trophic levels, influence ecosystem dynamics. Given their sensitivity to environmental changes, these organisms are used as indicator species for assessing river health. Environmental factors such as temperature, current velocity, and substrate type affect the diversity and abundance of these biological indicators. By examining the effects of environmental factors on the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Zohreh sub-basin, this research contributes to a more precise understanding of community structure and to the improvement of aquatic ecosystem management.
Materials and Methods: To study the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Zohreh sub-basin, nine stations were selected based on environmental characteristics and site accessibility. Sampling was carried out in autumn 2023 with three replicates. Six environmental factors, altitude, current velocity, depth, width, water temperature, and substrate type, were measured. To quantify diversity and dominance data, the Shannon–Wiener, Margalef, Pielou’s evenness, and Simpson indices were used. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling (MDS), LINKTREE (linkage tree analysis), and BEST (best-fitting method), were performed using SPSS version 27.1 and PRIMER 6.1 software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The study showed that the structure and distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Zohreh sub-basin are directly influenced by physical environmental variables. Among the six measured factors, only depth showed no significant differences among stations, whereas the other factors, including current velocity, temperature, elevation, width, and substrate type, exhibited marked differences. A total of 22 families were identified, with Baetidae and Lumbriculidae exhibiting the highest abundances. Despite significant differences in the abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates among stations, cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling (MDS) indicated that most stations were grouped similarly in terms of species composition, and that the overall distribution did not differ significantly. The mean values of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Margalef species richness, Pielou’s evenness, and Simpson index were 1.2504, 1.2847, 0.5564, and 0.5680, respectively. The highest diversity (2.107), richness (2.364), evenness (0.8215), and species dominance (0.8612) were recorded at Station nine. The BEST analysis revealed that current velocity and depth are the most important factors influencing the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates. In addition, the LINKTREE test discriminated among stations based on combinations of environmental variables, including current velocity, width, depth, and temperature. Overall, the findings indicate that substrate conditions, salinity, temperature, and current velocity intensity play a decisive role in the presence of sensitive or tolerant species.
Discussion: The results of this study indicated that physical factors such as current velocity, temperature, elevation, width, and substrate type directly influence the composition, abundance, and species diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates. Rapid responses to changes in temperature, current velocity, and substrate quality make sensitive families like Baetidae effective biological indicators for monitoring the ecological status of rivers. In our study, natural variations in environmental conditions led to significant differences in the presence and abundance of these species. For example, at more favorable sites like Station Nine, we observed higher species diversity and richness. In contrast, stations that experienced rapid current velocities or had unsuitable substrates, such as Station Four and some intermediate stations, exhibited lower diversity. The presence of more tolerant families, such as Lumbriculidae, at sites with higher temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen indicates the dominance of resistant species under such conditions. This pattern aligns with findings from international research, indicating that species composition results from the simultaneous interaction of various environmental factors. Therefore, continuous monitoring of environmental conditions and benthic communities is crucial for effective management and conservation of riverbeds, flow regimes, and water quality.

Abstract Introduction: Land use change, and the expansion of human activities in wildlife natural habitats have currently intensified conflicts between humans and wildlife. In addition to the economy of indigenous communities, these conflicts are also related to security and wildlife protection and considered as one of the most important challenges in the management of protected areas. “Ors-e-Sistan” Protected Area (Hezar Masjed), located in the northeast of Khorasan Razavi province, is one of the important habitats of Persian leopards, gray wolves, wild boars and other wild animals. The existence of numerous villages, orchards, agricultural lands and extensive pastures inside and around this protected area, has provided the conditions for serious conflicts between humans and wildlife. To this end, this study aims to investigate strategies for reducing or preventing wildlife damage and propose effective solutions based on the experiences of local people and new methods.
Materials and Methods: In this study, data on wildlife attacks on humans, livestock, orchards and agricultural lands within the area and the 5 km buffer around it over a ten year period (2010-2020) were collected through the Department of Environmental Protection located in the cities of Kalat Naderi, Mashhad, and Chenaran and also the distribution of questionnaires among the indigenous peoples, and then analyzed in the next step.
Results: The results showed that over a period of ten years, 31 attacks on humans, 768 attacks on livestock and poultry, and 620 attacks on orchards and agricultural lands were reported by wild animals in the study area. Boar attacks, snake bites, and wolf and leopard attacks have been the most important causes of harm to humans, respectively. Furthermore, wolves with 75.9% and then leopards with 16.5% of the total attacks were recognized as the most important harmful species to livestock. Among livestock, sheep suffered the most mortalities from these attacks. Jackal and fox species have caused the most damage and casualties to rural poultry, respectively. Boars were responsible for more than 90% of attacks on orchards and agricultural lands. After wild boar, porcupine has caused the most damage to agricultural crops. Fruit trees, followed by wheat fields and summer crops, suffered the most significant damages from boar attacks, respectively. According to the results, among the methods to deal with damages, the use of scarecrow and fencing around fields for crops, the use of shepherds and herding dogs to deal with wild animal attacks on livestock and poultry, and the use of scarecrows in agricultural lands to drive away harm birds were considered as the first priority.
Discussion: The acceptance of some methods has been influenced by factors such as cost, environmental conditions, and the level of awareness of locals. These factors can be considered in the optimal management of conflicts in the study area to focus financial resources, educational programs, and protection facilities. Based on the obtained results, greater cooperation between environmental protection and natural resources departments in the field of managing and controlling the entry of livestock into protected areas and preventing the destruction of vegetation can reduce the movement of wild animals to villages and, as a result, their attacks on livestock.

Abstract Introduction:
The islands of the Persian Gulf are highly vulnerable to human interventions and tourism development due to their limited area, ecological fragility, and low ecosystem resilience. In recent years, the concept of an “ecopark” has emerged as an integrated approach to simultaneously conserve nature and support sustainable recreational use. However, scientific evidence indicates that implementing such initiatives without prior ecological capacity-based assessments can lead to irreversible degradation of island ecosystems. Bumusi Island—a small, strategically positioned, and relatively understudied island in the Persian Gulf—exemplifies areas with significant natural values yet lacking scientifically grounded frameworks for development decision-making. This study aims to quantitatively assess the ecological quality of Bumusi Island and evaluate its spatial suitability for ecopark development by employing the Remote Sensing-based Ecological Index (RSEI) combined with a fuzzy logic-based multi-criteria decision-making model. By minimizing subjective bias and accounting for environmental uncertainties, this research seeks to establish an evidence-based foundation for sustainable tourism planning within a dry island ecosystem.

Materials and Methods:
Initially, the ecological quality of Bumusi Island was monitored over a 24-year period (2000, 2014, and 2024) using Landsat satellite imagery processed within the Google Earth Engine platform. The RSEI was calculated without subjective weighting by integrating four key components—vegetation greenness (NDVI), moisture (Wetness), surface temperature (LST), and built-up/soil dryness (NDBSI)—through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Subsequently, to assess spatial suitability for ecopark development, the 2024 RSEI map—used as the base layer—was combined with Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and carbon dioxide concentration/dispersion (CO₂) layers. After standardizing all layers using appropriate fuzzy membership functions, they were integrated within ArcGIS Pro using the Fuzzy Gamma operator (γ = 0.8). The model output was a continuous ecological suitability map ranging from 0 to 1, which was subsequently classified into qualitative suitability categories.

