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مرتع 2025, 19(1): 0-0 |
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Ecosystem Water Production Modeling of Rangeland in the Daryan Watershed, Semnan, Using InVEST Software. مرتع 2025; 19 (1)
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1121-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1121-en.html
Abstract: (116 Views)
Background and Objectives: Water resources are one of the most important ecosystem services provided by natural ecosystems, especially rangelands and watersheds. As a key component of natural ecosystems, rangelands play a crucial role in maintaining hydrological balance, regulating surface and subsurface flows, controlling erosion, and improving water quality. Rangeland vegetation significantly contributes to water conservation and increased water production in watersheds by enhancing soil permeability, reducing runoff, and controlling surface evaporation. In arid and semi-arid regions like Iran, where water resources are limited and unevenly distributed, examining the role of rangelands in water production and assessing the impacts of land-use changes on hydrological processes is of great importance. In this study, water production in the Daryan watershed in Semnan was modeled using the InVEST software.
Materials and Methods: Maps of average annual precipitation, land cover, plant-available water, and root-restricting layer depth were prepared and input into the InVEST software. Based on these inputs, the volume of producible water in each sub-watershed (m³/year) was estimated.
Results: The Daryan watershed produces approximately 95.82 million cubic meters of water annually. The highest water production was recorded in sub-watershed C2, with 7 million cubic meters per year, while the lowest was in sub-watershed C15, with 0.48 million cubic meters per year. A comparison of water production volumes across sub-watersheds under baseline, current, and future scenarios indicated that by 1410 (2031), water production in all sub-watersheds will decrease by 13.5% compared to the current state.
Conclusion: The results indicate that, given the climatic and physiographic conditions, water production in the Daryan watershed is expected to decline in the future, while evapotranspiration will increase. These changes will negatively impact water resources and vegetation cover, posing serious threats to the region. Quantitative assessment of water production services can serve as a model for land management planning in other regions. By evaluating ecosystem services over an acceptable time frame and providing a future outlook, appropriate land-use strategies can be determined in accordance with regional capacity.
Materials and Methods: Maps of average annual precipitation, land cover, plant-available water, and root-restricting layer depth were prepared and input into the InVEST software. Based on these inputs, the volume of producible water in each sub-watershed (m³/year) was estimated.
Results: The Daryan watershed produces approximately 95.82 million cubic meters of water annually. The highest water production was recorded in sub-watershed C2, with 7 million cubic meters per year, while the lowest was in sub-watershed C15, with 0.48 million cubic meters per year. A comparison of water production volumes across sub-watersheds under baseline, current, and future scenarios indicated that by 1410 (2031), water production in all sub-watersheds will decrease by 13.5% compared to the current state.
Conclusion: The results indicate that, given the climatic and physiographic conditions, water production in the Daryan watershed is expected to decline in the future, while evapotranspiration will increase. These changes will negatively impact water resources and vegetation cover, posing serious threats to the region. Quantitative assessment of water production services can serve as a model for land management planning in other regions. By evaluating ecosystem services over an acceptable time frame and providing a future outlook, appropriate land-use strategies can be determined in accordance with regional capacity.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2022/01/31 | Accepted: 2025/05/4 | Published: 2025/03/30
Received: 2022/01/31 | Accepted: 2025/05/4 | Published: 2025/03/30
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