Prioritization of integrated watershed management approachs proportionate to the number of strengths and opportunities in SWOT analysis

The present research aimed at presenting a new SWOT strategy for integrated watershed management of Asiabrood in Mazandaran Province. At first, the SWOT matrix and the tables identifying the strategic indicators of internal and external factors were formed and then internal and external evaluation matrices were analyzed. A new strategy used in the discussion of the weighting of SWOT strategies was based on the fact that the final value of each strategy was multiplied by the number of effective strengths and opportunities and the final results were analyzed based on these priorities. Based on analysis of strengths and weaknesses, nine strengths and eight weaknesses were identified. The suitable water quantity and quality with a weight of 0.444, low air temperature with a weight of 0.395, mineral water utilization with a weight of 0.288 and economic poverty with a weight of 0.493, respectively, were the most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. According to the internal-external factors evaluation matrix in the SWOT model, the strategy of increasing the sense of satisfaction of residents, based on the conventional method and the new strategy, gave the highest value. With a careful look, it can be concluded that strengthening the sense of satisfaction between residents happens when People problems in different sectors of livelihoods, including economic, social and cultural, have been considered more and, by presenting correct programs, have increased satisfaction and reduced migration to urban areas. In general, it can be concluded that due to the problems and solutions presented in this study, proper and applied planning should be used to compensate for the weaknesses and to strengthen the strengths as much as possible in the development of Asiabrood watershed.