Feasibility Study of Preparing Prediction Map of the Possibility of Presence of Some Important Range Species in Zagros Rangeland

Habitat suitability prediction of important plant species in formal and indigenous Knowledge is known as one of the considerable factors in rangelands reform and development, since one of the main points of success or failure of these activities is adaptation with needs and culture of the area residents. This survey is about feasibility study of preparing prediction map of the possibility of presence of some range species being important for natives, local experts and having Multifunctional value. This study was conducted in Dilegan rangeland in Kohgiluye and Boirahmad province. Important species were identified based on interviews with local experts, scientific centers associated with natural resources and tribal affairs. Then logistic regression model was used for habitat prediction map of the selected species and regarding the purpose of study, vegetation data and environmental factors were collected in the rangeland. By creating relationships between environmental variables and the presence or absence of species and applying these relationships in GIS, habitat prediction map of Astragalus gossypinus Fischer, Prangos ferulacea (Schlecht) Boiss. and Ferulago angulata (L.) lindi was created in the ArcGis version 3.9. Kappa (κ) was used to evaluate the prediction habitat maps. Results showed that gradiant analaysis of environmental variables by logistic regression can be used as one of the appropriate methods for preparing habitat suitability prediction map of plants. In this method, by determining the presence or absence of plant species, its relationship with environmental factors is identified, and in other areas, in case of knowing environmental factors, predict the possibility of presence of plant species.