Journal of Conference Abstracts

Developing a Concept for Determining Ecological Susceptibility of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Jabbarian Bahman (fax: +98-021-8898906)

c/o Dr. Nosrat Safaian, College of Agricultural Science, P.O. Box 578, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.

Rapid development of science and technology without regard for environmental impacts has caused problems. To achieve sustainable development, environmental constraints must be considered. Otherwise, economic development will result in environmental degradation. Sound development of human activities needs to take into account resource limitations and environmental constraints during the planning process.

One approach toward taking into account environmental constraints is the determination of ecological susceptibility of terrestrial ecosystems, with a goal of directing the intensity of development into ecosystems where the anticipated level of environmental damage is maintained below the carrying capacity. In the present investigation, a methodology for determining the ecological susceptibility of terrestrial ecosystems, using systems analysis, is introduced. First, a system diagram is designed, incorporating ecological factors including slope, direction, elevation, soil, vegetation, isotemperature, and isoprecipitation. The system is analysed by the interaction matrix method (IMM) to estimate the relative significance of these factors. Based on our present findings, the significance of the above-mentioned factors is 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 1, and 4, respectively,. Second, mapping the ecological factors is undertaken. Spatial data for these ecological factors are integrated by a grid method. Finally, applying an Environmental Quality Index (EQI) formula, an Ecological Susceptibility Index (ESI) is determined and mapped.