Results and Analysis:
Time-series RSEI results indicated that the overall ecological quality of Bumusi Island falls within the "moderate" to "relatively good" range, but exhibits a highly heterogeneous spatial pattern. The southern and southeastern coastal zones—particularly areas with salt-tolerant vegetation—displayed the highest RSEI values, reflecting high ecological integrity and extreme sensitivity to human disturbance. Conversely, the central parts of the island showed moderate RSEI values, higher thermal stress, and sparse vegetation cover, suggesting a relatively greater capacity to accommodate controlled human activities. The fuzzy ecological suitability modeling revealed that only a limited portion of the island’s central areas fall into the “suitable” and “moderately suitable” categories for ecopark development. Regions with high ecological quality were classified as “unsuitable” or “highly sensitive” due to their conservation value, while areas with poor ecological quality and elevated CO₂ concentrations were similarly deemed unsuitable. The concentration of low-suitability patches in specific zones highlights the decisive role of the CO₂ indicator as a limiting factor within the fuzzy model and underscores the importance of incorporating anthropogenic pressure metrics alongside classical ecological indicators.

Conclusion:
Overall, this study demonstrates that Bumusi Island possesses only very limited and localized ecological capacity for ecopark development, necessitating any intervention to be strictly constrained, phased, conservation-oriented, and guided by rigorous zoning. The combined application of RSEI and fuzzy logic effectively distinguished between suitable and unsuitable areas. The findings offer decision-makers an objective, replicable tool while also providing a transferable framework for assessing other islands in the Persian Gulf. This approach aligns with the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Iran’s National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development.

Abstract Introduction: Soil contamination by petroleum can limit plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency by reducing water and nutrient availability, altering soil physicochemical properties, and inducing direct toxicity, ultimately affecting the quality and safety of edible crops. In oil-rich regions such as Gachsaran, localized oil and petroleum product spills into agricultural soils are probable and may have significant environmental and health consequences. Given the limited information on the responses of edible herbs, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of crude oil contamination on growth, photosynthetic pigments, and selected soil parameters in two species: basil and parsley.
Materials and Methods: he experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with four replications in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shiraz University. The first factor was species (basil and parsley), and the second factor was crude oil concentration (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g kg⁻¹ dry soil). Oil contamination was applied using a stepwise dilution method with a volatile solvent (dichloromethane), which was completely evaporated after 72 hours of aeration under a fume hood. Measured traits included fresh and dry leaf weight, stem length, root length and volume, and photosynthetic pigment contents (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll). Soil physicochemical properties, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, total nitrogen, and heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Pb, Zn, and Cd), were also assessed. The hydrocarbon profile in plant extracts was analyzed by GC-FID based on peak patterns.
Results: Parsley exhibited higher leaf biomass, whereas basil showed superior stem length and root parameters. Increasing crude oil concentration significantly reduced fresh and dry leaf weight, stem length, and root length and volume. At 10 g kg⁻¹, fresh leaf weight decreased by 13.2-fold and root length by 1.54-fold compared to the control, with more pronounced declines observed at 6–10 g kg⁻¹. Leaf chlorophyll content also decreased with contamination, with chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll reduced by 1.51-, 1.84-, and 1.51-fold, respectively, at 10 g kg⁻¹. Soil pH was not significantly affected by oil contamination, whereas EC increased markedly. Organic carbon and total nitrogen declined by 1.56- and 3.10-fold at the highest contamination level compared to the control. Heavy metal accumulation in the soils also increased. Hydrocarbon peak patterns in plant extracts confirmed the uptake and translocation of certain petroleum compounds, with differences in peak intensity and profile between the two species.
Discussion and Conclusion: Crude oil contamination significantly reduced growth in both species by altering root-zone conditions, which included increased EC, decreased organic carbon and nitrogen, and elevated heavy metals, and by limiting photosynthesis through reduced chlorophyll content, with the most severe effects being observed at higher contamination levels such as 6–10 g kg⁻¹. These findings suggest that basil and parsley can effectively serve as bioindicator species for monitoring the early effects of petroleum contamination under controlled conditions. The identified growth reduction thresholds provide a basis for risk assessment and management of contaminated soils. However, due to the greenhouse setting, field studies on naturally contaminated soils are recommended to enhance the generalizability of the results.

Abstract Introduction
Understanding sound propagation patterns in controlled aquatic environments is a critical prerequisite for the accurate interpretation of biological and behavioural data in experimental studies on aquatic organisms. Unlike open natural waters, confined systems such as aquaria generate complex acoustic fields due to limited dimensions, boundary reflections, standing waves, and resonance effects. These factors often lead to spatially heterogeneous sound pressure distributions, which are frequently overlooked in laboratory-based behavioural research. The increasing use of acoustic stimuli in experimental studies has intensified the need to characterize the acoustic landscape within experimental tanks. However, many studies implicitly assume acoustic homogeneity without empirical verification. Adopting a geographical–environmental and interdisciplinary perspective, the present study aims to analyse the spatial distribution of sound pressure levels within an experimental aquarium. Specifically, it investigates the spatial variability of sound pressure across the upper, middle, and lower layers of the water column under two conditions: active sound treatment and silence. The primary objective is to assess the degree of acoustic heterogeneity and its implications for experimental design, environmental management, and the interpretation of behavioural responses in aquatic organisms

Materials and methods
The study was conducted in a standard laboratory aquarium equipped with an external loudspeaker positioned outside and adjacent to one lateral wall of the tank. The sampling design was developed to provide comprehensive spatial coverage of the aquarium volume. The water column was divided into three vertical layers—upper, middle, and lower—and sound pressure levels were measured at a total of 144 predefined spatial coordinates. Measurements were carried out under two distinct experimental conditions: with the sound source active and under silent conditions. All recorded acoustic data underwent preliminary quality control and processing. Spatial analysis techniques were then applied to visualize and interpret sound pressure distributions. Three-dimensional graphical representations were used to identify spatial gradients, zones of sound energy concentration, and variations associated with depth and horizontal position within the tank.

Results
The results demonstrated that activation of the sound source produced a highly heterogeneous acoustic field within the aquarium. The highest sound pressure levels were consistently recorded near the wall adjacent to the loudspeaker and in the lower layers of the water column, where sound pressure reached approximately 110 dB re 1 µPa. In contrast, sound pressure levels decreased markedly toward the central regions of the aquarium, with values declining to around 96 dB re 1 µPa, particularly within the middle layer. These findings indicate the formation of pronounced spatial gradients extending from the sound source toward the centre of the tank, as well as a strong interaction between depth and horizontal position in shaping the acoustic field. Under silent conditions, sound pressure levels remained relatively uniform and stable across all spatial locations and depth layers, with no substantial spatial variability observed.

