Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil
Abstract: (32 Views)
Background and Objective: Assessing the ecological sustainability of rangeland habitats is one of the basic requirements in assessing rangelands, and it is important to recognize the factors that are effective in determining it. By obtaining information about this, accurate planning can be carried out based on optimal and sustainable land utilization. So far, research has been conducted on the indicators and criteria for sustainability of rangeland management from an economic and social perspective, but fewer studies have been conducted in terms of ecological criteria. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the ecological sustainability of rangelands in the Hir region of Ardabil province in line with sustainable management.
Materials and Methods: In order to assess the ecological sustainability of rangeland habitats, based on scientific sources, six indicators were considered as representative indicators: above-ground phytomass, annual net primary production of the land surface, production of medicinal plants and by-products, grazing capacity, area of suitable rangelands for livestock grazing and presence and density of wildlife functional groups. For this purpose, three vegetation types (habitats) were considered along the altitudinal gradient of the region. Then, within each vegetation type, a representative stand was selected and vegetation characteristics (percentage of canopy cover, number of plant bases, current year production/growth, above-ground phytomass, and medicinal plant production) were measured in 30 one-square-meter grid plots located along three 100-meter transects during the 2019 growing season. After measuring the plant characteristics, the range condition class and range condition trend of each plant type were determined using the four-factor method and the tendency scale. In addition, the grazing capacity of each habitat was calculated by calculating the available forage and considering the daily requirement of the livestock unit during the grazing season. After preparing and updating the basic information, based on the proposed guideline (MSSG), the suitability of each plant type for livestock grazing was determined and the percentage of suitable and unsuitable pastures for livestock grazing was determined. After knowing the values of each indicator, the ecological sustainability of each habitat was measured based on the sum of their values.
Results: The results showed that the plant types differ from each other in terms of ecological sustainability indicators and, consequently, their ecological sustainability is not the same. In this regard, the Thymus kotschyanus - Astragalus microcephalus vegetation type with a moderate condition and a regressive tendency has the first priority of sustainability. The Astragalus microcephalus - Festuca ovina - Astragalus chrysostachys vegetation type with a weak condition and a progressive tendency has the second priority in terms of ecological sustainability, and the Artemisia fragrans - Astragalus parrowianus vegetation type with a moderate condition and a progressive tendency is in the third priority of ecological sustainability. Accordingly, they are prioritized in terms of implementing rangeland improvement operations with the aim of enriching the vegetation cover and also protecting the habitat with the aim of preserving and promoting species diversity.
Conclusion: The results suggest that there is no complete correspondence between the range condition class of each habitat and their sustainability priority. In other words, a better condition class will not necessarily indicate the sustainability of the ecosystem. By obtaining information about the level of ecological sustainability of rangeland habitats, accurate planning can be carried out based on optimal and sustainable land use. What is certain is that the assessment of ecological sustainability indicators of rangelands in Iran is a new issue, and providing a scientific and applicable method in this field requires further studies and under different conditions. In this study, although all criteria and indicators are in accordance with existing guidelines, it is necessary to re-examine each of the sustainability indicators in different climatic regions, in accordance with the ecological conditions of the region, in order to obtain complete and complementary information for measuring the ecological sustainability of rangelands.
Materials and Methods: In order to assess the ecological sustainability of rangeland habitats, based on scientific sources, six indicators were considered as representative indicators: above-ground phytomass, annual net primary production of the land surface, production of medicinal plants and by-products, grazing capacity, area of suitable rangelands for livestock grazing and presence and density of wildlife functional groups. For this purpose, three vegetation types (habitats) were considered along the altitudinal gradient of the region. Then, within each vegetation type, a representative stand was selected and vegetation characteristics (percentage of canopy cover, number of plant bases, current year production/growth, above-ground phytomass, and medicinal plant production) were measured in 30 one-square-meter grid plots located along three 100-meter transects during the 2019 growing season. After measuring the plant characteristics, the range condition class and range condition trend of each plant type were determined using the four-factor method and the tendency scale. In addition, the grazing capacity of each habitat was calculated by calculating the available forage and considering the daily requirement of the livestock unit during the grazing season. After preparing and updating the basic information, based on the proposed guideline (MSSG), the suitability of each plant type for livestock grazing was determined and the percentage of suitable and unsuitable pastures for livestock grazing was determined. After knowing the values of each indicator, the ecological sustainability of each habitat was measured based on the sum of their values.
Results: The results showed that the plant types differ from each other in terms of ecological sustainability indicators and, consequently, their ecological sustainability is not the same. In this regard, the Thymus kotschyanus - Astragalus microcephalus vegetation type with a moderate condition and a regressive tendency has the first priority of sustainability. The Astragalus microcephalus - Festuca ovina - Astragalus chrysostachys vegetation type with a weak condition and a progressive tendency has the second priority in terms of ecological sustainability, and the Artemisia fragrans - Astragalus parrowianus vegetation type with a moderate condition and a progressive tendency is in the third priority of ecological sustainability. Accordingly, they are prioritized in terms of implementing rangeland improvement operations with the aim of enriching the vegetation cover and also protecting the habitat with the aim of preserving and promoting species diversity.
Conclusion: The results suggest that there is no complete correspondence between the range condition class of each habitat and their sustainability priority. In other words, a better condition class will not necessarily indicate the sustainability of the ecosystem. By obtaining information about the level of ecological sustainability of rangeland habitats, accurate planning can be carried out based on optimal and sustainable land use. What is certain is that the assessment of ecological sustainability indicators of rangelands in Iran is a new issue, and providing a scientific and applicable method in this field requires further studies and under different conditions. In this study, although all criteria and indicators are in accordance with existing guidelines, it is necessary to re-examine each of the sustainability indicators in different climatic regions, in accordance with the ecological conditions of the region, in order to obtain complete and complementary information for measuring the ecological sustainability of rangelands.
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