Assessment of the Livelihood Vulnerability of Watershed Residents to Environmental Hazards using Various Indices

The livelihoods of residents within watershed areas are shaped by a complex interplay of environmental, political-economic, institutional, and biophysical factors. Accordingly, assessing livelihood vulnerability at the watershed scale is a critical step toward developing long-term, context-specific management strategies. Astara County, located in the northern Hyrcanian belt of Iran, comprises several villages whose populations are highly dependent on natural resources for their subsistence and economic well-being. Within this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the vulnerability status of residents in the Lavandavil watershed, situated in the northernmost part of Gilan Province. To achieve this objective, three analytical frameworks were employed: the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-based Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI-IPCC), and the Livelihood Effect Index (LEI). A total of 65 sub-components were identified and assessed through field surveys and structured questionnaires to inform all three indices. The results revealed that in the downstream areas, the mean LVI, LVI-IPCC, and LEI values were 0.44, 0.03, and 0.47, respectively—corresponding to high, moderate, and moderate vulnerability classes. In the midstream areas, the respective values were 0.42, 0.01, and 0.44, indicating high, moderate, and low vulnerability. Similarly, the upstream areas recorded values of 0.43 (LVI), 0.01 (LVI-IPCC), and 0.45 (LEI), reflecting high, moderate, and low vulnerability levels. In summary, the findings underscore that environmental hazards have significantly increased livelihood vulnerability, reduced income levels, and exacerbated economic challenges for local communities within the Lavandavil watershed.
 
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
Natural resources constitute the foundational capital of any society. Ensuring their sustainable use and conservation is essential for safeguarding environmental integrity and meeting the needs of future generations. In recent decades, rapid urbanization and the escalating impacts of climate change have posed significant challenges to natural resource management worldwide. In response to these pressures, the present study assesses the vulnerability of stakeholders within the Lavandavil watershed to natural hazards. Furthermore, it prioritizes various sections of the watershed based on livelihood vulnerability and proposes targeted strategies to reduce the exposure and sensitivity of local communities.
 
2-Materials and Methods
 Astara city, situated within the northern Hyrcanian belt of Iran, encompasses several villages whose residents rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods. The increasing frequency of environmental hazards has heightened livelihood vulnerability, reduced household income, and exacerbated economic challenges across local communities in the Lavandavil watershed—one of Astara’s principal catchments. Covering an area of 4,180 hectares, the watershed receives an average annual rainfall of 1,204 mm and maintains a mean temperature of 14.9 °C. It is predominantly forested and home to a population of 2,147 individuals. The Lavandavil watershed comprises multiple villages that vary in size due to differences in topography, climate, and hydrological conditions. While most settlements are permanent, some are non-permanent, primarily due to unfavorable terrain and remoteness from urban centers. In recent years, a government-led resettlement initiative has prompted the relocation of several households, resulting in seasonal migration patterns among remaining residents. To evaluate livelihood vulnerability within the watershed, this study employed three indices: the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-based Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI-IPCC), and the Livelihood Effect Index (LEI). The LVI assesses the degree to which individuals are at risk in terms of their livelihoods, encompassing 13 core components. The LVI-IPCC, grounded in the IPCC framework, evaluates vulnerability through three dimensions: exposure, adaptive capacity, and sensitivity, using metrics such as the standard deviation of monthly temperature extremes and long-term precipitation averages. The LEI, meanwhile, integrates five key livelihood capitals—human, natural, social, financial, and physical. Field surveys and questionnaire analyses yielded 65 sub-components across the three indices. These were analyzed to determine the vulnerability of residents to livelihood-threatening hazards across three watershed zones: downstream, midstream, and upstream. The study further identified the relative sensitivity of each zone to environmental hazards, providing a basis for targeted resilience-building strategies.
3- Results and Discussion
 The downstream zone recorded an LVI of 0.44, indicating high vulnerability, an LVI-IPCC of 0.03 (moderate vulnerability), and an LEI of 0.47 (moderate effect). Similarly, the midstream zone exhibited an LVI of 0.42 (high vulnerability), an LVI-IPCC of 0.01 (moderate vulnerability), and an LEI of 0.44 (low effect). The upstream zone showed an LVI of 0.43 (high vulnerability), an LVI-IPCC of 0.01 (moderate vulnerability), and an LEI of 0.45 (low effect). Among the 13 core components used to calculate the LVI, the “Money and Income” component (M13) had the highest value at 0.64, reflecting low annual income, high levels of indebtedness, and limited financial savings among watershed residents. Regarding the LVI-IPCC, the adaptation component in both downstream and midstream zones was higher than the sensitivity and exposure components, with values of 0.43 and 0.39, respectively. This suggests a pressing need to enhance transportation infrastructure, diversify livelihood strategies, and improve local knowledge and skillsets. Within the LEI framework, financial capital emerged as the most influential of the five livelihood capitals, with a mean value of 0.64, underscoring the economic fragility of the region’s communities.
 
4- Conclusion
The low values observed in the livelihood vulnerability indices suggest that environmental hazards have significantly increased vulnerability, diminished household income, and contributed to economic hardship among communities in the Lavandavil watershed. Based on field surveys and questionnaire analyses, the primary human-induced hazards—namely fire, flooding, soil erosion, and landslides—were found to stem from two underlying factors: economic deprivation and cultural poverty. Addressing these root causes is essential for mitigating the occurrence and impact of environmental hazards. To achieve this, it is imperative to harness the full potential of rural resources, including local facilities, capabilities, and indigenous knowledge. While local communities play a vital role in restoration and adaptation efforts, government authorities must also provide oversight, strategic guidance, and institutional support to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of such initiatives.