نشریه محیط زیست طبیعی
سال هفتاد و هفتم شماره 3 (پاییز 1403)

The changes in land use and land cover (LULC) driven by increasing human activities have resulted in a multitude of environmental challenges, including an elevated risk of flooding in densely populated urban areas. To achieve sustainable development goals, it is imperative to employ spatial-temporal modeling of urban runoff and floods and to assess urban ecological resilience to this challenge. In this study, Landsat satellite data was employed within the Google Earth Engine web-based platform to generate LULC maps for the city of Rasht, which is undergoing rapid urbanization, for the years 1990, 2005, and 2020. A CA-Markov model was employed to predict the LULC map for 2035. Subsequently, the InVEST-UFRM model was employed to assess the generation of runoff and the resilience of urban areas against potential flood hazards during these years. The findings indicated that the study area experienced a high rate of urbanization between 1990 and 2020. This trend is anticipated to persist, accompanied by a notable expansion of built-up areas and a considerable reduction in green infrastructure in the future. The InVEST-UFRM model yielded results indicating that the area with a high potential for flooding constituted 7.5%, 12.6%, and 21% of the total area in 1990, 2005, and 2020, respectively. The model predicts that this area will reach 28.2% by 2035. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that LULC changes have significantly impacted the reduction in Rasht city's ecological resilience against flood hazards. This research, which combines remote sensing data with new technologies, provides insights into assessing urban flood resilience under the influence of land use changes, particularly in data-limited areas. The results of this study can be used as a strategic tool for urban managers to make informed decisions for effective urban flood management in areas with similar characteristics.

Green or environmentally friendly businesses have been considered as an approach to improve the quality and quantity of agricultural products while preserving the environment in recent years. This approach follows the sustainable development goals of farmers and leads to a reduction in the consumption of unnatural inputs, fertilizers and chemical poisons and leads to the production of healthy products for consumers. But in developing countries, farmers do not want to work in this sector due to the lack of recognition of its economic and social benefits. This research was carried out with the general purpose of investigating the effective factors of rural-farmer households' willingness to develop green businesses in the environment. In terms of the nature of this research, it was a quantitative research, according to the practical purpose, in terms of data collection, it was part of a correlational descriptive research, and in terms of time, it was a one-point study. The statistical population of the research included all rural-farmer households in Bavi city (Khuzestan province). The sample size was 385 people determined using the Karjesi and Morgan table, and the samples were selected for the study using the stratified sampling method with proportional assignment. Bavi city has four districts: Vis, Mulathani, Anafjeh and Zargan, two villages from each of the districts and finally two villages from each village were selected for study. The main research tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability. Data analysis was done in two sections of descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS and Smart Pls software. In this research, the theory of planned behavior was used as the theoretical framework of the research. The results showed that the variables of the theoretical framework (attitude, mental norms, perceived behavior control) have a positive and significant effect on the willingness of rural households to develop green businesses in the environment and are able to account for 59.3% of the variance in this field explain. Also, the correlation results showed that there is a significant relationship between the variables of age, education and awareness in the field of environmental protection with willingness. Considering that the control of the perceived behavior was the most important variable in this field, in this regard, it is suggested to the policy makers to organize training courses and workshops for farmers in this field in order to develop the field of green businesses. Provide in the environment.

Biodiversity provides various ecosystem services to human societies and addresses human needs, but human interventions have caused biodiversity loss and reduced ecosystem services. The designation of protected areas is a strategy to manage environmental crises and biodiversity loss, but these areas are under threat. This research analyzes the factors affecting biodiversity loss in protected areas using a quantitative methodology (descriptive-correlational). Data were collected through structured interviews, using a questionnaire, with 250 out of 5095 rural households of the local communities of the Sorkhabad Protected Area of the Zanjan Province. The sample size was calculated using the Cochran sampling formula and was randomly selected through the multi-stage sampling technique. The questionnaire was developed by the research team and its questions’ content and face validities were assessed and verified by an expert panel in this field. The reliability of the research instrument was also confirmed by conducting a pilot study and applying Cronbach’s alpha test. The results showed that the biodiversity loss is determined by the variables of local community participation, interventions by external organizations, human drivers related to local communities, the livelihood, motivation, and knowledge of local communities, attitudes towards biodiversity conservation, knowledge about biodiversity degradation, knowledge about biodiversity challenges, and knowledge about ecosystem services, which explained 68 percent of biodiversity loss variance. Therefore, it is necessary for decision-makers and policy-makers to pay attention to relevant and effective factors in reducing the loss of biodiversity in order to conserve and restore ecosystems and species in protected areas.

