Zoning of Toof Sefid watershed for ecotourism and conservation, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiary province

Naional parks، natural national monuments and conservation areas are favourite destinations of ecotourists in the world. Fritillaria imperialis as a rare species plant and natural national monument is important for its aesteics and ecotourists attracion aspects. But in other hand its unique habitat has been faced risk of deterioration due to the lack of planning and management. This research takes in to consider conservation and ecotourism values and do a sensitivity analysis and zonning based on soil and vegetation types. The study area (Toof Sefid watershed) with 12100 ha area locaed in Koohrang town، 85 km north of Shahrekord. In the first phase of research، land forms (slope، aspect and elevation)، soil and vegetation types were identified and mapped by field and laboratory works. using dual comparative matrix weight of each criterion of soil and vegetation factors were determined in terms of their important in a recreational/conservational zoning from expert point of view. These weights multipled by their values and results standardized in 0-1 domain. Then using formultion of scenarios (absolute conservation، Conservation and rehabilitation، Soil conservation and traditional uses، Ecotourism according to carrying capacity)، zoning were implemented in Arc GIS 9. 2. Results showed that there are three zones in study area including absolute conservation with 607. 09 ha (5. 02%)، soil conservation in line with raditional uses like grazing with 3285. 7 ha (27. 15%) and ecotourism limited to carrying capacity with 2451. 15 ha (20. 26%). Outstanding point is that was not found rehabilittion zone for fritillaria imperialis which imply degredation of habitat in past.