Discussion
The findings of this study challenge the common assumption of acoustic uniformity in laboratory aquaria and highlight the potential for significant spatial bias in behavioural and physiological experiments involving sound exposure. The pronounced heterogeneity of the acoustic field under active sound treatment suggests that experimental organisms may experience substantially different sound pressure levels depending on their position within the tank. From an environmental and cross-sectoral development perspective, these results underscore the importance of incorporating acoustic considerations into the design, management, and regulation of controlled aquatic environments, including research facilities and recreational or display aquaria. Ensuring environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and scientific validity requires systematic monitoring and documentation of acoustic conditions. This study emphasizes the need to integrate soundscape assessment into experimental protocols and environmental management strategies to improve the reliability of behavioural studies and support informed decision-making in aquatic environmental planning

Abstract Introduction: Tourism plays a pivotal role in the economic revitalization and diversification of communities. However, it can simultaneously induce significant transformations in the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of the host regions. The impacts of this industry on society may be physical, economic, social, or cultural in nature. There exists a reciprocal relationship between protected area management and the tourism industry—each depending on the other for its sustainability. Although this interrelationship is often complex and occasionally conflicting, tourism—if effectively managed—serves as a crucial mechanism for the preservation, development, and diversification of protected areas. Within the framework of sustainable management of protected regions, and with the dual objective of optimizing tourist use while safeguarding environmental and security values, estimating tourist numbers is of paramount importance. Accordingly, the present study adopts a sustainable tourism development perspective and employs a quantitative model to assess the tourism carrying capacity of the Palang Darreh Protected Area, located in Qom Province, Iran. Palang Darreh, as the sole protected area in the province, features pristine landscapes, diverse vegetation, and a variety of animal species. Situated approximately fifty kilometers southwest of Qom, it functions as a key ecotourism destination in the region.
Materials and Methods: To evaluate the tourism carrying capacity, expert consultations were conducted to identify the key indicators influencing capacity estimation, including the number of frost days, storm days, and hours of extreme heat, rainy days, breeding season restrictions, and human resource availability. The study area encompassed several ecological and recreational zones, such as wildlife viewing sites, birdwatching locations, mountaineering areas, and water resources. Then in each region separately, the physical carrying capacity, which is the maximum number of visitors who can be physically present at a site at a given time; the real carrying capacity, which is the number of visitors a site can accommodate after adjusting for limiting environmental or situational factors, and the effective carrying capacity, which means the number of visitors a site can sustainably support given the management’s operational capabilities, were calculated.
Results: The estimated effective carrying capacities for wildlife viewing and birdwatching sites—located in the eastern and western sections—were 998 and 499 visitors per day, respectively. For mountaineering sites, Aleh Mountain and Sakht Hesr accommodated an estimated 12,355 and 18,112 visitors per day. Regarding the region’s water resources, the capacities of Kosh-e-Taghcheh Spring, Dega aqueduct, and Khajeh Hassan aqueduct were estimated at 125, 250, and 375 visitors per day, respectively, demonstrating high tourism potential. Among the evaluated sites, mountaineering areas exhibited the highest physical, real, and effective carrying capacities, while the springs and aqueducts had the lowest. Specifically, Sakht-e-Hesar Mountain had the greatest capacity across all indices, whereas the Taqcheh Spring exhibited the smallest capacity values.
Discussion: The findings indicate that the Palang Darreh region possesses substantial effective tourism carrying capacity. In light of emerging challenges faced by Iran’s ecotourism sector, it is evident that this region requires the enhancement of its infrastructure and service facilities to both accommodate increasing tourist demand and mitigate potential negative environmental impacts—particularly those related to the harvesting of medicinal plants. Regional management strategies should prioritize two main objectives: (1) ensuring the protection of the area’s ecological and conservation values, and (2) maximizing visitor satisfaction through sustainable tourism planning and management.

Abstract Introduction: Urban land uses, including educational institutions, especially universities, have a significant share in the consumption of natural resources and the production of pollutants, and consequently exert considerable impacts on the environment. Due to the service-oriented nature and the wide range of educational, research, and support activities, universities consume large amounts of energy, water, and other resources. Therefore, accurate and comprehensive assessment of their environmental impacts through indicators such as the ecological footprint is an undeniable necessity for sustainable resource management and reducing environmental consequences.
Material and Methods: The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the ecological footprint of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in the new campus area, using the life cycle assessment approach. In this study, by identifying the consumed resources and related environmental flows, an attempt was made to provide a quantitative picture of the impacts resulting from university activities. The results of this research can be used as a basis for optimizing consumption patterns, developing environmental strategies, and moving towards green universities. Considering the significant share of universities in resource consumption and pollutant production, and the lack of comprehensive and scientific assessments of the environmental impacts of educational institutions in the country, conducting this research with a life cycle approach is an important step towards improving sustainable management and enhancing the environmental performance of universities. In this study, in addition to the ecological footprint by the EF method, the water footprint by the AWARE method, and also the carbon footprint by the IPCC method in 2023 were examined. The total number of staff and students of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in the campus unit is 4,121.
Results: The final estimated ecological footprint score of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is -2.75 pt. The greatest negative impact on the university’s ecological footprint relates to electricity consumption, and in the impact categories, to climate change, followed by resource consumption, while the greatest environmentally compatible effect on the university’s ecological footprint is related to water storage and the university’s water recycling system. The results obtained from examining the carbon footprint show that the final value obtained for the carbon footprint of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is -2.17 × 104 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. Water storage is one of the most effective solutions in reducing the carbon footprint, since this action, by reducing dependence on pumping operations, significantly reduces energy consumption and ultimately leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity consumption at the university has increased its carbon footprint. The total estimated score for the water footprint of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is -1.06 × 104.
Discussion: The measures presented, such as creating water storage and recycling systems and green spaces at the university, have positive and environmentally compatible effects. Analysis of the ecological footprint of universities using the life cycle approach can be used as a model for other educational institutions to reduce environmental impacts and for effective planning. This study shows that accurate and comprehensive assessments are an effective step in optimizing resource consumption and protecting the environment. Overall, this research, through a multidimensional evaluation of environmental impacts, reveals the importance of resource management and the implementation of sustainable solutions in universities and can pave the way for improving the environmental performance of educational institutions.

Abstract Introduction: The increasing energy demand has led to the development of large energy-related industries such as oil and gas and power plants. The combined cycle power plant is one of the most efficient, flexible and cost-effective industrial projects for electricity generation that is currently being built and operated in many parts of the world, including Iran. Combined cycle power plants, despite their high energy efficiency, are considered one of the considerable environmentally damaging facilities due to the production of various types of waste, air and water pollution. This has led to the need for comprehensive management of sustainable environmental development. One of the most important considerations for achieving sustainable development is to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of electricity generation. Environmental impact assessment is a process that evaluates the effects of human activities on the environment. The EIA goal is to maintain sustainable development to ensure the protection of the ecosystem and human well-being. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on environmental impact assessment of power plants, including combined cycle power plants. This paper aims to assess the actual environmental impacts caused by activities of the Ghadir Combined cycle power plant using the RIAM method and rank them by the Shannon Entropy and CoCoSo techniques. It has also been attempted to verify the accuracy of the predicted impacts by comparing the results of the impact assessment of the power plant that is currently in operation with the results of the environmental impact assessment report that was conducted in 2016.
Materials and Methods: The environmental impacts resulting from the power plant activities were identified based on the current conditions of the study area, reviewing the documents, and the opinions of experts related to the research topic. Subsequently, the assessment process was carried out using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) method for the identified real impacts. Then, the CoCoSo method was used to prioritize the real environmental impacts of the Ghadir Combined Cycle Power Plant.
Results: The results showed that the effect of industrial and sanitary waste disposal on aquatic life with a score of 16, the effect of emission of contaminating gases on the personnel health with a score of 15.9, and the effect of the disposal of industrial and sanitary effluent on the water habitat with a score of 14.4 are the most important. Finally, considering the identified effects and the type of power plant activities, an environmental monitoring program as well as corrective and control measures were presented to reduce environmental impacts.
Discussion: This study was conducted to identify and assess the actual environmental impacts of a combined cycle power plant. The results show that the most significant impact is related to water pollution due to the discharge of power plant wastewater into the environment. The most important factors affecting water pollution are related to the use of chemicals and extensive water consumption in steam and cooling units, which lead to the pollution of surface water resources. Therefore, a proposed program has been presented to monitor the parameters affecting the quality of the environment within the power plant. Previous studies have indicated that the most important environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of power plant projects are water pollution and emission of combustion gases, which from this perspective is consistent with the results of the present study.

