Invest the Effect of the Intensity of Wind Erosion and Desertification on the Destruction of the Habitat of Hamedan Region

The study of wind erosion in desert areas and the devaluation of the habitats in it is a subject that has been underestimated. Paying attention to the importance of animal species and describing the scientific relationship between the intensity of wind erosion and the status of habitats of desert areas are the main goals of this research. For this purpose, first, desert areas of Ghahavand region were selected in the eastern part of Hamedan province. Then, the 9 factors affecting wind erosion including: lithology, landform, elevation, velocity, wind condition, soil texture, non-lining of soil surface, type and distribution of wind deposits, and land management were studied. Based on the IRIFR.EA Model, seven units of work including: medium-sized pigeon plains (coniferous), stabilized hills, clay plains, fine or puffy salt zones, active hills, land-change, and rural change were identified and the map of geomorphic units was prepared. In order to evaluate the intensity of wind erosion in each unit of work, nine effective factors in wind erosion were graded and the regional map was prepared. The animal species of the area were evaluated based on field observations and current available reports. The approximate value of each habitat in the region was evaluated based on three variables of food, water, and security (human impacts) via using a questionnaire, experts' opinions, and the Delphi method. Then, analysis was done by determining the correlation between the values of each animal habitat with the average amount of wind erosion in that habitat. The results showed that the highest score was related to the land use change and the salt zones of fine or puff grain and the lowest score to the rural land. It was also found that 7.4% of the area is in low erosion level, 23.59% in moderate erosion level, and 69.35% in extreme erosion level. There was an inverse linear and logarithmic correlation (ln) between the amount of wind erosion (wes) and the value of the habitat (WH). This means that the effective factors in increasing the amount of wind erosion on the quality of the habitat have a significant and reverse correlation that decrease the value of the habitat. So, with the increase of wind erosion in the area, water resources, food, and vegetation security either would be lost or limited and caused migration and reduced species diversity and habitat degradation.