Land use planning for tourism development using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) (Case study: Taleghan Watershed, Khodkavand Sub-chatchment)

The use of GIS tools is one of the newest methods for performance of different land evaluation and planning projects. This research with the purpose of determination of appropriate landuse to natural land potential and improvement of land management of catchments was executed using GIS-tools in Taleghan area. At first ecological and socio-economic resources determined, mapped and entered to GIS environment. Then by analysis of more than 15 information layers, homogeneous and ecological units determined. By the use of watershed management and combined land planning model and in accordance with natural and socio-economic characteristics of the watershed, suitable landuses were proposed. At last optimum landuse map and the existing state of landuse map were adapted in GIS space. The results showed that 17 percent of the watershed area has suitable landuses while 83 percent of the watershed area needs landuse change.