Abstract
Introduction and Objective: The Khur-e-Khuran International Wetland, situated in Hormozgan Province, Iran, is a Ramsar-listed mangrove ecosystem of considerable ecological importance. It plays an indispensable role in sustaining regional biodiversity and delivering critical ecosystem services. In recent years, however, this fragile environment has come under mounting pressure from both climate-induced extremes—particularly recurrent droughts—and unregulated anthropogenic activities. The present study seeks to carry out a comprehensive environmental assessment of the wetland, with a focus on identifying the principal drivers shaping its current condition. The overarching aim is to develop empirically grounded management and conservation strategies that can bolster the ecosystem’s resilience against emerging threats.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive survey-based research was carried out in 2025. Data were collected through field observations and the administration of structured questionnaires to a panel of 20 key experts, comprising environmental specialists, university academics, officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and representatives of local NGOs. Using the Delphi technique, 52 critical environmental factors were identified and subsequently classified into four principal categories: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was then applied to determine the relative weights and significance of each factor. Following this, the Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) and External Factor Evaluation (EFE) matrices were computed to ascertain the wetland’s strategic positioning within the SWOT framework. In the final phase, the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) was employed to transition from qualitative assessment to quantitative prioritization, enabling a rigorous evaluation of the attractiveness and feasibility of the proposed strategic alternatives.
Results: The results underscore the wetland’s outstanding ecological value. Its rich biodiversity (weight score: 0.40) and its critical function as a natural nursery for aquatic species (weight score: 0.39) emerged as the most significant strengths. Conversely, a pronounced deficiency in tourism infrastructure and visitor amenities (weight score: 0.41) was identified as the foremost internal weakness, while recurrent drought events (weight score: 0.41) were recognized as the most pressing environmental threat. The overall IFE score was calculated at 3.88, and the EFE score at 3.92, placing the wetland squarely within the "Aggressive (SO)" strategic quadrant. This positioning indicates a strong capacity for the wetland to capitalize on its internal strengths in order to seize external opportunities. Moreover, the QSPM analysis revealed that the strategy of "Biodiversity-based Ecotourism Development" achieved the highest attractiveness score (2.17), thereby ranking it as the top management priority.
Discussion, Conclusion, and Significance: These findings highlight that the Khur-e-Khuran Wetland stands at a pivotal management crossroads. Its placement in the SO (Aggressive) quadrant suggests that management approaches should evolve beyond conventional, restrictive conservation models toward more proactive and development-oriented paradigms. By integrating ecological preservation with sustainable ecotourism, it becomes possible to mitigate climatic pressures while simultaneously enhancing the socioeconomic well-being of local communities. Nonetheless, the successful implementation of such strategies will require addressing infrastructural deficits and establishing robust legal frameworks to facilitate stakeholder participation. This research offers an actionable framework for policymakers, enabling the implementation of prioritized strategies that can help avert ecosystem degradation and secure the long-term protection of the wetland’s environmental and socio-economic assets. The study’s significance lies in its capacity to reconcile the imperatives of Ramsar heritage conservation with the region’s socioeconomic realities.
Keywords: Management Strategies, Khur-e-Khuran International Wetland, SWOT Analysis, Hormozgan Province.