Mohsen Sarshad Ghahfarrokhi; Seyed Alireza Mousavi; Saeed Soltani; Saeed Pourmanafi
Abstract
Natural resources are valuable capitals for all nations. Rangelands as the most extensive natural ecosystems in Iran provide numerous services, including fodder production and red meat supply, soil conservation and water regulation. Although uncontrolled exploitation of these resources has imposed much ...
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Natural resources are valuable capitals for all nations. Rangelands as the most extensive natural ecosystems in Iran provide numerous services, including fodder production and red meat supply, soil conservation and water regulation. Although uncontrolled exploitation of these resources has imposed much pressure and caused many losses within the ecosystems. Impacts of overutilization of nomadic livestock on Semirom rangelands from runoff control perspective has been the core objective of this study. Considering the utilization conditions, vegetation cover was measured within the vegetation types before and after livestock grazing during 2013 grazing season. Curve Number method was selected to evaluate the runoffs originating from rainfalls with different return periods before and after livestock grazing and the difference was considered as the grazing impact. This externality was valuated using replacement cost method. Results showed that utilization pressure is extremely more than grazing capacity which has distorted water regulation function of the rangelands, e.g. it has increased the runoff volume from a rainfall with 2-year return period from 1660884 to 2600487 m3. In other words, it has diminished the potential of rangelands in controlling water runoffs. Economically speaking, the external damage to water regulation function of rangelands was calculated at the rate of 25391 million Rial/year. This information on the externalities of nomadic livestock will provide the useful basis for economic appraisal of the utilization process and adjustment or rectification of economic activities which entail social costs on their way towards private profits.
Seyed Alireza Mousavi; Hossein Arzani; Gholamali Sharzei; Hossein Azarnivand; Mahdi Farahpour; Stephani Engel; Esmail Alizadeh; Aliakbar Nazari-Samani
Abstract
Soil conservation is one of the most important regulative functions of natural ecosystems. This function is of high importance in Taleghan Watershed due to high erosion quantity and sediment accumulation in Taleghan Dam reservoir. Soil loss reduction, sedimentation control and fertility conservation ...
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Soil conservation is one of the most important regulative functions of natural ecosystems. This function is of high importance in Taleghan Watershed due to high erosion quantity and sediment accumulation in Taleghan Dam reservoir. Soil loss reduction, sedimentation control and fertility conservation were considered as different aspects of soil conservation. Effect of land use and vegetation cover on soil conservation was studied by overlaying soil erosion map with other environmental data layers. Abandoned rainfed lands with low cover were considered as benchmark to evaluate the role of rangeland vegetation cover in soil conservation. Economic value of soil loss reduction function was estimated using opportunity cost approach and the benefits of rainfed agriculture. Economic value of sedimentation control also was calculated considering SDR ratio and avoided cost approach. Soil fertility conservation was quantified regarding the volume of soil conserved and nutrient content of soils of the study area. Economic value of this function was estimated using replacement cost approach. Results show that Mid-Taleghan rangelands conserve 60545 cubic meters of soil per annum. Annual economic value of soil loss reduction, sedimentation control and fertility conservation functions were estimated about 6262, 25287 and 8626 US dollars, respectively. These functions are just some limited aspects of rangeland functions and economic valuation of these functions could effectively be utilized for conservation of rangeland ecosystems.
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