Evaluation of factors affecting the performance and economic productivity of watershed management projects using SWOT model

Today, various watershed management projects are being implemented in watersheds which sometimes, despite high study and cost, they are inefficient for various reasons and face economic failure. In the present study, first, different watershed projects in the Parcel A of Gheshlagh Dam in Sanandaj were evaluated. Then, their evaluation was examined by determining internal and external factors. The aim is to extract the most important factors and provide strategies that make projects economically viable and functionally effective. Weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats of the region were extracted by experts and, using the SWOT analysis model and quantitative matrix of QSPM, economic-applicable solutions were presented. Results showed high value of management factors, so that the highest final value in external factors was inefficient study projects and the lack of funds for maintenance and repair of projects after implementation with scores of 0.50 and 0.43, respectively, and internal factors had the highest final value related to destruction and burial of dams due to the low quality of construction with a score of 0.59 which had the most impact on strategy selection. Based on the results of the model, the strategies are located in the ST quarter and are of a conservative method, in order to reduce the damage caused by threats and weaknesses by using the strengths of the domain. In accordance with this strategy, solutions were given by experts and prioritized by the quantitative matrix QSPM. The implementation of projects on land owned by individuals or the assignment of the right to maintain them to the owners with a final score of 8.76 was ranked first. The results of this research in the present economic situation of the country are very useful for informing authorities about how to optimize the implementation of watershed projects and will improve the instructions and implementation and the best use of projects.