Identifying and prioritizing protective strategies for the Mouteh Wildlife Refuge on the basis of the existing status

Protective strategies planning and prioritizing for protected areas management based on existing status, plays an important role in conservation plan success. In order to achieve the best conservation strategy for managing the Mouteh Wildlife Refuge based on existing status, first, we identified the current status and the challenges facing this refuge using the DPSIR technique, with regard to protection. Afterwards, using the SWOT analysis, the weaknesses and strengths as well as threats and opportunities of the study area were identified and 12 protective strategies were suggested. Then, the strategies were ranked based on expert opinions and by applying IFE matrix and EFE matrix, strategic position and action evaluation (SPACE) matrix, and quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM). The result of this study indicated that Mouteh Wildlife Refuge is now more in need of a competitive strategy (ST). The competitive strategies selected in this study for Mouteh Wildlife Refuge in order of priority are: (i) considering a zone for grazing of livestock (due to the high area of the refuge), (ii) monitoring and patrolling in the area to prevent illegal hunting (considering the proper number of environment-guards and large area of the study area), (iii) providing tourism programs in these areas to change local people's attitudes and raise their awareness.