Investigating the Impact of Agricultural Activities Extension on the Environment in Zayanderood Basin, Iran

Abstract

Water scarcity and destruction of natural resources are two most important environmental challenges in Zayanderood basin and proper use of water is important in the management of the basin. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the non-expert decision of managers on the environment and water in the Zayanderud basin. So, land cover changes were investigated using Landsat images in the basin from 2008 to 2015. Then, the cost of the destruction of rangeland for agricultural development was estimated using some of the indicators of measuring the economic values of ecosystems. Results showed that the change cover land is increasing quickly in some parts of the basin, while water scarcity of Zayanderood basin has remained in critical condition. Also, an economic value of at least US$1455.49per hectare was delivered to people in 2015 by the rangeland and the cost of destruction rangelands was USS10559.6per hectare over the last decade. Considering the impact of natural resource services destruction on person's welfare, proposed to the decision makers to determine the high social value of rangeland for assessment of agricultural development projects.