Abstract Introduction: Industrial development is the result of changes in methods and development of new machines that have been created in order to provide the needs of human societies, failure to impact assessment of these issues can leads to serious risks for humans and environment. Therefore, it is necessary and essential to achieve management and purposeful tool that accurately identifies and effectively controls potential and actual threats to health, safety, and the environment. Among various industries, the pulp and paper industry are a growing industry due to the high per capita production of paper to provide the needs of society and has been identified as the sixth most polluting industry in the world. In addition to environmental impacts, this industry may pose many risks to the workforce that are working in it, which has led to greater attention to the issue of health-safety and especially environmental risk assessment. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the risks that threaten human resources and the environment and to propose solutions to reduce these risks to this industry.
Material and Methods: In this study, the EFMEA (Environmental Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) method, which is an efficient method of the environmental risk assessment, was used to identify and assess the environmental risks of the Golestan Persia Paper Company. Initially, the risks of process units (including the pulping unit, production line, and steam boiler unit) were identified. In the next step, the impacts of the identified risks were evaluated using the components of consequence severity, probability of occurrence, and probability of detection and identification. After determining the confidence limit, environmental risks were classified and finally control/corrective measures were proposed to eliminate or reduce the risks. In the final step, a secondary assessment of environmental risks was conducted after corrective actions, and the priority of implementing the corrective measures was determined according to the degree of feasibility.
Results: Of the 16 environmental risks identified, 3 were at high risk level, 11 at medium risk level, and 2 at low risk level. The highest risk level is related to the formation of sediment in the steam boiler, which leads to higher fuel consumption and air pollution. soil contamination resulting from the entry of wastewater from the production line and pulping unit into a soil pond for sedimentation before treatment is performed as well as Condensate flashing (conversion of the liquid phase to vapor) are also considered to be other major risks of the plant under study. By providing corrective solutions, all risks were reduced to a low-severity risk level.
Discussion: The results of the present study and a review of similar research conducted in different industries showed that conducting risk assessment studies and providing corrective actions can significantly reduce risk levels. Combining of the methods of health, safety, and environmental risk assessment by systematizing the process of identifying aspects can increase the accuracy and precision of risk assessment results. And finally, the identified solutions can be used in the form of risk management guidelines in the study area. After identifying solutions and adopting the desired strategy to control each of the risks, it will be possible to design operational scenarios appropriate to each of these strategies and in accordance with the crisis management guidelines.

Abstract Introduction: Unrestricted urbanization has driven the rapid expansion of cities, posing significant challenges to natural resources and environmental integrity. Iran, like many other nations, has experienced this trend, undergoing substantial changes as a result. To minimize biodiversity loss, it is crucial to analyze the impacts of urbanization on biodiversity and implement targeted, effective policies. These policies should focus on identifying vulnerable species and areas where the effects of urban expansion are highly concentrated, enabling informed and conscientious urban planning.
The primary objective of this study is to identify key indicators of degradation within Bamou National Park. This includes determining the interdependencies among these indicators and, ultimately, ranking the factors contributing to degradation to facilitate effective management and planning strategies for the area. Data collection was conducted using a survey-based research approach, with the statistical population defined by a panel of environmental experts and specialists.
Materials and Methods: To analyze and establish the relationships between urban growth policies and the management of Bamou National Park, a 5-kilometer buffer zone surrounding the park was initially delineated using Google Earth Engine. This delineation allowed for the monitoring and measurement of changes in land cover and land use patterns. Subsequently, expert opinions gathered from the region, coupled with a review of relevant literature, were used to develop a hierarchical DPSIR (Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) model. Concurrently, an evaluation index system was designed across four domains: physical/chemical, biological, economic, and socio-cultural. An initial matrix containing over 60 criteria was developed, and the criteria and sub-criteria were ranked using the Delphi method to prioritize relevant indicators. Additionally, the DANP (DEMATEL- ANP) model was employed to determine and estimate the influence and interrelation of factors affecting Bamou National Park.
Results: The findings reveal that the economic environment ranks highest among the evaluation criteria. The sub-criteria were ranked as follows, with their respective weights: agricultural and horticultural development (weight = 0.071), land-use change and illegal occupation (weight = 0.069), tourism and recreation (weight = 0.068), and increased construction (weight = 0.067). Based on these results, specific strategies for achieving a favorable outcome have been proposed.
Discussion: A significant disparity in the physical growth patterns of cities surrounding Bamou National Park (within the 5-kilometer buffer zone) is evident, highlighting the neglect of a critical potential resource – imminent habitat loss. A thorough review of existing policies, laws, and regulations, coupled with their rigorous implementation, is essential. Also critical are targeted conservation efforts, continuous public education campaigns emphasizing the importance of protecting these areas, the promotion of sustainable ecotourism initiatives, the adoption of environmentally sound agricultural practices, encouraging responsible natural resource use, and active public participation in conservation efforts. These measures can mitigate habitat fragmentation and prevent the extinction of plant and animal species within the region. Furthermore, it is recommended to foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange with similar and more developed countries. Additionally, leveraging the resources and mechanisms of international environmental institutions to assign economic value to managed areas is crucial. This valuation can serve to reduce encroachment, prevent land-use conversions, and safeguard these areas from further degradation.

Abstract Introduction: Formaldehyde (formalin) is a preservative that is widely used in surfactants, dishwashing liquids, cosmetics and health products, especially shampoos and care products. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has identified formaldehyde as a strong carcinogen. Therefore, the detection and measurement of this compound with high speed and sensitivity in various samples is of great importance. Various methods for measuring formalin have been reported in scientific literature, but they have not been accepted due to long analysis time, high cost, and low sensitivity. Among the methods, electrochemical methods have been considered due to their high sensitivity, high analysis speed, low cost, and miniaturization.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the surface of the pencil lead electrode was graphitized by applying a direct voltage in a sulfuric acid solution. After activating the electrode surface, it was floated in nickel chloride solution and nickel nanoparticles were deposited on the electrode surface using chronoamperometry technique by applying a potential of -1.2 for 100 seconds. Then, by scanning the potential in alkaline medium, the graphenized pencil lead electrode (GPLE) modified with nickel hydroxide nanoparticles was obtained. The morphology of the GPLE/Ni(OH)2 was examined by scanning electron microscopy and the average particle size was calculated to be about 52 nm. The structure of the modified electrode was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. The important parameters including the electrodeposition time, electrodeposition potential and electrode activation conditions were optimized. After electrochemical experiments, the prepared electrode was used to measure formaldehyde as a hazardous environmental pollutant in various types of detergents.
Results: Based on the experimental results, the simultaneous presence of nickel hydroxide nanoparticles and graphene nanosheets on the electrode surface increases the electron transfer rate and also increases the electrochemical active surface area of the modified electrode. The results of the experiments conducted under optimal conditions show that the GPLE/Ni(OH)2 has a linear range of 5-175 μM, a detection limit of 2.04 μM, and a sensitivity of 0.20496 μA μM-1 cm-1 for the measurement of formaldehyde.
Discussion: Compared to similar studies, the efficiency of the GPLE/Ni(OH)2 in the measurement of formaldehyde is acceptable and it can be used with high accuracy and reliability in the measurement of formaldehyde in various detergents. In order to investigate the effect of interference of some species on the response of the fabricated sensor, the interference of compounds such as betaine, coconutate, texapone, urea and glycerin, which are widely used in detergents, was investigated. According to this study, the change in the response of the GPLE/Ni(OH)2 electrode for 25 μM formaldehyde in the presence of interfering species was less than 5%, indicating good selectivity of the designed sensor. Also, the fabricated electrode maintained its efficiency for long periods of time, which indicates its commercialization. The results obtained from the spiking and the recoveries obtained indicate the high accuracy of the results obtained. The results obtained using the proposed method were compared with some other methods which indicated the high sensitivity and capability of GPLE/Ni(OH)2 for measuring formaldehyde with high accuracy and precision.

