Range management potential test using fuzzy logic and Boolean logic methods based on the proposed guidelines of the office of scouting and land use of Forests, Rangeland and Watershed Management

Testing ecological potential of lands for range management is one of the essential knowledges for proper range management policies. To cover the need this study was carried out in the mountainous rangelands of Mir dowood in Urmia province of Iran. Environmental map units were first prepared to extract the the more or less environmental characteristics the units. Two methods were imposed to the map units to create towin maps under different cenarios. Adaptation of both maps were statistically tested. In the first method, the weight of the criteria and indicators used to determine the priority of each user was considered to be the same based on Boolean logic (zero and one). In the second method, the weight of criteria and indicators was figured by paired comparisons (hierarchical analysis). Units were classified for rangeland use and put into four suitability classes namely high, medium, low and non. The results of hierarchical analysis method (second one) showed that 69.5% of the area was suitable for rangelands. The results of paired comparisons method showed that soil erosion, land unit types, composition of plants and climate factors were meaningful effects on determination of the suitability of the land for rangeland use. Having said that,  results also showed that the physical characteristics of the area was the most influential criteria.