Potential analysis of beekeeping land use development using Analytical Hierarchy process (Case Study: Tamin Rangelands – Mirjaveh City)

One of the requirement of sustainable exploitation prerequisite and prevention of the rangeland degradation is identification of the most suitable area of rangelands. In this research, beekeeping potential of the Tamin rangelands was evaluated in order to develop of beekeeping land use through AHP method. To this end, beekeeping suitability model was determined through integrating vegetation criteria , then the beekeeping suitability of different region was determined. Vegetation sampling carried out using randomized - systematic method. Suitability of different vegetation types was assessed using Analytical Hierarchy process. Based on results, weight of vegetation cover factor (0.62) was more than environmental factors (0.37) and water resource availability (0.014). Overall comparison of effective criteria sets showed that Artemisia sieberi - Asteragalus eriastylus (total weight= 0.34) and Astragalus eriastylus - Cousinia stocksi (total weight=0.055) have the highest and lowest priority in terms of beekeeping, respectively. In general, 1820.9 hectares (equivalent to 32.68 %) in the S1' category (high suitability), 2630 hectares (equivalent to 47.2 %) in the S2' category with limited constraints or moderate suitability (770.05 hectares (equivalent to 13.82 %t ) in the S3 category with the high limitation and 351 hectares (equivalent to 6.3%) in the non-suitable (N) was placed for the beekeepers' development land use from the entire of the study area (5572 ha). Result showed that planning to develop of beekeeping land use in Tamin rangelands is necessary and could provide new employment opportunities and improving livelihood of the farmers, which lead to the sustainable utilization of these rangelands.