مجله پژوهشهای محیط زیست
سال چهاردهم شماره 27 (بهار و تابستان 1402)

If we be aware of the trend of air pollution and the factors affecting pollution, we can reduce these factors and think of important measures for them and work to protect the environment, including the air, which in turn reduces the long run social and economic costs of pollution. The Euro 5 emissions’s standard has been implemented in EU member states since 2009. This law was supposed to be implemented in Iran from 2012, but it faced many obstacles. In this study, due to growing trend of pollution in major cities of the Iran, the emission of carbon monoxide (an indicator of pollution) has been simulated using the system dynamics approach in the period 2021-2042 for the city of Shiraz (as a case study). By continuing the current situation, the population of Shiraz increases through two natural population growth and migration. Appropriate air pollution control strategies have been proposed using public transportation, technical inspection, traffic management, and the offer of alternative fuels. Based on the simulation results in different scenarios, replacing Euro 4 gasoline with Euro 5, carbon monoxide emissions in Shiraz will be significantly reduced in the long run. Otherwise, the continuation of the current trend in 1420, carbon monoxide will become a serious challenge for the city of Shiraz.

One of the most common and inappropriate crop residue management practices methods is burning them in fields. In Khuzestan province as one of the major agricultural regions in Iran, many farmers burn the crop residue after harvesting which results in the emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases to the air, soil depletion, reduction of inputs productivity, and other adverse consequences. In this study, the total crop residue being annually burned was estimated based on Modis satellite images, annual statistics, field surveys, and interview with farmers. The results obtained from the process and correction of Modis satellite images in Khuzestan province indicated that the minimum area of farms in which crop residue was burned during 2017, 2018, and 2019 were 137102, 119705, and 195635 ha/yr, respectively. In 2019, burning 1259005 tonnes of dried crop residue emitted 1525760 t CO2, 54560 t CO and 6953 t particles less than 2.5 ppm. The amounts of other air pollutants such as CH2, NOx, N2O, NH3, SO2, NMVOC, BC, and OC were 2146, 3747, 91, 1213, 466, 4920, 2139, and 1293 t, respectively. Preservation of crop residue on the surface can mitigate the air pollutant emissions as well as reducing soil erosion and water use, improving soil fertility and compaction, and finally increasing crop yield. A proper crop residue management practice is achievable by developing agricultural mechanization and adopting conservation agriculture principles.

The aim of this study is to estimate emission of nitrous oxide gas in rice, wheat and sugarcane fields of Khuzestan using four models: DAYCENT, DNDC, YLRM and IPCC_EF. For this purpose, nitrous oxide gas precipitation was first measured. Then, using models was estimated nitrous oxide gas expansion rate. To evaluate and compare accuracy of models, statistical characteristics were used, coefficient of determination, maximum error, root mean squares error, modeling efficiency and remaining coefficient of residual mass. Release of nitrous oxide in rice cultivation in four models was estimated to be between 0.17 and 0.171. Rate of nitrous oxide emission from wheat cultivation was between 0.5-0.049 and from Shushtar station sugarcane cultivation was between -0.0371 and from Abadan station sugarcane cultivation was between 0.03-0.85. In linear regression model of rice cultivation (1.17), in IPCC_EF model, wheat cultivation (0.5) and sugarcane (3) obtained the highest amount of nitrous oxide gas per ton per hectare per year. According to results of statistical indicators for four models DAYCENT, DNDC, YLRM and IPCC_EF to estimate nitrous oxide gas were determined, respectively, the coefficient of determination (0.86, 0.94, 0.99 and 0.82), root mean squares error (0.03, 0.01, 0.85 and 0.26) and modeling efficiency (0.55, 0.94, -4.87 and -30.63).Compared to observed values, DAYCENT model for corn, DNDC model for rice, linear regression model for sugarcane cultivation of Abadan station showed good performance. Based on results of coefficient of determination, YLRM and DNDC models received the highest accuracy based on modeling efficiency of DNDC model.

