Study and Priority Winter Rangeland Degradation via DPSIR Conceptual Model; case study: Shahrood - Semnan province

Today, one of the most important issues in the Iranian rangeland management system is the lack of a clear and transparent picture of the most important problems in them. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively investigate the root causes of winter rangeland problems from the perspective of users and experts. One of the most widely used evaluation and analysis tools is the DPSIR concept model (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response). First, in order to study and prioritize, the factors affecting the destruction of Shahroud winter rangeland were identified and classified in the form of a questionnaire using the Likert scale method. Then, with DPSIR conceptual model, different components were analyzed and management solutions were presented. Results showed that the first effective driving force in these rangelands is the need for employment and food, which directly causes compressive factors such as economic problems of local communities, increasing erosion and reducing the level of rangelands. Ecosystem services which are affected by these conditions are provision services (forage and water production with a score of 0.7), regulation (soil conservation with 0.63) and cultural services (landscape beauty with 0.5). The second driving force is the need for water and climate change, the main pressures of which are the lack of clear rules for water abstraction as well as the lack of attention to indigenous knowledge and its effect is on regulatory services (water quality) and cultural services (educational opportunities). The next driving force is human settlements and infrastructure, lack of access to fuel and mining development is one of the most important pressures. These effects can be seen on regulatory services (increased erosion by 0.63 points), cultural (aesthetic; 0.32) and supportive services (decreased biodiversity; 0.53). The results indicated that the important strategies for managing these rangelands are training new jobs and creating alternative livelihoods.