The best age to develop love and interest and a sense of responsibility towards environmental issues is primary and secondary school. The purpose of this study is to investigate the position of environmental components science books. The research method is the analysis of data based on Shannon's descriptive entropy index. The studied society is all the science books. The results show that the highest frequency of attention to the components of environmental education is related to the 9th book (67) and the lowest is related to the 8th book (46). The components of animals in the 9th and 8th books, soil and stone in the 8th science book, the energy and food component in the 7th and 9th books, and the water and seas component in the 7th science book have the most attention and abundance. The highest coefficient of importance of Shannon in three books of the first secondary level, respectively, related to the components of animals and fauna (0.211), renewable and non-renewable resources (0.161), plants, forests and trees (0.153) and Biosphere is (0.116).  The components of growth and population and protection and maintenance have the lowest Shannon importance coefficient, and important issues such as air and energy have not been given significant attention. The results show that the curriculum of sciences has been able to provide students with lessons in some environmental subjects that fit the needs of students and to some extent attention has been paid to the components of environmental education. STSE approach can overcome the shortcomings of the textbook.

With the changes made in the management of nomadic rangelands, it is accompanied by the interference of the government and nomads to prepare a new migration calendar. With considering the limitations in the government system, the issue of feasibility of reassigning this responsibility to the nomads and providing the ground for their role-playing in rangeland management has been proposed as one of the ways to leave the inappropriate and inefficient situation of the current management system. Therefore, the Nomadic Affairs Organization, the Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Organization, Research Institute of Forests and Range lands; considered to interfere to this issue as a logical item based on the research findings. After several meetings, the summer range lands of Marghsar and Yourdeh Gheidar Lar in Tehran province was selected as a pilot to assess the impact of nomadic management on vegetation condition in this area. For this purpose, representatives of the nomads introduced and implemented the project in the form of a memorandum of understanding between the aforementioned organizations and the representatives of the nomads. The study stages of the project started in the form of defined management for 4 years from 2014.The annual evaluation of the indicators was done from the second year in each vegetation type, using 20 plots of four square meters along two transects of 150 meters. In each transect, the number of 10 plots was randomly and systematically established. The results showed that the nomads of this system comply with the move calendar announced by the implementation department and comply with the stocking rate based on the grazing license. The nomads, with the support of nomadic affairs management have been able to reduce the amount of grazing. So the percentage of vegetation cover before grazing, fodder production, vegetation covers after grazing, residual production and capacity of Marghsar and Yurdeh Gheidar rangeland, in the last two years of implementation increased and the percentage of exploitation also decreased(from 94.2% in the first year to 92.2% in the last year). Therefore, the relative improvement of the cover conditions and the beginning of the decreasing process of rangelands exploitation can be related to the family utilization system as well as the presence of environmental protection guards in the region. Hence, it seems that this model can be generalized in the management of rangelands in other similar areas, provided that the relevant government bodies, cooperate with nomadic representatives.

Sea level fluctuations have destructive effects on coastal cities, their environment, and climate. Therefore, identifying changes and fluctuations in sea levels and predicting them can aid in decision-making and proper management of resulting events and problems. This study focuses on modeling the time series of water level in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea using GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite data, employing machine learning-based models such as Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS). For this purpose, GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite data from 2003 to 2023 were used. The results obtained from the remote sensing time series were correlated with data from the Anzali Port tide gauge station. Subsequently, water levels were simulated and predicted using machine learning models. Results showed that the JPL model with R2= 0.788 indicates an appropriate relationship between satellite data and ground data. Additionally, R2 values for the three models DT, MARS, and RF were 0.545, 0.853, and 0.671, respectively, and NSE values were 0.64, 0.89, and 0.76 respectively, demonstrating the superior performance of the MARS model in simulation compared to others. Therefore, this model was used to predict water levels up to 2040, with evaluation criteria indicating the high efficiency of the MARS model. Predictions showed that in the worst-case scenario, sea level will decrease by 120 centimeters by 2040, leading to environmental damage and harm to marine industries and ports in coastal cities. The results of this study can be used as an effective tool in water resource management and long-term planning in the Caspian Sea coastal areas. Furthermore, these findings can greatly assist in assessing environmental and economic risks resulting from sea level changes and adopting appropriate strategies.

