Evaluation of The Ecological And Ecotourism Capability of Lashgardar Protected Area in Malayer

Among different branches of tourism ecotourism has a great importance and has had a significant growth in the past two decades. The natural environment has specific ecological carrying capacity for human use and in order to achieve ecological development, the framework of regional planning should be used for loading population.
Lashgardar protected area with approximately 16,000 ha and ecotourism attractions and mountain ecosystems, dynamic and less disturbed natural features and rich plant and animal communities is located in the east and southeast of Malayer, Hamedan province. In this study, the effective parameters such as slope, elevation, aspect, soil, flora and fauna, geology, geomorphology and independency were investigated and appropriate classification and extensive centralized and conserved areas of recreation were identified. Finally, gathered information and ecological data were statistically analyzed. In the next step in order to assess the ecological factors such as altitude, slope, aspect, elevation classes, statistics and water resources including rivers, canals and streams, geology, geomorphology, climate data, synoptic stations land use, and soil data were analyzed and also the information layers incorporation were prepared in the form of maps.
Discussion of The relatively large area includes two mountain ranges having steep slope. The slope is an important factor in the ability to survey an area for recreation and tourism. Since easy access to some of the slope affected areas is not possible and tourism facilities and infrastructure are influenced by slope, thererfore, the slope in Lashgardar protected area is considered as a limiting factor for attractions accessability. This area of ecological conditions and the presence of permanent water fountains and some aqueducts, different mountainous habitats, cliffs and numerous valleys, is fertile ground for the emergence of ecotourism attractions and the biological balance. The results of the ecological study implies that environmental sustainability is very important and fundamental in the development of eco-tourism and ecotourism activities and should be extended in ecological zones with appropriate use. In general, intensive and extensive ecotourism activities in the region are programmable. Estimation of carrying capacity in all aspects of physical, and biological environment and economic feasability are essential for the region. In this study Lashgardar protected area was evaluated by ecological and tourism model.
The results showed that, due to factors such as fertile soil, favorable climate, vegetation and diversity of animal species, there is an ecological potential to expand and develop tourism in most areas. In this study, after identifying ecological resources in the Lashgardar region, it was shown that protection and extensive recreation zone to zone in the region were 84%, 13% and 3% respectively as well as intensive recreation zone is constituted. Due to the extensive nature of ecotourism, soil and rock conditions are important for pedestrians; otherwise, the soil parameter does not care much for extensive recreation. Furthermore, considering the types of ecotourism activities, the aspect and vegetation has a little importance. In general, some areas of Lashgardar are suitable for more than one use, wherase the activities do not overlap with each other, we can use them. Finally, despite the region's high and mountainous areas, the area has extensive capabilities and is suitable for intensive recreation activities. The results of the field studies show that in the spring, the wildlife has a greater tendency to slope above 70%. As a result, the most desirable areas is in spring and lowest is in autumn. The northern secure areas has a greater part of favorable wildlife habitats in its place (extensive and intensive recreation zones). Moreover, species tend to have a presence in adjacent rocky areas (protected zone) and the existence of these areas is increasing habitat for wildlife and ecotourism. Due to distance variable (road) and the tendancy of species to avoid such roads, the presence of these variables reduces habitat of species and should not be built in the area. This subject attratcts the policy makers to assess the ecological and segregated zones for visual tourism.
The results suggested that the area has an extensive or intensive recreation potential for the development and most villages have a high power and ability to develop tourism and ecotourism. Lastly, despite the region's high and mountainous landscape, the area has extensive capabilities and is suitable for intensive recreation activities. The results showed that Lashgardar protected area has three areas including protective, extensive and intensive recreational areas. The results also indicated that the protective zone is in the first place and extensive and intensive recreation zones are in the next rankings. Generally, some areas of Lashgardar are appropriate for more than one use and if the activities do not interfere with each other, they can be used. But in all zones, protecting the environment and ecotourism development without physical development is recommended. Due to land use and the diversity of mountainous rangeland it can be used with different functions which are necessary for ecotourism development planning.