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A new ecosystem-based land classification of Iran for conservation goals

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Abstract

Land management and biodiversity protection are highly dependent on ecosystem classification. To identify the ecosystems, often ecologically homogenous areas are distinguished based on physical and biological features at various scales. These areas can also be considered as biodiversity surrogates for protection policies and planning. We classified the terrestrial areas of Iran into ecosystems using revised and updated layers of landform and climate as our two main criteria. Moreover, we applied a revised vegetation layer as the confirmatory criterion. At a scale of 1:1,000,000, we obtained a total of 119 homogenous ecological units, and based on the dominant vegetation types, we classified them into 21 terrestrial ecosystems at the national level. Of these ecosystems, 11 were dominated by vegetation, and the remaining 10 had sparse nondominant vegetation. Evaluation of the least and most frequent ecosystem patches and ranking of their size classes using landscape metrics provided an information basis for better land protection planning. We maintain that each ecosystem needs to be represented by a protected area and its size and distribution also helps us form a comprehensive and effective protection network in Iran.

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Acknowledgments

Our greatest thanks and gratitude goes to Mr. Mashhadi Rafiee (responsible for GIS section of Sazeh Pardazi Iran Consulting Engineers Company) for providing data and professional contribution in preparing the maps and Dr. Eftekhari (researcher at the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands), Dr. Shirvani (faculty member of forestry engineering department, University of Tehran), and Dr. Tavili (faculty member of Restoration of Arid and Mountainous Regions Department, University of Tehran) for their professional contribution in classifying vegetation. Also, Mr. Bayani (general manager of engineering and studies office, Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization of Iran) and Dr. Fahmi (deputy of general manager for the Bureau of Water and Wastewater Master Planning of Iran’s Ministry of Energy) shared their valuable data with us.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran

    Mona Azizi Jalilian & Kamran Shayesteh

  2. Department of Environmental Science, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

    Afshin Danehkar

  3. Department of Environmental Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

    Abdolrassoul Salmanmahiny

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  1. Mona Azizi Jalilian
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Correspondence to Kamran Shayesteh.

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Azizi Jalilian, M., Shayesteh, K., Danehkar, A. et al. A new ecosystem-based land classification of Iran for conservation goals. Environ Monit Assess 192, 182 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8145-1

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