Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Research Assistant, Research Department of Natural Resources, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Gorgan, Iran
2
Ph.D. Graduated, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University of Tehran, Noor, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Extension & Education Institute, AREEO, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Certain regions of Golestan Province, particularly in the Gonbad-e Kavous county, experience semi-arid and arid climates influenced by the proximity to the Qaraqom Desert in Turkmenistan. These conditions have resulted in reduced quantity and quality of rangeland and tree cover. Climate change and decreasing precipitation, coupled with the mismanagement of water resources, have adversely impacted the livelihoods of local communities, leading to desertification and increased dust storms. To combat this situation, the development of tree cover through afforestation and agroforestry has been proposed as solutions for controlling desertification, expanding green spaces, and supporting local livelihoods.
Agroforestry programs are of significant importance, especially following the cessation of logging in the northern forests of the country, which previously met less than 15% of the wood industry’s demand. The country’s wood demand is approximately 14 million cubic meters, of which less than 3 million cubic meters are produced through agroforestry and orchards, with the remainder being imported. Golestan Province, with an annual wood demand exceeding 500,000 tons for industrial purposes, has the potential to meet this demand through the expansion of agroforestry.
Utilizing GIS techniques and multi-criteria analyses can aid in identifying suitable areas for agroforestry. This study employs these techniques and a weighted linear combination approach to determine suitable areas for agroforestry in the Gonbad-e Kavous county. Spatial modeling and multi-criteria evaluation can produce land suitability maps for agroforestry, highlighting the critical role of climatic factors in developing these maps.
Methods
Gonbad-e Kavous County, covering an area of 5008.55 square kilometers, accounts for 24.59% of Golestan Province. This county is located at 37°17' N latitude and 55°18' E longitude, sharing a border with Turkmenistan, with an average elevation of 50 meters above sea level. Annual rainfall varies between 200 and 400 millimeters, dropping below 250 millimeters in northern regions.
This descriptive-analytical study, using existing data and field surveys, aimed to identify suitable areas for cultivating Populus euphratica in Gonbad-e Kavous. Due to the uniformity of the topography, factors such as elevation, slope direction, and slope percentage were excluded from the modeling. Fourteen variables were considered, including climatic factors (minimum temperature, annual average temperature, maximum temperature, annual rainfall, growing season rainfall, average annual humidity, and number of frost days), soil factors (soil texture, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC)), and four factors related to distance from surface water, roads, groundwater depth maps, and land use.
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