Developing management strategies using a new method for vulnerability assessment of wetland ecosystems (Case study: Choghakhor wetland)

In order to understand the condition of ecosystems it is essential to asses the threats and disturbances affecting the ecosystems and to develope suitable strategies for environmental management, monitoring and assessment. Especially, sustainable management of wetlands, in terms of their terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems composition and characteristics, requires scientific and multidisciplinary approaches. Due to the impacts of these threats, characteristics of ecosystems have become vulnerable.
This study has been done to provide a new method for vulnerability assessment of Choghakhorwetland at fine scale in order to develop management strategies. At first, by using the Driver, Pressure, State, Impact and response (DPSIR) model the threatening factors and values including ecological, hydrological, economic and social factors were investigated. Then the threats, values and links between threats and values were assessed. Vulnerability assessment is done through combination of their scores.
Results of this research indicated that main threats impact on ecological values included loss of birds and wildlife habitat. Increase of the height of constructed dam and drought have undesirable and severe impact on water supply for Gandoman wetland located in downstream lands. Finally, the strategies were presented as response to each factor of the analytical DPSIR model.