Introducing a New Approach for Prioritizing Combating Desertification Strategies Based on Multi- Attribute Decision Making

Addressing desertification, due to its multi-criteria nature, increasing development, extensive and long-term impacts on natural resources and human populations, is necessary to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, for optimal utilization of facilities and limited funds allocated to this issue, evaluation of current strategies, based on different criteria is essential to avoid wasting national funds, while achieving better results. The current study used Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to rank desertification strategies in the context of Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) models. First, important and high-priority criteria and strategies were identified within the framework of MADM, using the Delphi method. Then, the final priority of strategies was determined using the DEMATEL method. Based on the obtained results, vegetation cover development and reclamation (A23), change of irrigation patterns and implementation of low water demand methods (A33), and livestock grazing control (A20) were recognized as the most important combating desertification strategies in the region. Therefore, it is suggested to consider the obtained results and ranking in control plans to reduce the effects of desertification and reclamation of destructed lands.