Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern Iran

In Iran, desertification is usually caused by both nature and humans̓ greedy behaviors such that, more than 75% of the country’s area is dominated by arid zones, and most of the ecosystems are being destroyed due to human activities currently known as the main environmental hazard in Taybad-Bakharz...

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Main Authors: Mehdi Sarparast, Majid Ownegh, Adel Sepehr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-09-01
Series:Environmental and Sustainability Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665972720300258
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author Mehdi Sarparast
Majid Ownegh
Adel Sepehr
author_facet Mehdi Sarparast
Majid Ownegh
Adel Sepehr
author_sort Mehdi Sarparast
collection DOAJ
description In Iran, desertification is usually caused by both nature and humans̓ greedy behaviors such that, more than 75% of the country’s area is dominated by arid zones, and most of the ecosystems are being destroyed due to human activities currently known as the main environmental hazard in Taybad-Bakharz region located in northeastern Iran. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of these measures on the desertification phenomenon generated from climate, soil, vegetation, socio-economic, erosion, and groundwater factors in the Taybad-Bakharz region over the past 40 years (1977–2016). Besides mechanical actions e.g., the establishment of water-saving structures, gabions, and check-dams, a wide array of biological action plans was set out across the prone-regions over the last few years such as vegetation restoration plans utilizing resistant species like Haloxylon persicum and Tamarix spp. Results indicated an ascending trend in desertification hazard (from 2.17 to 2.25) despite the supports devoted to environmental protection and management of desertification. Despite partially stabilized dunes and decreased Aeolian activities, the lack of attention to the anthropogenic activities such as agricultural practices, mining, over-pumping the groundwater resources, overgrazing, etc., either directly or indirectly related to people’s livelihood has led to a rise in desertification hazard.
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spelling doaj.art-d40e5d0f6b5a428e8c276f34edb297a42022-12-21T19:13:21ZengElsevierEnvironmental and Sustainability Indicators2665-97272020-09-017100043Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern IranMehdi Sarparast0Majid Ownegh1Adel Sepehr2Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran; Corresponding author.Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, IranDept. of Desert and Arid Zones Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, IranIn Iran, desertification is usually caused by both nature and humans̓ greedy behaviors such that, more than 75% of the country’s area is dominated by arid zones, and most of the ecosystems are being destroyed due to human activities currently known as the main environmental hazard in Taybad-Bakharz region located in northeastern Iran. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of these measures on the desertification phenomenon generated from climate, soil, vegetation, socio-economic, erosion, and groundwater factors in the Taybad-Bakharz region over the past 40 years (1977–2016). Besides mechanical actions e.g., the establishment of water-saving structures, gabions, and check-dams, a wide array of biological action plans was set out across the prone-regions over the last few years such as vegetation restoration plans utilizing resistant species like Haloxylon persicum and Tamarix spp. Results indicated an ascending trend in desertification hazard (from 2.17 to 2.25) despite the supports devoted to environmental protection and management of desertification. Despite partially stabilized dunes and decreased Aeolian activities, the lack of attention to the anthropogenic activities such as agricultural practices, mining, over-pumping the groundwater resources, overgrazing, etc., either directly or indirectly related to people’s livelihood has led to a rise in desertification hazard.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665972720300258Action programsCombating the desertificationMonitoringLand -use changeIran
spellingShingle Mehdi Sarparast
Majid Ownegh
Adel Sepehr
Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern Iran
Environmental and Sustainability Indicators
Action programs
Combating the desertification
Monitoring
Land -use change
Iran
title Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern Iran
title_full Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern Iran
title_fullStr Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern Iran
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern Iran
title_short Evaluating the impacts of combating-action programs on desertification hazard trends: A case study of Taybad-Bakharz region, northeastern Iran
title_sort evaluating the impacts of combating action programs on desertification hazard trends a case study of taybad bakharz region northeastern iran
topic Action programs
Combating the desertification
Monitoring
Land -use change
Iran
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665972720300258
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