Determine the most important criteria and indicators that influence land degradation and desertification

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Shakerian

2 University of Tehran

Abstract

Nowadays, land degradation and desertification are serious and complex problems that have turned into a worldwide crisis in the world. Using evaluative systems to study degradation and adopting an appropriate strategy to deal with this phenomenon is necessary and important.  The first step in the study of land degradation and desertification is determining criteria and indicators that affect upon this process. Therefore, in this study the importance and priority of a considerable number of criteria and indices that influence upon land degradation and desertification were examined. Accordingly, 8 criteria and 49 indicators were chosen based on questionnaires and expert panel and they were evaluated based on eight metrics. We weighted suitable criteria for evaluation indicators with the help of Shannon entropy method, and then by using the TOPSIS method (one of Multiple Attribute Decision Making Methods) we determined the most effective indicators on land degradation and desertification for management and dealing with this phenomenon. The results show that among the evaluation criteria and indices that should be considered for a benchmark or index, a scale, has the highest weight and importance, and being sensitive to change, has the minimum weight and importance.The results of the prioritization and ranking criteria and indicators based on TOPSIS model indicates that the severity of exploitation of water resources in the factor of water with the 0.79 efficiency, has the most effect and the use of facilities and personal management in the management factor with the 0.11 efficiency has less effect in land degradation and desertification.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Range and Watershed Managment
Volume 70, Issue 2
August 2017
Pages 385-398

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 May 2017
  • Revise Date: 07 August 2017
  • Accept Date: 06 July 2017
  • First Publish Date: 23 July 2017

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