Scholarlink

<p>Wetlands provide vital ecological services, yet they remain highly vulnerable to degradation from anthropogenic pressures and land-use change. Effective conservation requires scientifically grounded delineation of ecological buffer zones to safeguard wetland functions. This study develops and applies a systematic framework for ecological buffer delineation in the Almagol International Wetland, Golestan Province, Iran. The framework integrates three primary indicators—vegetation, hydrology, and hydric soils—for initial boundary delineation, combining remote sensing (NDWI analysis) with field-based transect surveys and DEM-derived contours. Buffer widths were first compiled from international literature on habitat, hydrological, and socio-economic functions, then locally refined through expert judgment and site-specific assessments. Adjustments were further made according to wetland conservation class and adjacent land-use impacts. Results indicate a minimum protective buffer of 205&#xa0;m around Almagol Wetland, extended to 256&#xa0;m near rural settlements and mechanized agriculture. This stepwise and adaptable framework aligns with international methodologies while responding to local ecological and management contexts. Its innovation lies in combining global evidence with local expert-based refinements and applying flexible, function-based buffer widths rather than fixed distances. The approach provides a scientifically robust and operationally feasible method for inland wetland conservation in Iran and can potentially be adapted to arid and semi-arid regions of neighboring countries. The findings contribute to implementing Iran’s Wetlands Conservation Act (2017) and offer a practical tool for reducing conflicts between wetland protection and surrounding land use, thereby enhancing long-term ecological resilience.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Ecological Buffer Zone Delineation for Wetlands: Framework Development and Application in the Almagol International Wetland, Iran

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月27日

查看全文
  • Ardavan Zarandian,
  • Majid Ramezani Mehrian,
  • Behzad Raygani,
  • Roya Mousazadeh

摘要

Wetlands provide vital ecological services, yet they remain highly vulnerable to degradation from anthropogenic pressures and land-use change. Effective conservation requires scientifically grounded delineation of ecological buffer zones to safeguard wetland functions. This study develops and applies a systematic framework for ecological buffer delineation in the Almagol International Wetland, Golestan Province, Iran. The framework integrates three primary indicators—vegetation, hydrology, and hydric soils—for initial boundary delineation, combining remote sensing (NDWI analysis) with field-based transect surveys and DEM-derived contours. Buffer widths were first compiled from international literature on habitat, hydrological, and socio-economic functions, then locally refined through expert judgment and site-specific assessments. Adjustments were further made according to wetland conservation class and adjacent land-use impacts. Results indicate a minimum protective buffer of 205 m around Almagol Wetland, extended to 256 m near rural settlements and mechanized agriculture. This stepwise and adaptable framework aligns with international methodologies while responding to local ecological and management contexts. Its innovation lies in combining global evidence with local expert-based refinements and applying flexible, function-based buffer widths rather than fixed distances. The approach provides a scientifically robust and operationally feasible method for inland wetland conservation in Iran and can potentially be adapted to arid and semi-arid regions of neighboring countries. The findings contribute to implementing Iran’s Wetlands Conservation Act (2017) and offer a practical tool for reducing conflicts between wetland protection and surrounding land use, thereby enhancing long-term ecological resilience.