Nowadays, rapid expansion of urban and inter city industrial areas together industries in adjacent areas are considered as one of the mahn factors affecting increase of environment contamination as well as air pollution.A basic alternatives to reduce and/or control air pollution probem seemed to be proramming a sterategical air pollution management. This study with the aim introducing sterategical air pollution management is conducted in the Isfahan city.The needed data were collected through the filed studies in relation to environmental characteristics affecting rate of air pollution and measured data in the existing air pollution stations.Questionary form were distributed between experts using Dephi method and the gained data were analyzed through the use of combination method of SWOT,QSPM and fuzzy network hierarchical analysis (F.ANP) techniques. Results show that launching the city with emphasis in reducing the use of private cars in combination of policy-making and planning of expanding the public transportation network in the first step and limiting the establishment of industrial units inside the city and gaing polution taxes as well as improving the condition of public roads are in the next step. Accordingly, the most appropriate and practical strategic strategy to control air pollution is reducing the use of private cars with especial emphases on combination of policy-making and planning of expanding the public transportation.

Although estuaries are considered as one of the most fertile ecosystems in the world, today they are under the influence of various threats and one of them is hydrological changes. In this study, by using the IHA hydrological change indicators, the changes in the hydrological regime in two statistical periods "natural flow regime" and "altered flow regime" were investigated in Soleiman Tange and Kordkheil hydrometric stations in Tejan watershed (Mazandaran province). Based on the IHA method, a total of 67 statistical parameters have been estimated by "IHA7 software"; these parameters are divided into two groups of indicators of (IHA) hydrological changes in the target range of (RVA) and the environmental flow component of EFC. According to the results, the minimum days of flow in the period before the construction of the dam is 227.5 days, while in the period after the construction of the dam, it is 48.5 days, and the number of days when the minimum flow occurs before the construction of the dam is 351 days. It has decreased to 286 days after the construction of the dam, so the annual limit flows in the Tejan River have experienced disturbances and moderate changes. Considering that the change in the hydrological indicators of the flow is mainly influenced by the construction of the dam, therefore the hydrological management of the dam will have a great effect on the ecological condition of the Tejan river estuary.

Iran has a high potential of solar radiation and lots of sunny days (more than 300 days) in a year.  In this study the feasibility of establishment the photovoltaic powerhouse in several agricultural research stations of Markazi, Esfahan and Kerman Provinces was investigated. In this regard, after determining and analyzing the required meteorological information using Meteonorm software and system simulation by PVsys software, economic analysis of each station were performed by determining the breakeven point and the average cost of energy production for different discount rates. The study also examined the reduction of pollution due to the reduction of Cox, Nox and Sox emissions as a result of employing photovoltaic power plants. According to the results, the most solar electricity generation was occurred in Rudasht station of Esfahan province equaled to 303 kWh/m2 per a year. Photovoltaic powerhouse establishment in the research stations could eliminate pollution production up to 748 tons in a year which exhausted from fuel combustion in the power generation turbines. Results also illustrates considering electricity purchase tariff (6370 IRR/kWh), the construction of photovoltaic power plants with the usual interest rate (more than 8%) is not economically viable for investors. Therefore, the implementation of such projects cusses to produce clean energy and to bring environmental protection, a special banking facilities with interest rates below 8% is recommend to motivate private sector for investment.

The main purpose of this study is to investigate and evaluate the status of energy indicators for sustainable development in Iran in three areas: social, economic, and environmental. For this study, energy indicators for sustainable development have been studied and calculated based on the method introduced by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In this method, 30 indicators in three areas of social (4 indicators), economic (16 indicators), and environmental (10 indicators) are introduced. The research method in this study was applied in terms of purpose and library (documentary) and field (qualitative and quantitative) in terms of collecting statistics and information. The statistical population of the research in the stage of identifying and measuring energy sustainability indicators was experts in the field of energy and environment. Out of 30 energy indicators for sustainable development, according to experts, 17 indicators were selected as the final energy indicators for sustainable development in Iran (2 social indicators, 11 economic indicators, 4 environmental indicators) and 13 indicators due to lack of statistics were deleted. The amount and size of each of the indicators were measured and evaluated separately. Regarding the status of the indicators, the results obtained indicate that: The status of electricity access indicators and the share of household income paid for electricity is favorable. Also, the status of the indicators of the ratio of reserves to production, areas whose acidity is too critical and the ratio of radioactive solid waste to the unit of energy produced is relatively favorable. Status of other indicators, including: per capita energy consumption, the ratio of resources to production, the intensity of energy consumption in industry, agriculture, services, households, and transportation, the share of fuel in energy and electricity, the share of non-carbon energy in energy and electricity, the share of renewable energy in energy and concentration of air pollution in urban areas are undesirable.

