Shiraz Environmental Resilience of the March 2019 Flood hazards; through Landscape approach, Systems Theory and DPSIR Model

The term “Landscape” is one of the most challenging concepts which have been interpreted differently across different disciplines and specialties with such variations being observed among both objectivists to and subjectivists or even a combination of the two. This article evaluates the resilience of Shiraz's landscape by accepting the definition of landscape as a phenomenon composed of objectivity andsubjectivity that claims to have a holistic and systematic view. Many approaches, such as the science of complex systems, chaotic dynamics, and the impact of phenomena commonly called Black Swan Theory believe in the difficulty or uncertainty of the available modelings. The landscape system in this study, with all its components and complexities, was considered a black box within the realm of the System Theory. Based on the evidence obtained from the March 2019 flood in Shiraz city and using a combination of AIDA and DPSIR models, processes in the landscape system were investigated in the Shiraz city, as a case stud. Then the resilience ratio with the landscape system and environment was explained. Finally, the resilience of Shiraz against the flood hazard was explored through the field observations and documentations including 50 in-depth interviews with people involved, and the content analysis of three lectures and four specialized panels. The findings showed that, in general, with the holistic approach of the landscape system, the city of Shiraz has been resilient to the terrible flood of March 2019 and its hazardous consequences. Although the flood caused great loss of life and properties, due to the Shirazi people cultural developments and social behaviors that occurred on the day of the flood in Shiraz, it led to more solidarity and a greater sense of belonging among the affected and unaffected groups. Morevoer, social activities, along with the efforts of other organizations and institutions, led to a faster return of damaged social and physical systems to their original state and pre-flood conditions. In addition to the organizational, institutional, and government support, the economic problems of the flooded people were alleviated by the help of charities. In fact, the strength of Shiraz resilience was laid over the social and cultural solidarity of the people of Shiraz. In other words, the resilience of Shiraz against the flood of March 2019 hazards is physically a kind of bounce back to its original state and a kind of bounce forward socially.