Abstract Introduction: Water is an essential natural resource that shapes regional landscapes and is vital for the functioning of ecosystems and the well-being of human life. Preserving this critical life-sustaining resource requires sustainable and stable planning, as well as sustainable financing in the water and wastewater sector. Accordingly, the present study aims to identify the key drivers influencing sustainable financing in the water and wastewater industry.
Materials and Methods: In terms of purpose, this study is exploratory, and in terms of orientation, it is applied. Data were collected through both fieldwork and library research, following deductive and inductive reasoning. The methodology is quantitative. In this research, the Fuzzy Delphi technique was employed for the initial screening of drivers, and subsequently, the EDAS (Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution) technique was used to rank the screened drivers. The theoretical population of the study consisted of managers and experts in the water and wastewater industry. After identifying and ranking the drivers, research scenarios were developed using the two principal drivers that achieved the highest rankings based on the EDAS technique. Accordingly, four scenarios were designed. The Marcus technique was then applied to identify the most plausible scenario.
Results: Based on the literature review and expert interviews, 25 drivers were initially identified. These drivers were subsequently screened using the Fuzzy Delphi method. At this stage, 17 drivers with defuzzified values below 0.6 were eliminated, and 8 factors were selected to develop the driver impact model. The eight key drivers identified in this study are: feasibility assessment methods of water and wastewater projects; the level of transparency in water and wastewater projects; legal requirements for sustainability reporting in the water and wastewater industry; governing policies over water transfer and distribution projects in the country; diversity of financing methods in the country; water pricing; development of green financial instruments; and policies for evaluating technologies used in water and wastewater treatment projects. The screened drivers were then ranked using the EDAS technique based on three criteria: degree of certainty, intensity of importance, and experts’ level of expertise. Among these criteria, intensity of importance and experts’ expertise had a positive effect, while degree of certainty had a negative effect. The EDAS ranking results identified two key drivers: legal requirements for sustainability reporting and diversity of financing methods. Based on these two drivers, four scenarios were developed. Application of the Marcus technique indicated that the most probable future scenario for sustainable financing in Iran’s water and wastewater industry is Scenario Four, which represents the most pessimistic scenario. According to this scenario, both the legal requirements for sustainability reporting and the diversity of financing methods are expected to be in an unfavorable state in the future. 
Discussion: Potential Scenario – The Worst-Case Scenario Arising from the Adverse State of Two Key Drivers: Legal Requirements for Sustainability Reporting and Diversity in Financing Methods
The first driver is the growing global importance of legal requirements for sustainability reporting. In this scenario, it is anticipated that regulations related to sustainability reporting in the water and wastewater sector may not be effectively implemented, or may encounter significant challenges in compliance. This could result in decreased transparency in projects, which in turn would lead to a reduction in public trust and investor confidence in the industry. The second driver concerns the diversity of financing methods. In the fourth scenario, a reduction in the diversity of financial resources and limited access to innovative financing methods, such as green bonds and other sustainable financial instruments, would severely impact the financial resources of the sector. This situation could present significant challenges to the growth and development of water and wastewater projects, especially in regions facing resource scarcity. Therefore, strengthening these two drivers is crucial as a priority to prevent this pessimistic scenario.

Abstract Introduction: Nature-based tourism is a branch of tourism that plays an important role in the global economy and in achieving sustainable development. Coastal areas are among the most attractive regions for nature tourism activities. To ensure sustainable development of nature tourism, especially in sensitive areas such as coastlines and to prevent degradation of the intrinsic values of these zones, ecological capability assessment is essential. Various methods exist for land capability assessment. Multi-criteria evaluation is one of the practical methods used for assessing land capability for different uses based on effective criteria. In this method, the importance of the criteria is determined using techniques such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and due to the diversity of these criteria, standardization methods such as fuzzy logic are applied. This approach can be implemented within Geographic Information Systems (GIS), where criteria are combined using models like Weighted Linear Combination (WLC). The Makran coasts, with their ecological values and unique attractions, have high tourism potential and require precise planning and a localized ecological capability assessment model.
Material and Methods: In this study, multi-criteria evaluation was used to assess the ecological capability of the land for nature tourism. The evaluation criteria were determined based on expert opinion. Six criteria were weighted using AHP and standardized with a fuzzy method. Study constraints were standardized using Boolean logic. Maps of soil characteristics, vegetation cover, water resources, and mangrove forests were generated through satellite image analysis. Other maps were obtained from available sources. The standardized and weighted layers were integrated using the WLC method, and an ecological capability model of the Makran coastal lands was developed and classified into five categories.
Results: The land use and land cover map of the Makran region was produced with a Kappa accuracy of 0.86 and an overall accuracy of 90%. The results indicated that agricultural lands, particularly farms in the west and around the Bahukalat River in the east, are important tourism attractions. The area analysis showed that barren lands occupied the largest share (78%), followed by salt marshes (17%). The ecological capability model for tourism was designed using climatic, habitat, environmental sensitivity, natural attraction, socio-economic, and topographic factors, with weights assigned using AHP. The ecological capability map indicated that the coastline, the Chabahar Free Zone, and historical villages were classified as high to very high tourism potential, covering areas of 15,436 and 16,322 hectares, respectively. In contrast, the central and northern parts of the region, due to environmental constraints and lack of infrastructure, fell into low to moderate potential categories and occupied the majority of the area.
Discussion: The assessment of tourism potential along the Makran coasts shows that the highest weight was assigned to socio-economic factors, indicating the critical role of tourism infrastructure, road accessibility, and historical attractions in attracting tourists. Natural scenic areas, especially those close to water bodies and with striking vegetation, play a significant role in enhancing tourist experiences. The region’s moderate climate, particularly the monsoon phenomenon, supports seasonal tourism, and natural habitats such as wetlands and mangrove forests offer unique eco-based attractions. Environmental sensitivities must be observed to ensure sustainable tourism development. The zoning results reveal that only a small portion of the area has very high tourism potential, mainly including Chabahar’s coasts, mangrove forests, mud volcanoes, and historical villages, while central areas and those far from infrastructure have lower potential. Findings emphasize that development strategies should prioritize conservation and sustainable use of high-potential zones while improving the capacity of areas with medium and low potential.