The Asiatic Cheetah is a carnivorous species that is currently the country's most important flag species and is regarded as a national and international symbol. The Asiatic Cheetah once roamed much of Asia, but now it only exists in Iran. It has attracted significant national and international conservation efforts and budgets over the last 20 years or so, and it is predicted that if effective conservation measures are not applied, this species will be extinct forever. The conservation value of Asiatic Cheetah in Iran was investigated by completing a questionnaire by households across the country, using the contingent valuation method and logit model.The findings revealed that education, price, participation in NGOs, and household income all influence people's willingness to pay for the Asiatic Cheetah's conservation. In addition, 58.90 percent of individuals are willing to pay for the Asiatic Cheetah's conservation, with an average willingness to pay of 62,051.157 Tomans per year. As a result, the government should pay at least 872,293,425,265.81 Tomans per year, equal to 37925801.09 dollars per year, and an average of 72691118772.15 Tomans per month, equal to 3160483.42 dollars to protect this valuable species through government institutions such as the Environmental Protection Organization, NGOs, individuals, and the participation of local communities and international organizations. The practical and executive framework of NGOs in the field of natural resources as environmental caregivers and spokespersons for the natural world is required by the role of people and grassroots organizations in natural areas, which includes culture building, information, and public participation.

The main purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the position of green shopping behavior among environmentalists and activists and at the same time to investigate a conceptual-analytical model developed from the factors affecting green shopping behavior among this group of consumers. The research methodology is a combination that in the qualitative section in order to identify the factors affecting green shopping behavior, the research background and theoretical foundations related to the subject were reviewed and reviewed, and thus the most important components or themes affecting green shopping behavior. Was identified and a small part seeks to design a structural-interpretive model through the formation of a structural interaction matrix in which 20 environmental activists and experts were selected and finally collected information through a researcher-made questionnaire. Therefore, the present study, by understanding this issue through structural-interpretive model and MICMAC analysis, seeks to design a model based on the classification and segregation of factors affecting green buying behavior. The results show that the variables are located in four levels. The highest level means that the fourth level includes variables such as environmental concerns, religious obligations and product price,, these components have been identified as the final and ultimate pillars of factors affecting green shopping behavior that affect other factors and low levels. Responsibility for environment, sense of patriotism, collectivism and altruism, social norms and attention to the health of others are the most important social variables that are located in the next level, i.e. the third level.

Improving living conditions in human settlements is the ultimate goal of urban development programs and projects. The prerequisite for achieving this goal is necessary to provide suitable living conditions. The purpose of this study is to assessment the livability of Tabriz metropolitan regions based on environmental indicators in mental and objective dimensions. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive and analytical in terms of research method. In order to measure the mental condition of environmental livability (including 3 indicators and 25 items), after identifying the indicators, first the relevant questionnaire was designed, after determining the statistical sample at the level of the 10 regions of Tabriz using Cochran's method (413 samples). Also, the latest statistical yearbook of Tabriz metropolis (year 2019) was used to examine the objective dimension (including 17 items). In order to analyze the data, Shannon entropy method has been used to weight the indicators and items of the research and Morris correction method has been used to determine the environmental livability of the regions based on the world literature at 5 levels; Finally, GIS software is used to draw maps to better understand the spatial condition of environmental livability at the region level. The research findings indicate that in terms of mental dimension, 80% of the regions are in a very unsuitable and critical situation and only two regions, 2 and 5, are in a suitable environmental livability condition. Objectively, none of the regions are in good condition and 10 regions are in an unfavorable and unacceptable condition. Finally, in the combined dimension (both objective and mental dimensions), region 2 with a score of 71.23 Morris is in a tolerable environmental condition, region 5 is in an average condition and the other 8 regions of Tabriz metropolis are in an unsuitable and critical condition. The following are suggestions for improving the environmental livability of Tabriz metropolis.

