Analyzing the Sustainability Level based on Ecological- Anthropogenic Balance in the Toutli Watersheds

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Range & Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Management and Planning Organization of North Khorasan Province, Bojnord, Iran.

3 Corresponding Author, Department of Range & Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water Management Research Center, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

One of the main challenges in the 21st century is to promote the development of human society while protecting natural ecosystems resilience. The key to achieving this goal is to establish a sustainability balance between the ecological and human sectors, which cannot be achieved without comprehensive and adequate assessments of sustainability. In this study, the sustainability of Toutli Watershed, north of North Khorasan Province, was investigated using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) method. Therefore, sustainability in both ecosystem and human wellbeing for the whole watershed and its 12 sub-watersheds (T01-T12) were assessed into five classes of unsustainable, almost unsustainable, medium, almost sustainable, and sustainable with equal scores from zero to 100. In the ecosystem sustainability sector, four criteria, eight indicators, and 20 variables, and in the human wellbeing sector two criteria, seven indicators, and 19 variables were selected based on the geographical, demographic, and hydro geomorphological conditions. The results confirmed the heterogeneity of the intragroup distribution of sustainability indicators in each watershed. Furthermore, the sustainability level in the ecosystem and human wellbeing sectors in Toutli Watershed was assessed as a medium with the scores of 50 and 45, respectively. Also, the whole watershed sustainability was evaluated in the medium class with a 47.5 score. In terms of spatial variation of total sustainability index, it was found that sub-watersheds T06 (southeast) and T10 (southwest) in an almost sustainable class, sub-watersheds T03 (northwest), T05 (northwest), T08 (east, northeast and Southeast), T09 (south) and T11 (west) in the medium sustainability boundary, sub-watersheds T01 (northwest), T02 (northwest), T04 (northwest) and T12 (west, southwest, and center) in the medium sustainability class, and only the T07 sub-watershed (north) is in an almost sustainable class. Totally, 56.80, 41.59, and 1.61% of the total Tutli Watershed are located in almost unsustainable, medium, and almost sustainable classes, respectively.
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
Untimely and complex problems arising from human interactions with nature as well as internal connections among human needs have challenged the eco-hydrological systems of the earth and humanity. There is a growing concern about the ability of current knowledge to provide rational and reliable solutions to these challenges. In response to increasing environmental crises and unbalanced population growth, modern society has considered sustainable development as one of the development models. In this regard, sustainability has been proposed as a concept whose main purpose is to preserve natural, social and economic capital for future generations. For this purpose and to meet the objectives of the National Mega Research Project on the Integrated Watershed Management for Iran, the present study was conducted to assess the sustainability and analyze the spatial variation of sustainability indicators in 12 sub-watersheds of Tutli using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) method.
2-Materials and Methods
According to the background of the IUCN method, the sustainability in both ecosystem and human wellbeing for the whole watershed and its 12 sub-watersheds (T01-T12) were assessed. In the ecosystem sustainability sector, four criteria, eight indicators, and 20 variables, and in the human wellbeing sector two criteria, seven indicators, and 19 variables were selected in accordance with the geographical, demographic, and hydrogeomorphological conditions of the study watershed. Five classes of unsustainable, almost unsustainable, medium, almost sustainable, and sustainable with equal scores from zero to 100 were assigned.
3- Results and Discussion
The analysis of the results showed that the level of sustainability in the ecosystem and human wellbeing sectors in Toutli Watershed is medium and equal to 50 and 45 out of 100 scores, respectively. Moreover, the sustainability of the whole watershed was evaluated in the medium class with a score of 47.5. In terms of spatial variation of the total sustainability index by sub-watersheds, it was found that sub-watersheds T06 (southeast) and T10 (southwest) in an almost sustainable class, sub-watersheds T03 (northwest), T05 (northwest), T08 (east, northeast and Southeast), T09 (south) and T11 (west) in the medium sustainability boundary, sub-watersheds T01 (northwest), T02 (northwest), T04 (northwest) and T12 (west, southwest and center) in the medium sustainability class, and only the T07 sub-watershed (north) is in an almost sustainable class. Depending on the type of land use, rangelands cover 75.4% of the total area of the watershed, which geologically consists mainly of sandstone and green gluconate shale. Irrigated agriculture is done in T1, T11, and T12 sub-watersheds, and rainfed agriculture is done in T08, T10, and T12 sub-watersheds. Despite the small area of agriculture in the watershed, the intensity of its destruction in the ecosystem is much higher than other land uses. However, in terms of providing employment and human welfare, it neutralizes its destructive effect and plays an almost positive role in the overall sustainability index. In total, 56.80, 41.59, and 1.61% of the total Tutli Watershed are located in almost unsustainable, medium, and almost sustainable classes, respectively.
4-Conclusions
In general, the results of the present study confirm the enlightenment of appropriate management programs for the entire Toutli Watershed, especially with an emphasis on prioritizing conservation measures aimed at maintaining and promoting the ecosystem services sustainability. Given the growing population and human needs, the imbalance of two parts of sustainability, including ecological and human well-being, is undoubtedly predicted. Towards this, in order to use the present results in various land use planning and management programs, it is recommended that the future perspective of the country be considered in terms of the level of supply and demand for ecological resources.
 

Keywords

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