Prediction of vegetation management impacts on the risk of wind erosion (Case study: south of the Varamin Plain, Iran)

Wind erosion is a major environmental problem affecting land resources and socio-economic settings in Iran. This paper outlines a study undertaken to provide a new tool to manage wind erosion from physical and economic perspectives. The southern part of the Varamin Plain in south of Tehran is used as a case study. The focus of this study is on exploring the economic and physical impacts of vegetation-based scenarios for wind erosion management as well as conducting a trade-off analysis using the multi-criteria-decision-making (MCDM) technique. This involves developing a modeling system to assist decision makers in formulating scenarios, analysing the impact of these scenarios on wind erosion, and interpreting and suggesting appropriate scenarios for implementation in the area. The Iran Research Institute of Forests and Ranges (IRIFR 1) model has been selected to create the wind erosion hazard maps. This was carried out for the present condition and also for the corresponding conditions of the scenarios. The IRIFR 1 considers having the ability to represent the model complex interactions between system variables in arid and semi-arid areas of Iran. Among 16 scenarios for wind erosion management, the most appropriate ones have been chosen considering the trade-offs associated with the outcomes.