Evaluation of rangeland ecosystem services in terms of sediment retention potential using InVEST software package (Atrak Watershed, Golestan Province)

The various services that we obtain directly and indirectly from the natural environment are referred to as ecosystem services. The purpose of these services is to communicate with human welfare in four categories of services: provision, support, regulation and culture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the supply of soil conservation services at different land uses and also to compare their amount. InVEST model was used for this research. To calculate soil retention, this model estimates soil erosion potential using the Modified Soil Erosion Equation (RUSLE) and sediment retention rate based on sediment delivery ratio. Therefore, the required input information of the model including biophysical table and maps of digital elevation model, rain erosion, soil erodibility, vegetation and land use were prepared with the help of ArcGIS 10.4 software and entered into the model in the form of raster maps. The results of this study showed that among different land uses, forests and rangeland with good and average condition had the highest soil conservation and the lowest amount was related to barren lands, residential areas and poor pastures. The results also showed that the highest rate of soil conservation occurs in the east and southeast and upstream of the basin and factors such as reduced vegetation and soil type have contributed to the intensification of erosion in this area. The results of this research can be useful in land management programs and appropriate decision making for rangeland management.