Investigating the Level of Protection and Evaluating the Potential of the Prohibited Hunting Area of Kahak in Qom Province

The aim of this study was to investigate the protection level of the prohibited hunting and shooting zone of Kahak and to evaluate the potential of the region to improve its protection level. Firstly, identification and mapping of ecological and socio-economic resources was performed using GIS. Then, ecological data analysis was performed and the map of environmental units was formed through preparing a special ecological model and afterwards zoning of the area was completed and the map of the zones was prepared as planning units. According to the results and the special ecological model, zones for conservation (35.8%), rangeland management (22.46%), extensive recreation (31.44%) and intensive recreation (10.3%) could be identified for the sudy area. We also found no potential for agriculture, aquaculture and urban, rural and industrial development in the area. According to the results we found 27.83, 26.54, 14.88, 13.3, 9.67, 6.42, 0.84 and 0.52 percent of the area suitable for zones protection, extensive recreation, rehabilitation, buffer, strict nature reserve, intensive recreation, special use and other uses, respectively. In the second stage, using the SWOT matrix and the analytical hierarchy process, while identifying the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the region, the best strategy was found to be the treatment of the threats and weaknesses of the region using the strengths and opportunities towards promoting the area to the class protected area. The results of the SWOT model showed preference of taking an aggressive stance, using the opportunities in the region. Finally, considering the capabilities identified in the area, it is suggested that the Kahak No-Hunting area be upgraded to a protected area, namely the fifth IUCN class, named the area under management for landscape protection.