Determination of site priority for apiculture by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method

Rangeland evaluation is defined as identification and assessmnet of actual and potential production in order tohave a sustainable utilization ofthisvaluable resource. One of the important indirect applications in multiple use of rangelands is Apiculture. In this study, site priority for apiculture was investigated in rangelands of Ghareh Aghach at Semirom in order to have a sustainable utilization of these rangelands. Suitability model for apiculture was formed from integration of three criterias of vegetation cover, environmental factors and water resources availability using FAO method (1991) and Geographic Information System. Afterward, priority of the vegetation types for apiculture was determined through AHP method. Samples were randomly collected along threetransects of two hundred meters longin each vegetation type. Presence and absence, cover percentage, diversity and vegetation composition of pollen and nectar plants were measured using 1m2 quadrates. To determine the priority of the factors, question sheets were used. The results of priority indicated that apiculture suitability of the vegetation types was different. According to the results, index weight of vegetation cover factor (0.687) was more than that of environmental factors(0.244) and water resource availability (0.069). As.ad-Ag.tr-Da.mu and Co.ba-As.sp vegetation types with a weight of 0.092 showed the highest priority in terms of apiculturalwhileAg.tr with a weight of 0.028 had the lowest priority among vegetation types. Generally, the results of apiculture model showed that 29% of land units (vegetation type) was classified as high suitable (S1), 59% with moderate suitability (S2), 6% with low suitability (S3) and 6% non suitable for apiculture. Considering the suitability and priority areas for apiculture is very important in improvement of range condition.