Evaluating the Economic Prerequisites of Environmental Risk in the International Hamoun Wetland: A Fuzzy SAW and GRA Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.

2 Department of Economic, Social and Extension Research, Sistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Zabol, Iran.

Abstract

A primary component of nature is wetlands, which are of special ecological and environmental importance and are valuable for people in different aspects. On the other hand, environmental risk assessment is an important instrument to identify and manage the environment and alleviate environmental damage in order to reduce the adverse results for achieving sustainable development. The present research aimed to evaluate and rank the environmental risks of the International Hamoun Wetland in the Sistan region using fuzzy simple additive weighting (fuzzy SAW) and grey relational analysis (GRA). The research was conducted by the survey method using a questionnaire by which 50 experts from the Regional Agriculture and Natural Resources Organization were interviewed. Based on the ranking by the fuzzy SAW method, the economic factor received the highest score of 4.91, followed by the cultural, biological, and social factors. The GRA results also ranked the economic factor at the top with a final weight of 0.62, followed by the cultural, biological, and social factors in the next ranks. The local communities and the Department of Environment are recommended to cooperate for the protection and restoration of the Hamoun Wetland in order to restore balance to this wetland using the Comprehensive Hamoun Management Program.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abdollahrash, M., Bashiri, M., & Haghighi, F. (2013). Management of wetlands: Challenges and solutions. Proceedings of a Conference on the Management of Challenges and Solutions, Shiraz, Iran. [In Persian]
Barbier, E. B. (2013). Valuing ecosystem services for coastal wetland protection and restoration, progress and challenges. Resources 2(3), 213-230. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/2/3/213.
Behrouzrad, B. (2008). Iran’s Wetlands. Tehran: Geographical Organization of Armed Forces. [In Persian]
Deng. J. L. (1989). The Introduction of Grey System. The Journal of Grey System, 1(1), 1-24.
Dong, Y., Liu, S., & Mi, C. (2006) Multi-attribute grey incidence decision model for interval number. Kybernetes 35, 1265-1272. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/k/article-abstract/35/7-8/1265/446432/Multi-attribute-grey-incidence-decision-model-for?redirectedFrom=fulltext.
Ebrahimi Khusfi, Z., & Mirakbari, M. (2020). Assessment The Impact of Climate Change on The Drought of Jazmourian Wetland Using Canesm2 Model. Desert Management, 7(14), 149-166. Retrieved from https://sid.ir/paper/252809/en.
Fournier, M. L., Echeverría-Sáenz, S., Mena, F., Andres, M. A., Cruz, E. D. L., & Ruepert, C. (2018). Risk assessment of agriculture impact on the Frío River watershed and Caño Negro Ramsar wetland, Costa Rica. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(14), 13347–13359. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28074363/.
Haller, S. (2006). Managing Industrial Risk-having a Tasted and Proven System to Prevent and Assess Risk. Hazardous Material, 130(17), 58-63. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16298053/.
Harik, G., Alameddine, I., Maroun, R., Rachid, G., Bruschi, D., Astiaso, D., & Fadel, M. E. (2017). Implications of adopting a biodiversity-based vulnerability index versus a shoreline environmental sensitivity index on management and policy planning along coastal areas. Journal of Environmental Management, 187, 187-200. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479716309203.
Jabal-Ameli, M.S., Rezaeifar, A., & Chaei Bakhsh Langeroudi, A. (2007). Ranking project risks using MADM methodologies. Journal of Faculty of Engineering, 41(7), 863-871. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://journals.ut.ac.ir/article_19162.html.
Jafariazar, S., Sabzghabaei, G. R., Tavakoly, M., & Dashti, S. (2017). Assessment and prioritization of environmental risks in Gaz and Hara Rivers Estuary International Wetland. International Journal of Applied Ecology, 6(3), 71-87. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-768-en.html.
Jafariazar, S., Sabzghabaei, G. R., Tavakoly, M., & Dashti, S. (2018). Application of multi-criteria decision-making methods in environmental risk assessment (Case study: The International Wetland of Shadegan, Khur‌_e_ Omayyeh and Khur_e_Mousa Estuary). Journal of Geography and Environmental Hazards, 6(4), 97-119. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://geoeh.um.ac.ir/article_31824.html.