Abstract Introduction: Each ecosystem provides essential goods and services that support human needs and community well-being. However, wetlands in both Iran and globally are confronted with significant challenges, including reduced area, water pollution, and changes in land use, all of which threaten their sustainability. Consequently, the protection of these critical ecosystems is crucial for their sustainable management. To address this, the DPSIR framework has been developed in recent years to assess environmental changes and analyze the impacts of human activities on the environment. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the environmental status of Alagol Wetland using the DPSIR framework and to explore the cause-and-effect relationships between human activities and environmental impacts.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in four main steps: identifying the driving forces affecting the status of wetlands, examining the pressures on the current environmental condition and assessing the negative impacts; adapting and localizing the data for the Alagol Wetland through field visits and interviews with local residents and experts; describing the environmental condition of the Alagol Wetland within the DPSIR framework and identifying and proposing the most significant solutions to reduce, compensate or resolve the issues facing the studied wetland, using a Likert-scale questionnaire.
Results: The study findings indicated that population growth, climate change, development of settlements and rural areas, water demands of surrounding communities, road and transportation infrastructure development, lack of integrated management, weak regulations, agricultural activities, tourism, industrial growth and development, aquaculture and fisheries, livestock farming and excessive grazing are the primary driving forces that, through a series of cause-and-effect relationships, have led to pressures, conditions and impacts. To manage these effects and improve the status of the wetland, 65 response strategies were presented. After evaluation by experts, the most important strategies were identified for each driving force. Key strategies include monitoring peripheral lands and defining wetland boundaries, using modern irrigation systems, preventing land grabbing, integrated water management, adhering to environmental development requirements as per the National Land Use Master Plan, promoting a comprehensive wetland management approach, maintaining hydrological balance in the basin, planning tourism development in accordance with regional capacities, applying advanced technologies in conservation, preserving native aquatic species and zoning appropriate grazing areas around the wetland.
Discussion: The environmental status assessment of Alagol Wetland using the DPSIR model clarifies the cause-and-effect relationships between human and natural factors and their impacts on the wetland ecosystem. Driving forces such as population growth and climate change exert pressure on the wetland environment, leading to negative changes in water quality, habitats and biodiversity. Since these changes pose serious threats to the wetland's sustainability, identifying and implementing management solutions is essential. The proposed measures, alongside strengthening integrated management and active community participation, require continuous monitoring, sufficient resource allocation and the development of effective regulations for the protection of this valuable ecosystem. In this regard, the developed indicators of the DPSIR model can serve as effective tools for policymakers and managers in planning and decision-making processes related to the conservation of Alagol Wetland.

Abstract Introduction: Inappropriate industrial and mining development in the suburbs of cities with a desert climate (dry subtropical) have resulted in dust pollutions. The soils in the study area were naturally alluvial soils with medium loamy sand surface texture, without layer restrictions and without salinity. The vegetation on the soils was naturally weak to medium pasture type with a predominance of Artemisia plant species (Artemisia spp.) and Tamarix species (Tamarix spp.) in the waterways.  The dangers of aerosols are not hidden from anyone. In order to mention its importance, in terms of health and treatment, we can refer to all kinds of dangerous diseases caused by the entry of silica particles or compounds such as iron into the lungs. On the other hand, suspended particles can affect solar radiation in terms of light physics and cause conditions such as greenhouse gases and local warming.  In this study, soil was used as an indicator of the impact of industries and mines on the environment. Therefore, this study aimed to identify dust pollution hotspots and distinguish areas on the outskirts of Yazd city up to 30 kilometers from Yazd city where metal industries and sand and gravel mines had affected soil characteristics.
Materials and Methods: The concentration of airborne particles in the study area where various industries were located was measured by a portable dust sampler, HazDUST Model 5000, as a mobile devise. For this purpose, in the study area, the mobile device for measuring the amount and size of suspended particles was used with the filters:10.0, 2.5 and 1.0 microns. Also, from the dusts of the different studied areas, scanning electron microscope imaging test was performed along with the supplementary X-ray energy dispersion analyzer (ESM-EDX). To investigate the effect of suspended particles on soil and to obtain the effects of dust on soil types, soil sampling was carried out separately in the areas of steel industry expansion and sand and gravel mines up to 30 kilometers west of Yazd city. 
Results: The obtained results showed that the soil types were different in the chemical and physical properties. In such a way, the areas with metal industrial dust originating from alloy steel factories were separated with suspended particles less than one micron compared to the dust from sand mines with suspended particles less than ten microns. Also, these suspended particles were deposited on the soil, which was confirmed according to the field observations of the changes in the surface horizons, such as the color of the soil horizon and the formation of the horizon necessary for the formation of industrial soil or Technosol according to the FAO WRB 2015 soil classification. More than 95% of the soils were a mixture of natural soil and technosol (industrial soil). These soils had been altered from their natural state by the effects of industrial and mining development.
Discussion: Sand mines and steel factories have managed to intensify the process of human-induced desertification in Yazd. Although the fields of work and expertise of this research have been in the field of natural geography and soil science. It can be expected that the presence of suspended particles has been able to affect people's health as well as other components related to a desert ecosystem such as vegetation and soil biomes. Since soil is one of the integral parts of every native life like the deserts of Yazd, it can be concluded that by changing the soil from natural state to industrial state, the soil is destroyed or goes through its destructive stages. With this feature, it is possible to raise the possibility of human desertification in the outskirts of Yazd city. It is necessary to take care of this matters more seriously by technical experts in addition to soil protection, also regarding in health and medical affairs.

Abstract Introduction: The degree of overlap in ecological niches can indicate the extent of resource sharing and potential interspecific competition. The intensity or effects of resource sharing and competition may also be partially related to species abundance, especially in resource-limited conditions. In this context, adaptive morphological changes can create differences in species performance, ultimately leading to variations in resource utilization. Morphological characteristics such as body shape, fin placement, and mouth orientation in fish have evolved to be compatible with their specific habitats. The namak chub (Squalius) is a recently recognized genus within the Cyprinidae family, and consequently, limited studies have been conducted on it. Therefore, the information obtained from this research can contribute to understanding ecological processes and how the namak chub (Squalius namak) responds to environmental challenges by comparing various patterns in morphological and ecological traits.
Materials and Methods: A total of 103 namak chub (S. namak) were sampled from the Jajrood river. To determine ecological niches, nine environmental variables were used. For morphometric studies, photographs of the samples were taken. Using the 2TpsDig software, 13 landmarks were defined on the two-dimensional images. In traditional morphometric analysis, 17 morphometric characters were assessed from the images using ImageJ. Initially, using data from traditional morphometry (total length, fork length, etc.) and k-means clustering, the fish were grouped based on size. The method used for ecological niche overlap was habitat suitability curves. A non-parametric method known as kernel smoothing was used to plot the relationship between each environmental variable and the number of fish at each site. Using PCA, data from geometric and traditional morphometry were combined into a single score. Finally, linear regression was used to examine the relationship between station scores and the average differences in ecological niche overlaps.
Results: The river stone diameter showed the highest significant positive correlation with dorsal fin length and pectoral fin length, and the highest significant negative correlation with post-dorsal fin length, caudal peduncle length, and postorbital length. EC and TDS exhibited the highest significant positive correlations with fork length, eye diameter, and snout length, respectively. Based on landmark displacement patterns, the greatest differences were related to landmarks located in the posterior half of the body, although the tip of the snout also demonstrated high variability. The ecological niche overlap curves indicated that the highest overlap occurred for water flow velocity. TDS and EC showed the lowest levels of overlap. Based on the results, it can be argued smaller individuals of this species are more generalized and prefer non-specialized habitats; however, as size increases, specialization occurs, leading to increased overlap in preferred ecological niches and potentially competition among these fish.
Discussion: The two studied groups of this species in the Jajrood river have reduced intraspecific competition through habitat preference and resource exploitation. Although high overlap was observed in some parameters, in general, the ecological niche overlap between different groups of these fish was moderate, and this ecosystem has greatly reduced competition by providing the species with preferred habitat. For future studies, it is suggested that the level of food availability and the effect of water physicochemical parameters on the presence of suitable food for sized groups of this species and the impact of environmental parameters on fish in different seasons should be discussed.

