Evaluation of Outdoor Recreation Potential of Zarrin Abad Forests in Neka Based on Iranian Ecological Model for Recreation

This research was done to evaluate the outdoor recreation potential of Zarrin Abad forests in Neka based on usual tourism use model in Iran. First, topographic map with scale 1:25000 was geo-referenced in Arc GIS 9,3 software. Then digital elevation model (DEM) with 30-meter pixel size was obtained from the geo-referenced map. The slope, aspect and height maps with 30-meter pixel size were provided using DEM. The vegetation coverage density and the soil texture maps of Zarrin Abad forests were provided from Nekachoob Company and were digitized in Arc GIS 9,3 software. All of the digital layers (maps) were classified according to the Makhdoum model. The environmental units map was provided by overlaying all of maps in Arc GIS 9,3 software. The characteristics of units in this map was compared to the characteristics of various outdoor recreation types in Makhdoum tourism ecologic model and potential of each unit was evaluated for intensive and extensive outdoor recreation and the outdoor recreation potential degree was determined. Finally the outdoor recreation potential map was prepared. Results showed that 82 percent study area have potential for outdoor recreation types. As 66 percent region have potential for degree 1- extensive outdoor recreation, 4 percent region have potential for degree 2- extensive outdoor recreation, 2 percent region have potential for degree 1- intensive outdoor recreation and 10 percent region have potential for degree 2- intensive outdoor recreation. In addition 18 percent study area has no potential for outdoor recreation that it includes the protected area (7 percent) and the improper area for outdoor recreation (11 percent).