The present study examines the role of green advertising on the environmental performance of urban management by mediating the perceived environmental quality of citizenship and moderating the psychological benefits of greenness. This study used a descriptive research method to collect data. The statistical population studied includes all citizens of Urmia city located in West Azarbaijan province of Iran. Based on this, the sample size of 384 people was estimated from Morgan Karjesi's table and 410 people were considered for more certainty. For data collection and measurement, a standard questionnaire was used and the collected data were analyzed using the structural equation model. The findings showed that there is a significant relationship between environmental advertising and urban management environmental performance and perceived environmental quality in citizenship. The perceived environmental quality of citizenship has a positive effect on the environmental performance of urban management, and its mediating role in the relationship between environmental advertising and the environmental performance of urban management has been confirmed. Also, the positive adjustment effects of the green psychological benefit variable on the relationship between environmental advertising of urban management with perceived environmental quality of citizenship and perceived environmental quality of citizenship with environmental performance of urban management were also confirmed. This study hopes to increase scientific knowledge in the field of environmental advertising, to enable organizations to act in accordance with environmental conditions to inform citizens and meet their needs, as well as to reduce the damage expected to become an urban environment.

Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that play an important role in the well-being of human societies. However, the health of these valuable ecosystems is severely affected by environmental pressures caused by human activities. In the present study, the recreational value of Chaghakhor Wetland, located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, has been estimated using the individual travel cost valuation method and based on the linear-logarithmic model. In some studies, the regional travel cost method is used for this purpose, while in the present study, since most of the visitors are locals, so the individual travel cost method was used. The number of examined samples was calculated using Cochran's method which included 150 questionnaires. Based on the results, travel cost, monthly income, education and visiting season have a significant effect on the number of annual visits (P<0.05). The consumer surplus of each visitor is 1.2 million tomans, and the annual recreational value and the recreational value of each hectare are estimated to be 184 billion and 80 million tomans, respectively. Based on the results, the recreational value of the studied area is more than similar cases in Iran. The cool weather and the presence of many natural attractions in this wetland are the reasons for this higher value, which has led to the greater attractiveness of this wetland compared to other tourist places in Iran.

Currently, nature tourism is a process that has existed for a long time with its own forms in order to meet the psychological, cultural, social and economic needs of humans. In this research, Mahenshan city in Zanjan province was evaluated in order to develop nature tourism. In this regard, different scenarios were designed based on the risk level of decision-making and their comparison was carried out based on the features of the landscape in order to select the most optimal scenario. First, different data were prepared in 6 groups including landform, hydrology, land cover and habitats, soil and geology, historical monuments and natural and built attractions. The desired criteria were considered based on the opinions of the valuation expert and then the ordinal weighted averaging method (OWA) in the TerrSet environment in order to combine the layers of information. In this regard, various scenarios were designed based on the fuzzy quantifier (α). The comparison of the scenarios was done only on the basis of classes with medium to very high desirability and some of the most important parameters of the landscape in order to determine the best scenario using the TOPSIS method. The comparison of the scenarios based on the parameters of the landscape indicated that the most favorable scenario for evaluating the potential of nature tourism in the region is the scenario in which the full compensability of the importance of the criteria and the equal amount of risk aversion and risk tolerance are observed. Based on the best scenario, a total of about 50% of the city's area has medium to very high capacity for the development of nature tourism.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of adopting green information technology on organizational performance with the moderating role of green entrepreneurship orientation in Urmia University. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of nature and method. The statistical population of the research includes all personnel of Urmia University, whose number was determined based on the census of 355 people; So that out of these 355 people, only 173 people were able to complete the present research questionnaire. A questionnaire was used to check the research variables and collect data. The mentioned tool, which consisted of 16 questions, was distributed to the personnel in person. In order to analyze the data, structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis, and SPSS and Smart-PLS statistical software were used. The results of the research showed that the adoption of green information technology has a positive and significant effect on economic, environmental and social functions. Green entrepreneurship orientation has a positive moderating role in the relationship between the adoption of green information technology and economic and environmental performance, but it does not play a moderating role in the relationship between the adoption of green information technology and social performance. Finally, the findings of this research can provide the necessary ground for a suitable intellectual orientation among senior managers of higher education institutions in order to adopt a strategic orientation in the field of green management and green management information systems, and provide operational solutions to improve organizational performance through green entrepreneurship.