Jafariazar, S., Sabzghabaei, G. R., Tavakoly, M., & Dashti, S. S. (2017). Assessment and analysis of Khur-e-khuran International Wetland environmental risks using multi-criteria decision-making methods. Irrigation Sciences and Engineering, 40(3), 63-75. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://jise.scu.ac.ir/article_13262.html?lang=en.
Janqorban, S. (2008). Environmental risk assessment and management of ecologically sensitive regions using multi-criteria decision-making method; The case of the Mond Protected Area (Master’s Thesis). Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz. [In Persian]
Jozi, S. A., & Saffarian, S. (2011). Environmental risk analysis of Abadan Gas Power Plant using TOPSIS method. Journal of Environmental Studies, 37(58), 53-66. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://jes.ut.ac.ir/article_23164.html?lang=en.
Kaviani Rad, M. (2010). The spatial analysis of the environmental risks and ecological crises in Iran. Strategic Studies Quarterly, 13(48), 33-58. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://quarterly.risstudies.org/article_882.html?lang=en.
Lemly, A. D. (1997). Risk assessment as an environmental management tool: considerations for freshwater wetlands. Environmental Management, 3, 343-358. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s002679900034.
Lin, Y. H., & Lee, P. C., & Chang, T. P., & Ting, H. I. (2008). Multi-attribute group decision making model under the condition of uncertain information. Automation in Construction, 17(6), 792-797. Retrieved from https://www.karlancer.com/api/file/1704637014-PaMG.pdf.
Liu, S. F., & Lin, Yi. (2006). Gray Information Theory and Practical Applications. London: Springer-Verlag.
Makvandi, R., Astani, S., & Cheraghi, M. (2013). Environmental risk assessment of wetlands using SAW and EFMEA (Case study: international wetland Anzali). Wetland Ecobiology, 5(3), 61-72. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://jweb.ahvaz.iau.ir/article-1-175-en.html.
Makvandi, R., Astani, S., & Lorestani, B. (2016). Environmental risk assessment of wetlands using TOPSIS and EFMEA (Case Study: International Wetland Gavkhoni). Environmental Researches, 6(11), 35-58. [In Persian] Retrieved from  https://www.iraneiap.ir/article_12801.html?lang=en.
Makwana, J., & Tiwari, M. K. (2016). Prioritization of agricultural sub-watersheds in semi arid middle region of Gujarat using remote sensing and GIS. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 137. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4935-0.
Malekian, A., & Mohammadi, P. (2017). The application of fuzzy SAW and AHP decision-making techniques to determine the production of the potential semi-arid watershed runoff regions. Desert Ecosystem Engineering Journal, 6(16), 93-104. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://deej.kashanu.ac.ir/article_112625.html?lang=en.
Mcinnes, R. J. (2016). Wetlands and Flood Management: Natural Hazard Regulation. The Wetland Book.
Moghaddami, S., Abedinzadeh, N., & Haghighi Khomami, M. (2015). Prioritization of environmental risk assessment of the construction of a jetty in the Anzali Free Economic Zone using AHP and TOPSIS. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 2(2), 21-33. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://www.magiran.com/p2072172.
Mohtashami, A., & Miri Asl, M. (2017). Proposing a hybrid model of fuzzy multi attribute decision making for prioritizing and selecting maintenance strategies. Journal of Development & Evolution Mnagement, 28, 63-70. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://www.jsce.ir/article_143712.html.
Moore, R. E. (1966). I evaluation, Environmental interval Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Neil, E., & Pritchard, J. (2004). Proceedings of the Ascaad International Conference on Design in Architecture Dhahaea, Saudi Arabia.
Piri, H., & Ansari, H. (2013). Study of Drought in Sistan Plain and Its Impact on Hamoun International Wetland. Journal of Wetland Ecobiology, 5(15), 63-74. Retrieved from https://sid.ir/paper/174970/en.
Ramezani, K., Romina, I., Alizadeh, O., & Sarvar, R. (2019). Effect of environmental threats on national security (The case of southern coasts of the Caspian Sea). Strategic Management Studies of National Defence Studies, 8(31), 201-223. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://smsnds.sndu.ac.ir/?_action=article&au=11013&_au=ramezani,%20kazem%20&lang=en.
