Integrated Watershed Management

Integrated Watershed Management

Zoning forest fire risk in semi-arid oak forests of Zagros using fuzzy hierarchical model (FAHP)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Negin Bozorgmehr
Katayoon Varshosaz
Sina Attar roshan
Soolmaz Dashti
Neda Orak
Department of Environment, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
10.22034/iwm.2024.2038521.1171
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction: Today, the phenomenon of forest fires threatens much of the world's forests and the livelihoods of local people. Fire is the main cause of disturbances in forest ecosystems around the world. The results of some studies have shown that various ecological and climatic factors have led to changes in the extent and intensity of forest fire. By reviewing past studies, it can be said that in most of these cases, various environmental factors are used to evaluate fire risk potential, and most of them use the AHP to weigh these indices and emphasize assigning appropriate weight to environmental variables. Hence, a model that provides good results by assigning appropriate weight to the environmental variables effective on the occurrence of fire is very important. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the more critical areas threatened by fire which can be an effective help in controlling and managing future burns.
Materials and methods: Dehdez is in a mountainous area of the Zagros. This area with an approximate area of 1480 km² has a population of more than 19351 people who live in 147 villages. For this study the fire statistics from 2011 to 2021 were prepared by Natural Resources and Watershed Management institute of Khuzestan Province. Then by field measurement, the range of the areas that had the largest fire and frequency was registered, and its digital map was prepared. The recorded points were placed on the fire risk potential map based on FAHP. The inverse distance weighed interpolation method was used by GIS to prepare a digital map of climate data. The map related to these factors was classified and their final map was prepared. Based on the research and as much as possible, all the factors affecting the fires in the study area, including 12 factors of height above sea level, slope, direction, land use/land cover, average annual rainfall, average maximum monthly temperature , density of population centers, distance from roads, distance from water resources, distance from agricultural fields and gardens, wind speed and vegetation type of the area were considered .
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the man-made criterion with a weight of 0.7869 is in the priority, the climatic criterion with a weight of 0.1044 is in the second priority, the ecological criterion is in the third priority with a weight of 0.0896, and the topographic criterion is in the fourth priority with a weight of 0.0191. The prioritization of topographic sub-criteria showed that the slope percentage (0.5644) is preferable to other sub-criteria. Among the man-made sub-criteria, it was also found that the distance from agricultural land (0.62), among the climatic sub-criteria, average precipitation (0.5238) and in the examination of the ecological sub-criteria, it was also found that the forest density (0.8562) compared to other Sub-criteria are preferred. Finally, the area studied has a high potential for fire, as per the map prepared, 69.94% of the area is under high and very high fire risk.
Conclusion: The risk of fire threatens forests, Rangeland, agricultural lands, and other uses in the region, so the map obtained can be used as a guide for fire management in areas with high risk and density of forces and facilities in these areas. Designing, constructing, and forecasting installing warning signs in the region, organizing people’s visits of the forest, and expanding the quality and quantity of the created resorts are effective measures to control the destructive phenomenon of forest fire. Given the great effect of land use on forest fires in the region, it is suggested that the constructions and the change in land use from forest use to agricultural use receive more attention from the relevant Institutes, especially the Natural Resources Institute. Also, it is suggested to hold training classes for the villagers and firemen to teach how to put out the fire and use the fire extinguishers correctly and quickly, carry out social forestry activities with the help of villagers and forest dwellers for preventing the occurrence and spread of fire.
Keywords
Geographic information system
Risk classification
Fire
Dehdez
Khuzestan

Subjects

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Integrated Watershed Management
Volume 5, Issue 1 - Serial Number 15
Spring 2025
Pages 112-128

  • Receive Date 16 August 2024
  • Revise Date 24 September 2024
  • Accept Date 16 October 2024