The growth, feeding, and reproductive biology of the non-native Northern Pike (Esox lucius) were evaluated over a one-year period from January 2020 to December 2020 in order to find evidence on the invasive nature of this species in Zrebar Lake, Marivan. Specimens were categorized into four age classes (2 to 5 years), with the highest number observed in the 3-year-old age class. The length-weight relationship indicated isometric growth for the population. Mean gonadosomatic indices were significantly higher in February compared to other months for both sexes (P<0.05). The monthly distributions of gonad maturation stages revealed that most specimens reached the fifth stage (spawning) of gonad maturity from December to February. Mean absolute fecundity and relative fecundity were 13139±1.163 eggs per fish and 20.37±1.67 eggs per gram of body weight, respectively. The most consumed food items were Carassius sp., Rana sp., Squalius sp., Alburnus sp., and Pseudorasbora parva. The highest gastro-somatic index and lowest vacuity index were observed in spring. The results indicate that the Northern Pike population in Zrebar Lake can feed, grow, and reproduce similarly to natural populations in other regions. The continued presence of this species in Zrebar Lake and its spread to the Sirvan River and Tigris Basin suggest that the Northern Pike is not only in the establishment phase but has also reached the expansion phase as an invasive species.

Urban green spaces are considered as one of the most important urban spaces, and the process of planning and designing said spaces should be given the attention of experts. These spaces can play a significant role in the beautification of cities and the peace of citizens. Therefore, in this regard, the aim of the current research is to analyze and recognition design indicators for planting ornamental plants in urban green spaces. In order to achieve the goal of the research, library resources were used to write the introduction and semi-structured interviews with experts in two stages in order to achieve the indicators, and the statistical population consisted of 15 experts. In the first interview, the indicators were extracted, and then in the second interview, the importance of the indicators was determined by forming the actor-target (expert-indicator) matrix. In the following, the data extracted from the interviews were entered into Mactor and Atlas TI software and analyzed. The results showed that the indicators of choosing plants based on environmental conditions, choosing plants based on size, choosing plants based on form, choosing plants based on texture, paying attention to the rhythm of planting plants, paying attention to visual balance in planting plants, avoiding complexity in planting plants, using lighting with plants, directing the view by planting suitable plants, not planting sharp and poisonous plants in children's playgrounds, not planting poisonous plants and small garbage by the water, prioritizing native plants, planting hedge plants for dividing The classification and use of appropriate planting to show the environment large or small are the most frequent, important and converging indicators.

Urban living and its increasing distance from nature and green spaces have exacerbated psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue. In this context, nature-based solutions have emerged as an innovative and effective approach to mitigating the negative effects of urban life and enhancing psychological well-being. This study aims to assess the perceptions of different age and gender groups toward nature-based scenarios (native and adaptable plant species with an emphasis on the aesthetic form of the canopy) in El-Goli Garden, Tabriz. The research is quantitative and employs a researcher-designed visual questionnaire for data collection. In the questionnaire, eight visual scenarios were presented in order: three scenarios with single-species plantings, namely, Acer Pseudoplatanus, Ulmus densa, and Pinus eldarica; four scenarios with mixed-species plantings; and finally, the current scenario. The statistical population consisted of citizens who frequented El-Goli Garden. The required sample size was estimated at 384 individuals using Cochran's formula, and data were collected through convenience sampling by distributing online questionnaires via social media. Overall, among the research scenarios, the combined scenario of the Ulmus densa and the Pinus eldarica, with a correlation coefficient of 0.515 (Spearman's test) and a mean rank of 5.84 (Friedman's test), showed the greatest impact on psychological comfort. Additionally, older individuals showed a preference for single-species scenarios, while younger individuals preferred the opposite. From the perspective of gender differences, women had a greater preference for combined scenarios, while men found single-planting scenarios more desirable. Therefore, the findings of this research underscore the significance of taking demographic differences into account when planning urban green spaces, in order to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of all residents, as well as to accommodate a larger number of visitors.