Spatio-temporal change analysis of natural resources area in Iran

Natural resources play an essential role in maintaining the balance of the environment, preserving biodiversity and national economic development, therefore, planning for the management, organization and optimal use of these vital resources is necessary. Natural resource areas, particularly forests and pastures, have undergone significant changes in recent decades as a result of climate challenges, decreased rainfall, frequent droughts, and weaknesses in the country's planning system. Among these changes, we can mention the destruction of forests and pastures. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the changes in the area of forests and pastures in the country during the period 2006–2020 in the Iranian space zone. This study is applied and descriptive-analytical research. The data used extracted from the Statistical Centre of Iran. Data analysis has been done using spatial statistics techniques in the Arc Map software environment. The research findings at the national level show a significant decrease in the area of pastures and a relative increase in the area of forests during the investigated time period. Among the provinces, 11 provinces had a decrease in the level of forests and 21 provinces had a decrease in the level of pastures. The findings of the spatial analysis indicate the formation of three hot clusters related to the high levels of forest areas in the west and south of Iran, as well as the formation of a hot cluster related to the high levels of pasture areas in the central and eastern regions of Iran.