Analysis and Evaluation of Hour-Al-Azim Wetland Conservation Strategies Using SWOT and QSPM Matrix

Wetlands are the intermediate lands between drought and aquatic ecosystems and are the most fertile and most productive ecosystems on earth (Germandy et al., 2008). Management of wetlands for conservation includes the conservation of wetlands from direct human pressures and the maintenance of natural processes in the vicinity of wetland. Monitoring the changes in wetlands and their surrounding lands can be useful for managing these valuable ecosystems (Sabzghabaei et al., 2015). In order to better protect the sustainable development, the necessity of differentiation and recognition of the characteristics of wetlands makes it possible to determine the resources, source of origin, location and factors of their destruction, so that they can be managed with a proper understanding of them. (Lambin and Gist, 2006). If society wants sustainable development in the first stage, we must acquire a complete knowledge of our environment, and in the second stage we must work with strategic planning to maintain it (Jafari, 2015). Strategic planning models are unlimited, but almost all of them are inspired by the SWOT analytical model (Chang and Huang, 2006). From the perspective of this model, an effective strategy will maximize strengths and opportunities and minimize the weaknesses and threats (Ganjali et al., 2014). Hour_ Al_ Azim wetland is located in the common border region of Iran and Iraq in the southwest of Iran and in the county of Dashte Azadegan of Khuzestan province (Behroozirad, 2008). Over the past decade, due to the intensification of human activities, in particular the development of the Azadegan oilfield and the pressures of human societies on the studied wetland, there have been profound changes in the region. This research was conducted with the aim of developing appropriate conservation strategies for Hour_ Al_ Azim wetland.