University of Tehran Journal of Range and Watershed Managment 5044-2008 75 2 2022 09 06 Assessing the capability of mountain rangeland Dermian of South Khorasan for ecotourism use Assessing the capability of mountain rangeland Dermian of South Khorasan for ecotourism use 283 298 88909 10.22059/jrwm.2022.328067.1603 FA Vahideh Abdollahi Assistant Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, Higher Educational Complex of Saravan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran. Hossein Arzani Professor, Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University, Karaj, Iran. Javad Motamedi Associate Professor, Rangeland Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2021 08 01 Ecotourism, as a side activity of rangeland, can be effective in improving the livelihood of rangers and will reduce the pressure on rangelands by economizing rangeland. In this study, with the aim of evaluating the potential rangelands of Dermian , for ecotourism use, based on environmental and ecological factors (climate, topography, soil, distance from water sources and vegetation attractions) and infrastructure (distance from the city and from roads), was done. From the combination of maps in the GIS environment and based on the FAO limiting factor approach,, the rangeland suitability was determined. Based on the results, 36.7% of rangelands are in the middle suitability category (S2), 46.5% in the low suitability category (S3) and 16.8% in the non-suitable category (N) in terms of ecotourism. In this regard, 61.5% of the rangelands for livestock grazing, have low suitability (S3) and 38.5%, unsuitable (N). The percentage of vegetation and,, the poor condition of soil erosion, are factors limiting the suitability for ecotourism and livestock grazing. , it is necessary to reduce the number of livestock and graze livestock in accordance with ecological principles; that used the rangeland of the region for ecotourism along with livestock. This, in addition to compensating for the economic problems, will also help restore vegetation. Due to the need to preserve rangeland,, forest parks can be created to accommodate tourists, up to a suitable radius of the desired rangelands, and by placing remote viewing platforms and sidewalks, from the amount of damage to vegetation and reduced soil degradation. Ecotourism, as a side activity of rangeland, can be effective in improving the livelihood of rangers and will reduce the pressure on rangelands by economizing rangeland. In this study, with the aim of evaluating the potential rangelands of Dermian , for ecotourism use, based on environmental and ecological factors (climate, topography, soil, distance from water sources and vegetation attractions) and infrastructure (distance from the city and from roads), was done. From the combination of maps in the GIS environment and based on the FAO limiting factor approach,, the rangeland suitability was determined. Based on the results, 36.7% of rangelands are in the middle suitability category (S2), 46.5% in the low suitability category (S3) and 16.8% in the non-suitable category (N) in terms of ecotourism. In this regard, 61.5% of the rangelands for livestock grazing, have low suitability (S3) and 38.5%, unsuitable (N). The percentage of vegetation and,, the poor condition of soil erosion, are factors limiting the suitability for ecotourism and livestock grazing. , it is necessary to reduce the number of livestock and graze livestock in accordance with ecological principles; that used the rangeland of the region for ecotourism along with livestock. This, in addition to compensating for the economic problems, will also help restore vegetation. Due to the need to preserve rangeland,, forest parks can be created to accommodate tourists, up to a suitable radius of the desired rangelands, and by placing remote viewing platforms and sidewalks, from the amount of damage to vegetation and reduced soil degradation. https://jrwm.ut.ac.ir/article_88909_9dadc9880927f2e897fc4dbf16dbc19a.pdf