The city is not a fixed and inhabited phenomenon and due to human and natural activities and influenced by various factors, constantly changing shape, evolution and expansion in different dimensions. The purpose of this study is to identify the sustainability or unsustainability of the physical growth pattern of Karaj City and its analysis through quantitative models of Shannon and Holdern entropy coefficient. The research method used in this research is analytical-descriptive and quantitative models of Shannon and Holdern entropy coefficient have been used to measure the physical growth of the city. the ten regions of the Karaj have been studied between 1335 and 1395. The statistical population of the whole city has been studied in different years in terms of several indicators, which are the population of each region, the built-up area of each region, the total area, and also City area and per capita area. Alborz province is the second most rapidly migrating province in the country and Karaj city is the center of the province and the youngest metropolis of the country due to its location and special conditions is objectively faced with the phenomenon of sprawl growth and unsustainable development. The results show that Karaj city in terms of physical growth, in recent years, has faced much growth. As one can imagine the pattern of sprawl growth or uncontrolled horizontal expansion for this city. The amount of Shannon entropy for 1390 and 1395 are 2.4849 and 2.20374, respectively, which shows the horizontal growth during this 5-year period and the results of the Holdern model showed that during a period of 60 years, of the area added to the city of Karaj, out of a total of 100% increase, 108% was due to population growth and -8% was due to total per capita increase which indicates unsustainability. The results indicate the fact that this city is at a high level of scattering and is experiencing a very high level of disorder and population growth, and its physical development has been horizontal and beyond reasonable limits.

Ecosystem assessments have become increasingly important as the hazards posed by natural and human drivers, and the pressure on natural ecosystems increases, especially in developing countries as Iran. This is particularly true for the Lake Urmia watershed due to its vital role in in the provision of various ecosystem services that that different groups of stakeholders benefit from. In this research, a combination of two quantitative assessment methods based on ecosystem modeling using the Water World Policy Support System (WWPSS) and a descriptive assessment using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) conceptual framework was applied to link the results of evaluating land-use change, climate change and their effects on echo-hydrological parameters (vegetation, water budget, runoff, and soil erosion) with the aim of spatial zoning of hazards and its application in principled and conscious environmental management in the watershed of Lake Urmia .Vegetation loss caused by climate change has resulted in a change in the average net soil erosion in the watershed from -0.012 to 0.20 mm per year per square meter. In other words, the average soil erosion in the watershed only during the period under review rose dramatically by more than 3 tons per hectare. If this trend continues, soil erosion will become more severe.The capacities of the proposed method used in this research can be developed and more innovative solutions can be investigated to face ecological challenges in watershed management by further application of quantification models of eco-hydrological functions in the future.

Currently, many decayed urban fabric inside the cities suffer from physical problems, lack of sufficient green space and proper accessibility, and weak infrastructure. In order to overcome these problems, some researchers have proposed the creation and strengthening of urban infrastructures through the connection of open and green spaces in urban environments. The aim of this research is to improve the ecological network structure of the green space network of the 9th district of Tehran through landscape metrics, to achieve a better quality of life and improve the environmental conditions in these areas. Based on this, at first, using satellite images and land use map of Tehran city, the required geographical data of the network map within the decayed fabric of the 9th district of Tehran was prepared. And then two levels were chosen to restore the green patches: the macro level (Teheran District 9) where the most important green spaces and their changes during the years 2002, 2017 with the help of landscape metrics (CAP, NP, MNN, MPS, LPI, AWMSI, MSI, PD) was calculated in FRAGSTATS 4.2.1 software; and the micro level was considered: distressed urban fabric of neighborhoods such as Dastgheyb, Imamzade Abdullah, Shamshiri, Sar Asiyab Mehrabad. By determining the most important green patches and identifying the optimal corridors based on the resistance of the landscape at the macro level and with the help of graph theory and the minimum cost model, these spaces were connected at the macro level and then at the micro level, creating an ecological network within the urban fabric. The findings of the research show that the green patches in terms of size, number, continuity, composition and spatial distribution in Region 9 have suffered severe destruction. And the fragmentation of green spaces and the distance between them has increased in 2017. It is recommended to protect the privacy of the Kan River, transfer the industries from the area and release their spaces to increase the open spaces and vegetation and the network of green spaces in the open spaces of district 9.

