Identification of Fars Province watersheds and their limitations

The current consumption trend of watershed resources causes the land degradation.Degradation in the long term is a serious threat for people who live in the watershed. Supplying the basic needs and in the same time securing the living environment for watershed dwellers are to be considered by the decision makers. This objective can be achieved by a comprehensive plan called "integrated watershed management". Identifying the watershed physical characteristics and defining its capabilities/limitations are the first steps of this plan. The previous studies performed in Fars Province were evaluated in order to identify the characteristics and limitations as well as grouping similar watersheds. The results showed that the Fars Province span is divided to 14 major watersheds at the basis of the two criteria "surface drainage" and "topographic conditions". These watersheds can be categorized to 5 environmental groups which are subjected to 27 threatening limitations. The main threats are environmental pollution, drought, floods, water erosion, desertification, salinity lands and surface water pollution. These limitations must necessarily be taken into account for the decision making and in the development projects.