پیام آموزگاری

The macro water system flows in nature based on the physiographic condition of watershed and it is not limited to by a political border. In order to achieve water governance and rational use of natural resources, water resources must be managed at the watershed scale and under climate governance. But in most areas where urbanization has grown based on political borders, they mistakenly reduce the water system to the same range of political borders, which causes disruption in a chain of ecosystem relationships and complexity in water resources management. This issue has historical roots and originates from insufficient knowledge and technological limitations in the past era and when Political borders were formed. But in the current era, due to the advancement of technology and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as well as the increase in human knowledge about the inherent complexity of the water system, it has been possible to link the political boundaries with the boundaries of the watershed by producing and presenting new maps. Research literature shows that water resources and other environmental goods are better protected in countries where political borders and watershed borders are more compatible. Therefore, in the current study, by using the geographic information system, the border construction patterns in the country's watersheds have been analyzed. The results of this research show that matching political borders with watershed borders is a necessary step for the governance of Iran's water resources and sustainable development.

The growing global population and increasing demands have significantly intensified the pressure on natural resources and created inherent instability in watershed ecosystems and the complex ecological processes essential for habitat preservation, biodiversity conservation, erosion mitigation, soil formation, water retention, environmental stability, and cultural fulfillment have encountered disruptions. The inter-connected adaptability challenges within human-natural systems, intensified by climate change, bring more uncertainty that complicates the planning and management of ecosystem services in the watersheds. This uncertainty often results in flawed decision-making in water resources utilization and environmental management, contributing to instability and a shift toward critical thresholds in watersheds. This study adopts a systemic approach to analyze the Karoun Basin as a dynamic human-nature system, exploring five systemic analysis patterns and their impacts on water resource management paradigm.

The research progresses through three crucial steps. Firstly, the current status of the Karoun Basin is outlined based on extensive literature studies, characterizing the water system as a complex, adaptive entity. Secondly, leveraging a diverse range of research literature, five recognized structures in dynamic system analysis are explored. These structures offer a detailed understanding of the interconnectedness of human-nature systems, providing insights into the impact of human behavior on water resources management in the Karoun Basin. In the final step, using a systemic thinking approach, the study explores the occurrence of extreme events. This approach enhances the understanding of how extreme events interact with human activities, influencing the sustainability of the Karoun Basin.

The outcomes highlight the inherent risk of a linear approach to water resource management in the Karoun Basin, which is because of the lack of systemic thinking. This approach disrupts various relationships within the water system, leading to instability and worsening extreme events such as floods, droughts, and water disputes. The systemic investigation reveals recurrent behaviors that align with recognized structures in dynamic systems analysis, referred to as ancient patterns. Understanding and addressing these patterns are crucial for achieving sustainability and ensuring the continuous provision of ecosystem services.

Depending solely on short-term solutions, without considering long-term consequences in water resource management worsens water scarcity issues and intensifies social conflicts within watershed units. Solutions for Karoun Basin can be categorized into mitigating (hard) and adaptive (soft) scenarios. Mitigating measures address immediate needs, including advanced water storage and distribution infrastructure, while adaptive solutions incorporating policy measures are crucial for aligning the managed system with fluctuating water availability levels. A comprehensive resolution requires the simultaneous implementation of both strategies, recognizing the interconnected nature of human-nature systems and embracing sustainability principles.

Groundwater resources are the most important source of fresh water in the world. In Iran which is located in the arid and semi-arid region, mismatch of consumption needs with rainfall time along with climate change has increased the demand for groundwater. Excessive extraction of groundwater in the Alashtar Watershed reduced the water level in the aquifer of the plain and water resources of this area have faced a negative balance. Due to the inherent limitations of the country's water resources and increasing the split between supply and demand, the use of economic instruments and the establishment of the water market for optimal allocation of groundwater is a necessity. Accordingly, this study in order to determine the market price of groundwater with the aim of accurately identifying the local markets for groundwater and also measure the views of local water market operators about some of the strategies for advance the water market designed and implemented. The statistical population in this research was all rural exploiters are the main reservoirs of groundwater in the basin who contribute to the buy and sale of these resources. Regarding market prices in the study area, the average price of groundwater was 1,749 Rials per cubic meter, and the total value of groundwater was estimated as 555,307.5 Milion Rials. The results showed that in 103 villages there is a market for the buy and sale of groundwater. Those villages that have a local groundwater market, 76% of the villages have been established by creating popular organizations and the water regulatory council and 43% of the villages by create a bulletin board agreed to facilitate the buy and sale of groundwater resources.

Groundwater resources management is one of the most important issues of natural resources management. Lack of proper management of these resources has caused serious problems such as land subsidence, aquifer salinity and the annihilation of wetlands. With population growth, has increased demand groundwater and led to water scarcity in many parts of the world including Iran. Estimating the economic value of groundwater is a fundamental step in water resources management strategies. The present study was conducted using interviews and questionnaires to estimate the average willingness to pay the population of the villagers living in Alashtar Plain. In this regard, some of the most important socio-economic variables of the studied population and their role in optimizing the management of groundwater resources have been studied. The statistical society in this research includes the population of villagers residing in the Alashtar Plain as the beneficiaries of groundwater resources in the area with a sample size of 490 was calculated by the Cochran formula. However, the average willingness to pay to protect groundwater resources for each household of the Alashtar Plain was estimated as 1,758,920 Rials per year. Results showed that the total value of groundwater protection in the Alashtar Plain is 8,913 Milion Rials per year. The protective value of one cubic meter of groundwater for the population that has stated their willingness to pay is based on a contingent valuation method of 208.647 Rials. It was also observed that the offered price variables, annual household income and level of education significantly affect willingness to pay for the respondents. Given the fact that there is no market for groundwater non-use value, the findings of this paper can be a powerful tool for decision making and water resources management for water sector managers.