Environmental assessment of Amirkelayeh International Wetland by SWOT method with ecosystem integrated management plan approach

Amirkelayeh Wetland is one of the three international wetlands in Giulan province, which is registered by the Ramsar Convention and is managed as a Wildlife refuge.The purpose of this study was a comprehensive evaluation of the capabilities and problems of Amirkelayeh wetland based on the results of ecosystem integrated management plan. In this research, first, strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats are identified using the SWOT model. Then, appropriate strategies were developed based on these factors and ranked by QSPM method. Rich habitat, high species diversity, and bird watching ability were the main components of strength. Wetland pollution, hunting and trapping, and land-use changes were the main components of weakness.The opportunities consisted of international fund, laws, management plan and environmental flow requirements. Non-implementation ecosystem integrated management plan and environmental flow requirements also eutrophication were the main threats components. ranking of strategies showed the implementation of ecosystem integrated management plan can be an effective step in Amirkalayeh wetland sustainable development.