Soil erosion is a result of the interaction between nature and human activities. Soil erosion is one of the major problems that threatens sustainability of natural resources. The assessment of soil erosion using empirical-based models has long been an active research topic. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is possibly the most widely applied and accepted empirical erosion model worldwide. The RUSLE model has been extensively applied for estimating erosion rates based on five parameters (rainfall, soil, topography and slope, land cover, and support practice). The C-factor (land cover) represents the characteristics of soil management and cover in RUSLE and is highly correlated to the land use/land cover practice We analyzed changes in land cover to estimate a future scenario for 2047 using an artificial neural network. The C-factor values were assigned based on historical land use maps. Soil erosion variations in the years 1984, 2008, 2017 and 2047 were estimated using the RUSLE model based on the land use scenarios. The mean soil erosion rates based on the land use scenarios were 21 t/km2/y (1984), 23.9 t/km2/y (2008), 24.6 t/km2/y (2017), and 27.3 t/km2/y (2047). The results showed that the sub-basins 5, 8 and 11 were the third top areas contributing to the increased erosion rate in all years.

Nowadays, the urban community has been affected by population growth and migration, which collectively have led to unplanned construction and unrestrained urban expansion. In the meantime, the industrial sector is one of the most important factors that have a great impact on the concentration of population and activities, and thus accelerates the growth process and creates a plethora of changes in the landscape. The lack of proper attention to regional spatial planning often leads to unplanned expansion of industrial areas, and it can cause instability. The main objectives of this study are to identify industrial clusters and determine the optimal areas for industrial development. In this study, using statistical information and applying localization coefficient (LQ) analysis, cumulative and competitive effects of industrial clusters of Gorgan, Gonbad-Kavus and Aq-Qala Townships were identified. Then, using 16 indicators as factors and constraints for the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) and Order Weighted Average (OWA) decision making models in GIS, the optimum locations of the industries were identified. According to the results, five industrial clusters including food and beverage industries, wood and wood products except sofa, paper and paper products production, production of refined petroleum products and manufacturing of materials and chemical products were identified in the study area. The research findings show that adjacent areas to urban settlements, due to geographical advantage, proximity to urban infrastructures and comfortable accessibility to human resources, are suitable areas for the establishment of industries. Furthermore, the cities of Gonbad-Kavus and Aq-Qala had the highest and the lowest areas of the suitable zones for industrial development, respectively.

The most common marine environmental pollutants are metal pollutants, petroleum hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons. In the present research, metallic and organic pollutants of Nayband Gulf were investigated. Sampling was done from 20 stations in the winter of 2018. From each station, two sediment samples for organic matter and heavy metals (with 3 replications) were collected and a total of 120 sediment samples were collected using Van Veen Grab. To measure metals and petroleum hydrocarbons, ICP(Agilent7500cx) and GC (Agilent 6890n) devices were used, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of iron (7980), nickel (19.71), vanadium (14.90), and cobalt (5.71) were measured. Although it did not exceed domestic and international standards, nearby stations Asaluyeh region showed a significant difference (P<0.05) with other stations. The total amount of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) with an average of 14.33 mg/kg and the maximum concentration of 42.16 were recorded at a station (19) near Asaluyeh wharf and the amount of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH) with an average of 223.09 µg/kg and maximum concentration of 657.68 were recorded at a station (20). Based on the data, Nayband gulf has low levels of pollution (TPH> 15) in terms of TPH compounds and moderate levels of pollution (PAH> 100) in terms of PAH compounds. The difference between stations near Asaluyeh and other stations in terms of pollution shows that the gradual increase of pollution caused by industries and its impact on the functioning of Nayband gulf ecosystem should be considered as a serious issue.

Presenting environmental planning strategies in Shams Abad and Abbas Abad industrial Estates to implement the indicators of good governance principles in their management is important. So far, environmental management in none of the industrial Estates of Tehran province has been fully studied in the main areas of the environment. Major researchers in the environment have announced the causes of pollution, environmental management, industry, the establishment of industrial estates, strategic management and the principles of good governance in urban management and so on. In this researche, first the identification, evaluation and analysis of the current situation of industrial estates and then the questionnaire was completed by some professors, specialists, managers and experts, the data were reviewed and finally strategies were developed by SWOT model and with The QSPM model identified the top strategies. This article tries to analyze the effects of developing environmental planning strategies for industrial towns in Tehran province by combining the principles of sustainable development and good governance. The results indicate that in addition to clarifying the need to recognize good governance for managers, how to use it to achieve a sustainable environment is essential together.