Abstract Introduction: The ecological security of tourism provides a new research framework and practical tools for analyzing sustainable regional development. This facilitates the development of high-quality tourism and also protects natural ecosystems. Therefore, ecological security plays an important role in examining biological resources about society, economy, and environment and, especially concerning protected areas, can provide vital information for habitat conservation and conservation strategies. This study aimsto assess the ecological security of tourism based on the establishment of a driver framework and pressures in the Hara protected area.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, the ecological security and vulnerability of tourism were assessed based on the DPSIR model framework in the Hara protected area. Accordingly, by considering five key factors ("Driver", "Pressure", "State", "Impact", "Response"), the effective indicators on the ecological security of tourism were examined and analyzed in this protected area. For this purpose, a list of effective indicators that can affect the ecological security of tourism was prepared based on previous documents and studies and according to the opinions of specialists and experts.
Results: The results revealed that the highest ecological security of tourism is visible in the east of Khorkhoran island and the west of Sayeh Khosh habitat, especially in the central areas of mangrove forests, and in contrast, the lowest level is related to the north and south of the area around Marduv island, Khamir Lashtqan and coastal Qeshm due to the expansion of various human activities. In addition, the results of the classification of ecological tourism security showed that the Hara protected area has 68.56 percent of the ecologically safe tourism class and 32.43 percent of the unsafe class. The evaluation of the indicators affecting the ecological security of tourism also indicates that the highest score among the "drivers" is related to the increase in construction with a value of 64.3, among the "pressures" is the index of excessive harvesting of branches and feeding of wandering camels with a value of 88.4, among the "state" indicators is the level of vegetation density with a value of 22.3, among the "responses" coefficients is the prevention of branching and provision of fodder for livestock (especially camels) with a value of 18.3. According to the results, the status index in the mangrove forests of the island and the Khorkhoran Strait has the lowest value due to the limited development of human activities, while the highest state index is observed in the north, south of the region and the centers of human activity development. Also, the highest impact index is related to the surroundings of ports, commercial and tourist piers, coastal areas and tourism development centers. Accordingly, in areas that are the centers of human activity development, the driving, pressure and impact indices have increased, resulting in a decrease in ecological security in the region.
Discussion: Based on the results obtained, the most threats to the ecological security of tourism are related to uncontrolled human activities and also insufficient supervision over the development and exploitation of ports and piers in the region. Therefore, controlling these pressures and threats requires integrated planning and management at the regional level. In this regard, the results of this study can help decision-makers and planners in developing a management plan and taking strategic measures in this area by providing a range of key factors and indicators affecting the ecological security of tourism in the Hara protected area.

Abstract Introduction: Over the past a few decades, human societies have observed that the concentrations of heavy metals in the environment have increased due to industrial development, mining exploration, smelting industries and sometimes due to accidental emissions. These activities have posed a major threat to the human’s health. Industrial towns are among the centers that, if not adequately monitored, can lead to the dispersion of heavy metals in the environment and endanger the health of people living in the surrounding area.
Materials and Methods: For this purpose, the environmental hazards of wastewater from Charm-Shahr industrial town were investigated. In this study, the Risk Assessment Information System (RAIS) web-based software was used. The measured wastewater samples were analyzed between 2004 and 2019 and after pollutants’ identifications, non-carcinogenic hazards and carcinogenic risks of the human’s exposure to those pollutants were evaluated.
Results:Based on the sampling from the outlet of Charm-Shahr’s water treatment plant, in most cases, the non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to the contaminants in water was less than 1, indicating that there is no significant risk to the residents in relation to the surface water of the exposure area. In one case, the non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to the contaminants in water from the oral path was in the range of 0.1 Discussion: According to the results, this risk was due to exposure to hexavalent chromium which was found in the sewage due to the presence of leather industries in Cahrm-Shahr. The rate of carcinogenic risk from both oral and skin pathways were in the range of  and . Therefore, there was a possibility of carcinogenesis in relation to the contaminants. The total risk was also in the range of  and , indicating the risk of total carcinogenesis was definite or probable, and in some cases, there was no known risk. Results showed that the existing health risk was due to the presence of hexavalent chromium and in some cases was related to nickel. It has been reported that chromium is sometimes converted to stable compounds with higher toxicity in the natural environment. In this study, we discussed the risk assessment due to the exposure of different groups of people and the impact on their health due to the concentrations of heavy metals resulting from industrial activities. The findings show that the carcinogenic risk was due to the presence of hexavalent chromium and in some cases nickel. The possibility of non-carcinogenic hazards and carcinogenic risks of exposure to hexavalent chromium and nickel were possible, probable and in some cases definite. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the functionality of the Charm-Shahr’s water treatment plant and track the number of pollutants at specific time intervals. Periodic and continuous measurements of pollutants and the risk assessment due to the presence of hexavalent chromium and nickel pollutants on fish, other animals and plants in the region can be useful in controlling environmental pollution, providing monitoring programs and regional decision-making.
 

Abstract Introduction: With the shortage of freshwater resources, the use of other available sources such as seas and oceans has increased, and new technologies in the field of desalination and treatment of saline waters have gained attention. The territorial waters of the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf have created strong potential for the establishment of desalination plants for various uses in Iran. The sustainable development of desalination units requires adherence to environmental standards to prevent the increase of pollutants in the effluent. The Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) Method is a way to organize, analyze, and present the results of a comprehensive environmental assessment. The present study aimed to identify the positive and negative effects resulting from the operation of the Chabahar desalination plant during the operational phase on four environmental components (biological-ecological, physical-chemical, economic-operational, and social-cultural).
Materials and Methods: After identifying the various phases of the project through library studies and gathering information from different sources, the components and elements of the environment in the affected area were examined and identified, categorized into four physical-chemical, biological-ecological, social-cultural, and economic-operational environments. Then, the effects of the Chabahar desalination plant's activities were assessed using RIAM during the operational phase. To this end, after identifying the various phases of this industrial unit, four components were identified and examined. The use of these four categories can serve as a suitable tool for environmental impact assessment studies, as it seems that each category can have subcategories for identifying environmental components, allowing for a more detailed and better analysis of the project's effects on different sectors. After the environmental components affected by the available options have been scored, the final score obtained indicates the environmental status of the project's activities.
Results: The results showed that the most destructive consequences, with a score of -108, were related to the physical-chemical environment, while the most positive effects, with a score of +84, were in the social-cultural environment. In the physical-chemical environment section, this project has significant negative impacts on the region's environment. Given the project's proximity to the Sea of Oman and coral islands that host unique species and valuable ecosystem services, it is necessary to evaluate strategies to eliminate the negative effects resulting from changes in water quality and to minimize them. In the biological-ecological section, the most significant negative effects are on the fauna. The Chabahar desalination plant, in its operational phase, has 11 positive effects and 9 negative effects. Considering that this complex is a significant source of drinking water for the region and has meaningful positive impacts in the economic and social sectors, the continuation of its activities is permissible as long as environmental protection measures are observed.   
Discussion: It is necessary to reduce the intensity of their effects by implementing corrective actions and monitoring environmental parameters at the wastewater disposal site, as well as continuously measuring the output pollutants in the surrounding environment and comparing them with national and international standards. The positive effects, due to being categorized as having very little change or positive effect, little change or positive effect, and change or positive effect, indicate the preference for carrying out the project over not doing it.

