Extended Abstract
Introduction: Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, human activities have had a significant impact on climate change and other environmental issues. Based on this, the occurrence of various events caused by human activities, such as land use changes, increased soil erosion, reduced groundwater levels, the expansion of residential and industrial areas in floodplains, and similar cases have increased the destruction of watersheds day by day. is The destruction and confusion of watersheds has led to a decrease in the provision of expected services from watersheds, and in other words, a decrease in ecosystem services. Therefore, the correct evaluation and at the same time the variability of watershed health due to various factors is a vital step in the management and exploitation of ecosystems and showing how the watershed functions. Therefore, in this research, an attempt has been made to evaluate the health status of Balde Noor watershed using problem-oriented and accessible variables. Also, in order to evaluate the effect of different averages on the spatial distribution of watershed health, the health index was calculated using arithmetic, weighted, geometric, summarized, and homogenized averages in Belde Noor watershed in Mazandaran province.
Materials and methods: In this research, based on the conditions of the region and the analysis and refinement of the ecological health and security of the region, 36 key criteria were identified from the set of natural, climatic, human and hydrological factors in the form of pressure (P), state (S) and response (R) indicators. . The studied watershed was divided into 18 subwatersheds using SWAT software. In the following, in order to eliminate the variables with internal correlation and in order to avoid errors in the calculations in each sub-watershed, the variables with internal correlation were removed using the variance inflation factor test. After screening and normalizing the selected criteria in exploring the conceptual approach of pressure-situation-response (PSR), arithmetic, geometric, weighted, summarized and composite averages were used. The main and most important central index that shows the balance point and the center of gravity of the society is the average of a society. Among the types of averages, the arithmetic average always has the highest value in terms of quantity, and the average of the coefficients always has the lowest value, and if all the data are the same (equal), all three averages are equal to each other, so the results of different averages are checked and compared with the results. As a result of the field visit, the index of ecological health and security was evaluated.
Results and Discussion: Examining the results showed that the ecological security was determined to be 0.58. The health status of the Baladeh-e-Noor Watershed was assessed using various methods, including arithmetic, geometric, weighted, summarized, and harmony means, resulting in values of 0.63, 0.62, 0.62, 0.63, and 0.60, indicating a relatively healthy watershed. When prioritizing sub-watersheds, it was found that sub-watershed 9 consistently ranked last across all methods, while sub-watershed 17 emerged as the top performer in arithmetic, weighted, and summarized averages, and sub-watershed 18 took the lead in geometric and harmonic means. The research results indicated that the geometric mean is more usable than other averaging methods due to its ability to reduce the impact of large numbers and balance the mean.
Conclusion: Spatial analysis of the calculated variables indicates that good pasture, population density, and livestock units were the most significant factors influencing the health status of the Baladeh-e-Noor Watershed. The results also revealed spatial variations in health status throughout the watershed, with no significant differences observed when different means were applied. These findings provide a roadmap for future management and conservation efforts within the Baladeh-e-Noor Watershed, inspiring hope for improving its health. To address these findings, it is essential to implement tailored and scientifically sound programs to enhance health outcomes across the watershed. Emphasizing nature-based solutions, cooperative management, and integrated approaches will be crucial in improving the Baladeh-e-Noor Watershed's health. The watershed health index emerges as a valuable tool for evaluating the provision of watershed services based on their capacity. Given the Baladeh-e-Noor Watershed's favorable attributes, such as tourist attractions and a suitable climate, future encroachment, population growth, and expansion of residential areas are inevitable. Therefore, developing and implementing a forward-looking vision for the watershed is imperative, leveraging diverse management strategies, low-impact development practices, and environmental change analysis. This approach will focus on maintaining the health of existing sub-watersheds and transforming unhealthy sub-watersheds into thriving and healthy ecosystems.