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Environmental crisis and the consequence loss of natural resources are the main reasons in which force the managers to think of the ways to manage risks and solve environmental tensions. One of the most problematic environmental issues in saad-abad region located at Sarakhs city, IRI, is the moving sands which attack residential centers, roads and the infrastructures. Therefore, environmental systems respond to the moving sands by nebkhas which balance the imposed pressure caused by wind erosion. Thus, nebkhas are considered as a significant factor to maintain the equilibrium among the forces created from environmental resistance powers and degrading moving sands imposed on residential systems. However, the most suitable plant species must be identified in order to manage the nebkhas to gain the aforementioned goals. The aim of this study is to identify the most suitable plant species in nebkhas in order to evaluate the amount of moving sands fixed in the study area using AHP model through morphometric characteristics.

Key words: Samadabad- Sarakhs - Nebkha- AHP- stabilized sand

Study area:

This study was conducted in Saad-Abad as a center of wind erosion located in south parts of Sarakhs region, Iran, near Turkmenistan boundary and Tajan River with 35’ 58” to 36’17” longitude and 61’3” to 61’12” latitude, 21523 ha of area, 750 meters of average height from sea level, 187.6 mm of mean annual precipitation, 14.4 mean annual temperature and NW to SE dominant wind direction.   Stipagrostis, Alhaji and Peganum showed to be the most suitable species for nebkhas formation.

Materials and Methods:

Proceeding field investigations and satellite imagery analysis, the study area was determined. Using 6 transects (3 upwind and 3 leeward) each 100 meters long, we measured nebkhas morphometric characteristics (including height, length & volume) and plant characteristics (including height, perimeter & volume). Fourteen nebkhas were analyzed for each species (Stipagrostis, Alhaji and Peganum). AHP model was used in order to compare and determine the most suitable species for stabilizing moving sands.

Results:

The final weight was calculate as 0.1964, 0.4875 and 0.3161 for Stipagrosis, Peganum and Alhagi, respectively. Therefore, as it is clearly explained by AHP model, Peganum is introduced as the most suitable plant species for stabilizing moving particles in the region proceeding with Alhagi. 

Conclusion:

Regarding nebkhas morphometric characteristics and plant morphological features as the input criteria for AHP model, the results introduced Peganum as the most suitable species for stabilizing moving sands proceeding with Alhagi and Stipagrosis.

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Introduction The concept of water-sensitive cities is linked to the new pattern of urban water governance and support for the use of decentralized water systems. Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, with its hot and dry climate, is witnessing the arrival of immigrants from rural areas of the province and other provinces, as well as the lack of employment infrastructure and the existence of numerous suburban centers, causing overcrowding. It has been located in different parts of the city and during the last two decades, there have been several problems in the field of urban water supply in this city, such as lack of supply resources on the one hand and increasing per capita consumption and very high migration rate on the other hand. On the one hand, the influx of villagers and the formation of the city in recent decades, and on the other hand, the migration of Afghan citizens to this city, has caused the city of Zahedan to suddenly receive a large population. Therefore, the increasing population growth and inadequate economic facilities have led to the formation of informal settlements in this city. Zahedan has about 1.3 percent of the population and urban space of informal housing and suburban population, which is equivalent to 42% of the total population of the city. These issues indicate that the city of Zahedan is facing a severe shortage of water resources. The city of Zahedan has also faced an uncontrolled expansion in recent decades, and since the supply of drinking water to the citizens of this city is one of the most acute problems of the city, scientific study in this regard will be very important. Therefore, in this research, the areas of Zahedan city in terms of water sensitive indicators have been evaluated and prioritized. Methodology The method of the present research is descriptive-analytical based on the library method (documentary method) and field method using the distribution of questionnaires and conducting interviews to collect information. The statistical population of the study consists of citizens of Zahedan (587730 people) who were selected using Cochran's formula of 350 people and the research questionnaire was distributed and completed in a simple random method according to the population of each region. Then, SPSS software and one-sample t-test were used to analyze the collected data. Also, by designing a questionnaire using fuzzy hierarchical analysis (FAHP) technique, 25 professors and students of geography, experts and officials in relation to the characteristics of water-sensitive city (water-sensitive governance, social capital, justice and equality) Productivity and efficiency, adaptive infrastructure, ecological health, urban space quality, water cycle management, increasing and strengthening water storage and minimizing sedimentation) were identified in the areas of Zahedan. In order to determine the level of each area in the indicators of water sensitive city, the Fuzzy Topsis model has been used. Arc Gis software has been used to draw the maps. Discussion and Results A one-sample t-test was used to evaluate the status of water-sensitive city indicators in Zahedan. In general, the indicators of water-sensitive city in Zahedan city with an average of 2.843 have been evaluated in an unfavorable situation. In order to prioritize the areas of Zahedan city in terms of water sensitive city indicators, the Fuzzy Hierarchical Analysis (FAHP) technique has been used. In this part of the research, the areas of Zahedan city are ranked in terms of water sensitive city indicators using fuzzy TOPSIS model. Also, fuzzy hierarchical analysis technique has been used to weight the indicators. The results show that region 1 with a weight of 0.851 is in the first place. Zone 4 with a weight of 0.096 is in the fifth and last rank. Also, Zone 2 with a weight of 0.705, Zone 5 with a weight of 0.647 and Zone 3 with a weight of 0.282 are in the second to fourth ranks in terms of water sensitive city indicators, respectively. In the city of Zahedan, every year a large amount of natural water resources in the form of rain leaves the city as quickly as possible and discharges in combination with sewage. Due to the large volume of sewage and runoff and the lack of capacity of the collection system of Zahedan city, this system causes overflow and flooding of passages, which causes damages such as damage to infrastructure facilities, residential houses, as well as power outages, traffic disruptions. Unfavorable views in the city and even electrocution of residents due to the flooding of the city's electrical facilities. Conclusion A one-sample t-test was used to evaluate the status of water-sensitive city indicators in Zahedan. In general, the indicators of water sensitive city in Zahedan city with an average of 2.843 have been evaluated in an unfavorable situation. The general results of the article on the prioritization of the five regions of Zahedan city, in terms of water-sensitive city indicators, show that region 1 with a weight of 0.851 is in the first place. Zone 4 with a weight of 0.096 is in the fifth and last rank. Also, region 2 with a weight of 0.705, region 5 with a weight of 0.647 and region 3 with a weight of 0.282 are in the second to fourth ranks in terms of water sensitive city indicators, respectively. This research is conducted for the first time in the city of Zahedan with the present subject. These factors have caused the city to no longer be able to continue its urban life using the available resources.The city of Zahedan has faced an uncontrolled expansion in the past few years, and since the supply of drinking water to the citizens of Zahedan is one of the most acute problems of the city, scientific study in this regard will be very important. In order to prevent the increase of drinking water consumption in the country, especially in cities such as Zahedan, where the amount of water consumption is higher than the national average,appropriate strategies and policies should be taken to bring this amount closer to the global average.

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Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the opportunities for the development of a niche food tourism market in Rasht. The research method is descriptive-analytical in terms of applied purpose. The statistical population of the study includes all managers, employees and heads of restaurants in Rasht that 384 people were selected as a sample based on the available sampling method. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (structural equation model) with spss and pls software were used to analyze the data. Based on the results of the macro environment, the capabilities of enterprises and the characteristics of the industry were identified as opportunities for the development of a niche market in food tourism in Rasht. The results of structural equations showed that the macro environment (0.724), capabilities of enterprises (0.164) and industry characteristics (0.051) have an effect on the development of a niche food tourism market in Rasht, respectively.