Sagara, M. K., Jayaswala, P., & Kushwah, K. (2013), Exploring Fuzzy SAW Method for Maintenance Strategy Selection Problem of Material Handling Equipment. International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, 3(2), 2277- 4106. Retrieved from https://ijcet.evegenis.org/index.php/ijcet/article/view/295.
Sardar Shahraki, A. (2019). The Determination of Socio-Economic Effects of Pomegranate Production in Sistan Region. Iranian Economic Review, 23(2), 491-508. Retrieved from https://ier.ut.ac.ir/article_70307.html.
Sardar Shahraki, A., Ahmadi, N., & Safdari M. (2018). A new approach to evaluate the economic efficiency and productivity of agriculture sector: the application of window data envelopment analysis (WDEA). Environmental Energy and Economic Research (EEER), 2(3), 145-160. https://www.eeer.ir/article_81441.html.
Sardar Shahraki, A., & Karim M. H. (2018). The Economic Efficiency Trend of Date Orchards in Saravan County. Iranian Economic Review, 22(4), 1093-1112. Retrieved from https://ier.ut.ac.ir/article_67877.html.
Sardar Shahraki, A., & Mohammad Ghasemi, M. (2023). An assessment of the economic effects of drought in the Hirmand basin in the east of Iran: The application of the decision support system (DSS) approach. Journal of Applied Research in Water and Wastewater, 10(1), 15-19. Retrieved from https://journals.razi.ac.ir/article_2599.html.
Sardar Shahraki, A., Shahraki, J., & Hashemi Monfared, S. A. (2021). An integrated model for economic assessment of environmental scenarios for dust stabilization and sustainable flora–fauna ecosystem in international Hamoun wetland. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23, 946-967. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00616-1.
Shahbakhsh, F., Safdari, M., & Sardar Shahraki, A. (2020). Assessment of modern approach of water governance in the development of water exploitation systems in Sistan region, Journal of Applied Research in Water and Wastewater, 7(2), 127-136. Retrieved from https://arww.razi.ac.ir/article_1607.html.
Shahraki, A. S., Caloiero, T., & Bazrafshan, O. (2023). Influence of Climatic Factors on Yields of Pistachio, Mango, and Bananas in Iran. Sustainability, 15, 8962. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/8962.
Shahraki, A. S., Panagopoulos, T., Ashari, H. E., & Bazrafshan, O. (2023). Relationship between Indigenous Knowledge Development in Agriculture and the Sustainability of Water  Resources. Sustainability, 15, 5665. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/7/5665.
Shariat, S. M., Moonavari, S. M., & Sobhani, F. (2013). Environmental risk assessment of mining in Meyghan wetland. Wetland Ecobiology, 5(2), 41-52. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://jweb.ahvaz.iau.ir/article-1-56-en.html.
Taghavifard, M. T., & Malek, A. M. (2011). Using Grey decision making approach to ranking Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and increase effectiveness of strategic plans. Industrial Management Studies, 9(22), 135-165. [In Persian] Retrieved from https://jims.atu.ac.ir/article_4516.html?lang=en.
Taheri Azad, L., & Shahsavaripour, N. (2006). The ecosystem of the Anzali Lagoon and its management solutions. Proceedings of a Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development in the Southern Coasts of the Caspian Sea, Nour Branch, Islamic Azad University, Nour, Iran. [In Persian]
Velasco, A. M., Perez-Ruzafa, A., Martinez- Paz, J. M., & Marcos, C. (2018). Ecosystem services and main environmental risks in a coastal lagoon (Mar Menor, Murcia, SE Spain): The public perception. Journal for Nature Conservation, 43, 180-189. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1617138117300833.
Wu, Q., Zhou, W., Li, S., & Wu, X. (2005). Application of grey numerical model to groundwater resource evaluation. Environmental Geology, 47, 991–999. Retrieved from http://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetail&idt=16784298.
Zedler, J. B., & Kercher, S. (2005) Wetland Resources: Status, Trends, Ecosystem Services, and Restorability. Annual Review of Environmental Resources, 30, 39-74. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.30.050504.144248.
Iranian Economic Review
Volume 30, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 319-343

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics