Zoning of Maloosan protected area using GIS

In management of parks and protected areas, zoning is a mechanism through which the conflicts in the protected areas are reduced and the opportunity for making decisions is provided.
Maloosan protected area with a mountainous landscape, valleys and shelters and with an area of about ​​9513 hectares is located in Hamedan at a distance of 24 kilometers northwest of Nahavand city. In the zoning process of identifying ecological and socio economic resources through analysis and summary of collected data (based on systematic process), 5907 units were partitioned (in scale 1:25000). Then the special ecological models were developed and by comparing them with the chart of environmental units, the units for different zones were evaluated. Finally, the prcess of prioritizing and organizing the zones was carried out according to the common method applied in Iran, and zoning maps as planning units in the region were prepared.
Findings: The result from zoning of Maloosan protected area shows that protective zones, other uses, extensive recreation, reconstruction, intensive recreation, buffer zone cover 50.21%, 36.48 %, 13.21%, 0.09%, 0.01%, and 28.7% of the total area in the region respectively.
Results showed the necessity to prepare proper conditions for both protecting the ecological values and development and optimal utilization using administrative policy in the area.