Abstract Introduction: Cultural ecosystem services, as one of the components of ecosystem services, are intangible human benefits from ecosystems that play a fundamental role in promoting human well-being. Rapid changes in land use with damage to ecological assets in the Ilam urban watershed have reduced the capacity of ecosystem services, including aesthetic quality. Therefore, the evaluation of the supply of aesthetic ecosystem service, which shows the biological diversity in urban areas and favorable conditions for life, is considered essential for inclusion in the improvement plans of Ilam city in line with appropriate management measures. In this vein, in the current research, an integrated approach to prepare an aesthetic map with the aim of showing the spatial distribution of the supply of aesthetic services in the Ilam urban watershed has been presented, the results of which can greatly influence planning and managerial decisions regarding future development towards urban sustainability by preserving natural ecosystems.
Materials and Methods: Spatial distribution of providing aesthetic ecosystem services in Ilam urban watershed using 12 visual and ecological criteria including: slope, Elevation, geomorphology, land use, habitat characteristics, visibility of various areas, visibility of roads, visibility of residential areas, visibility of the river, visibility of the park, type and density of vegetation were investigated. To prepare visibility layers, Viewshed function was used in TerrSet Idrisi software. Then, the input layers were integrated using fuzzy membership functions and using the weighted linear combination method in the ArcGIS _10.8 system. Among the multi-criteria decision-making methods, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to prioritize the criteria.
Results: Based on the results of the hierarchical analysis process and according to the results of the experts Among the input criteria, visibility of the river, type of vegetation and visibility of diverse areas were assigned the most weight with values of 0.14, 0.127 and 0.116 respectively. On the other hand, the least importance and weight was observed in the measure of road visibility. Based on the final map of aesthetic quality, the best quality of this service is in the parts of the north, east, southeast and west of the Ilam urban watershed, where these places have the best visibility of the river, visibility of various areas, high to medium altitude and with dominant forest cover.
Discussion: The results of this study showed, that areas with forest cover and areas with human uses have the highest and lowest capacity of this service in the study area, respectively, which denotes the importance of natural green uses compared to artificial uses and human-made is in providing aesthetic service. These results indicate that the capacity of the watershed ecosystem of Ilam city in providing aesthetic services varies in different places and is influenced by various factors, especially topographic changes and land use patterns. That is to say, prevent land use change is an important factor for maintaining ecosystem services. Because the land use Changes pattern affects the capacity of the ecosystem to produce goods and services. The results of this research also, by presenting the spatial distribution model of aesthetic service potential can be useful for decision makers, managers and urban planners in order to monitor and protect aesthetic values and it is important and useful to adopt urban landscape management strategies and plans in the landscape of the studied area.

Abstract Introduction: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are introduced into the environment by human activities and are deposited in the river bed. These compounds are among environmental pollutants and are extremely harmful to human health and other living things even in very small amounts. For this reason, determining the concentration of these pollutants is very important to evaluate the quality of river water. About a hundred compounds of PAHs that have been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency. They have 16 major harmful and pathogenic compounds, and for this reason, they have been introduced as pioneering pollutants. For this purpose, in the present study, the concentrations of PAHs were determined in the Karun River.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 19 samples of PAHs were collected along the Karun River from Cham Golak in the north of Khuzestan to Choibedeh in the south of Khuzestan in 2022. The collected samples were immediately stored in glass bags at a temperature of -10°C and transported to the laboratory. Until the time of extraction, the samples were dried in a freeze dryer and then kept in a freezer at -50°C. Before the extraction operation, all the samples were powdered and passed through a sieve with mesh less than 0.63. After determining the amounts of each of the desired PAHs, using Dionex™ ASE™ 3, it was determined whether the PAHs has fuel or petroleum origin. Finally, the concentrations of the obtained PAHs were compared with the American Sediment quality guidelines. In this standard, two risk categories, ERL and ERM, are considered for sediment pollution.
Results: Based on the average concentration of studied PAHs, Benzo (b) fluoranthene and phenanthrene were the most polluted in proportion to concentration among all studied PAHs. The concentration of Benzo (k) fluoranthene, Fluorene, Pyrene and Indeno (1,2,3-c,d) pyrene was also more than 1 μg.kg^-1 of sediment, which was high compared to the average concentration of other PAHs. Other PAHs had an average concentration of less than 0.80 μg.kg^-1. The minimum concentration of hydrocarbons varied between 0.01-2.15 μg.kg^-1 and their maximum concentration between 0.05-8.97 μg.kg^-1 of sediment. The results of skewness (-0.75<SKW<3.0) showed that there were many spatial variations for all pollutants, but Anthracene with a skewness of 0.3 has the most spatial changes, with the highest concentration in the south of the Karun River, and Benzo (b) fluoranthene has the skewness equal to -0.75, then, the highest pollutant concentration was in the north of Karun River. Except for the four hydrocarbons Benzo (b) fluoranthene, Benzo (k) fluoranthene, Indeno (1,2,3-c,d) pyrene and Benzo (g,h,i) perylene, the concentration of the other pollutants in the Karun River is lower than the Sediment Management Standard (SQS) limits ( Discussion: The origin of the pollutant’s evaluation showed that in the north of the Karun River, there was more fuel pollution, but in the center and south of this river, both fuel and oil sources were observed. These results showed that air pollution had a greater effect on increasing the concentration of hydrocarbons in the sediments of this river. In addition, the fuel of boats in the Ahvaz to Abadan area can be an important factor in increasing PAHs pollution with fuel origin. Therefore, although PAHs pollution was observed in this river, it was not at a critical level in terms of concentration.

Abstract Introduction: Coastal areas worldwide hold significant social and economic importance. These areas, in addition to providing essential ecosystem services, have considerable potential for activities such as tourism, industry, and transportation, contributing significantly to the economic and social development of countries. Given that coastal areas are among the most complex ecosystems, they require monitoring and planning for enhanced protection. Timely and accurate identification of land use changes, which form the basis for better understanding human-nature interactions, provides the necessary groundwork for the efficient management and utilization of coastal resources.
Materials and Methods: The present study aims to investigate land use and land cover changes in the Chabahar coastal areas for four periods, including the years 1368, 1378, 1388, and 1398, using Landsat satellite time series data. Land cover mapping was performed through preprocessing and processing stages, followed by classification using a combined method. The accuracy of the produced maps was assessed using error matrix, Kappa index, and overall accuracy, which were greater than 80% and 0.8, respectively. Land use changes were analyzed using landscape metrics.
Results: The results indicated that barren land had the highest land use percentage in all studied years. Saline and barren land cover decreased by 398.28 and 75.7 hectares, respectively, from 1368 to 1398, while aquatic land cover increased by 115.3 hectares in 1398 compared to 1368. The analysis of vegetation cover also revealed that this land use, along with human-made structures, consistently allocated the smallest area in all periods, gradually increasing. The accuracy assessment of land cover classification showed high accuracy in the produced maps, with the highest and lowest accuracy rates in 1368 (93.25%) and 1398 (85.6%), respectively. In 1398, the number of patches for aquatic land, vegetation cover, and human-made structures increased (830, 2662, and 4, respectively) compared to 1368 (146, 2386, and 1, respectively), while the number of saline and barren land patches decreased in 1398 (643 and 761, respectively) compared to 1368 (720 and 1060, respectively).
Discussion: The study results demonstrated considerable changes in the Chabahar coastline over the past 30 years. The findings indicated a significant increase in vegetation cover from 1368 to 1398 (from 116.34 to 202.30 hectares), contributing a total of 85.96 hectares to land use. This increase in vegetation cover can be attributed to agricultural expansion. The detection results of changes in human-made areas also showed substantial growth (133.18, 205.74, 228.29, and 411.42 in 1368, 1378, 1388, and 1398, respectively) during the study period. Overall, it can be concluded that, based on the analysis of landscape metrics, the increase in human-made land uses and environmental changes has continued, and integrated management plans for coastal areas have not been adopted.