Environmental impact assessment of tourism projects by using modified Leopold matrix (Case Study: The Savojbolagh tourism region)

In most countries with the global increase of population and the human's need to travel and recreation, tourism development is known as a means of creating jobs and attracting foreign capital. Since tourism is done in the natural, social, cultural environment, Leaves significant eff ects, that environmental degradation is one of them. In this context, environmental impact assessments can play an important role in identifying the potential effects of development and decrease environmental problem and contribute to sustainable developme nt. One of the most common methods of environmental impact assessment, is the matrix method . Among the matrices, the Leopold matrix can be noted . The merits of this matrix is summing up the positive and negative effects of the projects. In this matrix, at first the effects of the activity, have been identified and then Severity (extent of impact) a nd the importance of magnitude the desired effect is considered. Leopold matrix change its nature to the modified matrix. Nowadays with valuation To - 5 is kn own as Iranian matrix and could take the place of many conventional methods of impact assessment. Therefore, in this research Iranian matrix is used for environmental impact assessment. The results showed that in this project, the construction and operatio n phase isnt containing negative consequences with average rankings Less than 3.1. So, Savojbolagh tourism region by considering environmental consideration and strategies for reducing the negative impacts of average and weak level, is confirmed.