Ecological Capability Evaluation on Zakherd Watershed for Ecotourism Development by application of GIS.

Ecological capability evaluation is used as a base for decision-making and planning of landuse in the world. This action applies because of the necessity for selection of functions and optimalplaces in environmental management and planning to achieve sustainable development.In this study, Ecological capability evaluation of Zakherd watershed with extent about of82.23 km2 which is situated in North-West of Shiraz and East of Kazeroon in Fars Province, wasimplemented.In the Ecological Capability Evaluation on Zakherd watershed the Mc. Harg method wasused. In order to evaluate the capability of the land a model was required. In this research anecological model from Makhdoum was used. For developing the present management of land of Ecotourismuse in that area specific and precise system GIS was used. Through this research, at firstecological resources (physical & biological) were identified. Digital data with accompany of attributedata was given to the Arcview system to establish the data base. Therefore by overlaying informationlayers in the mentioned system the ecological unit map of area with the table of characteristic unit, andthen the evaluation of capability was performed. Subsequently fertilized regions appropriate forecotourism development were found.Results of the study show that with regard to the whole ecological parameters, 0.94% of thestudied land with an area of less than 1 km2 is suitable for centered recreation and 24 % of the landwith area of 19.72 km2 is suitable for extended recreation.