Assessment of the Interactions among Resilience Indicators of Socio-Ecological System in Response to Land-Use Change in the Taleghan Watershed

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2 , Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
3 Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
4 Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran
Abstract
Land-use change is one of the fundamental challenges in natural resource management, influenced by a combination of social, economic, environmental, and policy factors. In many regions, particularly in mountainous and ecologically sensitive areas, such changes have led to the reduction of agricultural lands and rangelands, while increasing built-up and urban areas. In the Taleghan watershed, pressures arising from population growth, tourism development, climate change, and improper resource exploitation have threatened the balance of socio-ecological systems and posed challenges to the region’s economic and environmental sustainability. This study aims to assess the impacts of land-use change on ecosystem services and the resilience of socio-ecological systems, using economic valuation methods for ecosystem services. The results indicate that land-use change has weakened environmental services and reduced community resilience to shocks and hazards. Scenario analysis conducted through MICMAC and Scenario Wizard software demonstrates that adopting sustainable land management policies, strengthening local community participation, and implementing ecosystem restoration programs can play a crucial role in enhancing resilience and sustainability in the region. Ultimately, the findings of this research can serve as a scientific basis for managerial decision-making and sustainable development planning in similar areas, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches in land-use and natural resource management.
Keywords

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Supplementary File

  • Receive Date 17 April 2025
  • Revise Date 18 June 2025
  • Accept Date 30 June 2025
  • Publish Date 21 September 2025