Application of SWOT analysis with separation of natural and anthropogenic factors in the integrated management of the Mikhsaz Watershed, Mazandaran Province

Nowadays, the severe degradation of the environment and the reduction of the performance of watersheds are very important in order to respond to the various demands of human societies. In the meantime, in order to deal with these threats, the use of the approach of integrated management of watersheds as an infrastructure and acceptable management principles in the world community and based on conceptual and mental models has a special emphasis. The SWOT analysis has structural features and suitable flexibility that has a wide range of capabilities in managing different ecosystems. In the SWOT analytical model, strategies are formulated to maximize strengths and opportunities and minimize weaknesses and threats. Therefore, in this research, an attempt was made to evaluate the impact of various anthropogenic and natural factors on the status of Mikhsaz Watershed with the SWOT approach.

The Mikhsaz Watershed with an area of ​​11191.1 hectares is located in the west of Mazandaran Province and in Nowshahr City, Kajur district and Zanus Rostaq village. In terms of elevation changes, the lowest height is 1374.7 meters above sea level located at the outlet of the watershed and the highest is 3689 meters located in the southern. The average amount of annual precipitation in the Mikhsaz Watershed is 427.8 mm and the average annual temperature is 10.53 degrees celsius. SWOT analysis is one of the most efficient methods of strategic management which can be used for beneficial results in different study watersheds, analysis of local capacities and generally in order to achieve the goals of integrated development planning studies in economic, social, cultural and physical. The first step in strategic management is the establishment of the SWOT matrix. The SWOT matrix, considering the conditions, internal and external factors governing in a system that provides a good basis for developing approaches. In order to present the strategy in the framework of this approach, four types of strategies have been used, including competitive-offensive, diversity, revision and defensive. In order to provide any type of strategy, two or more components of the existing factors that cover each other or are related were considered. Then, in direction of these combined factors, the best strategies for the study area were determined and finally the factors were ranked. In the execution of SWAT strategies, by using the internal strengths, it is possible to make maximum benefit of external opportunities.

Two factors of income reliance on different sectors (livestock-agriculture-services) and climatic diversity (rainfall and temperature) in the watershed with a weighted score of 0.23 are usually the most important among the strengths. In the weaknesses, the factor of inadequacy of property compared to family members has been identified as the most important weakness of the watershed with a weighted score of 0.63. Two factors of the possibility of reviving handicrafts and nature suitability for tourism with a common score of 0.3, were the most important opportunities in the watershed. In this watershed, the possibility of spring floods caused by melting snow with a score of 0.2 and early and late cold temperatures with a score of 0.18 are among the most important threats. Therefore, internal factors with a score of 3.54 have a greater effect on improving the situation of Mekhsaz Watershed than external factors with a score of 2.89.

In this research, the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the management of Mekhsaz Watershed in Mazandaran Province was evaluated and measured using the SWOT model. The results showed that in the Mekhsaz Watershed, income reliance on different sectors and climatic diversity are the most important strengths and lack of property compared to the family members is the most important weakness. The prioritization of the region's strategies also indicates that the strategy of reducing the destruction of resources and modification of the livelihood pattern are ranked first and second with the scores of 2.21 and 2.19, respectively.