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Analysis of spatial changes in watershed health using the conceptual model of pressure-state-response (PSR) (Case study: Sheida Protected Watershed, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province)
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Faezeh Moharrami    , Bijan Khalilimoghadam , Zeinab Hazbavi * |
| Associate Professor, Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Watershed Management Research Center, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran, Email: z.hazbavi@uma.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (630 Views) |
| With the development and progress of societies, the conflict between humans and nature at the watershed scale increases significantly. Accordingly, assessing the degree of watershed health and monitoring its spatial changes can be used as a tool to alleviate this conflict. Focusing on the Sheida Protected Watershed in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, this study, highlights the importance of using multi-attribute in watershed management and conservation to address environmental challenges. To carry out the work, the pressure-state-response (PSR) model was used, which to implement the initial framework, first five, 12 and 11 variables (natural and human) were calculated for the pressure (PSI), state (SSI) and response (RSI) sub-indices, respectively. After examining multicollinearity and autocorrelation, one variable was removed from each sub-index, resulting in final calculations using 4, 11, and 10 variables. The CRITIC weighting method was applied, and the watershed health index (WHI) was calculated using a geometric mean. The mean and standard deviation of PSI, SSI, RSI, and WHI were 0.23 ± 0.10, 0.14 ± 0.04, 0.10 ± 0.02, and 0.47 ± 0.11, respectively. The Sheida Watershed was classified as low, very low, low, and moderate in terms of PSI, SSI, RSI, and WHI, respectively. CRITIC weighting results indicated that evaporation had the greatest influence on the PSI, vegetation cover percentage and organic matter percentage were most influential for the SSI, and policy implementation had the highest impact on the RSI. The results of the present study have provided an initial basis for the development of advanced multiscale indices and more comprehensive conceptual models that can more fully reflect the ecological status of protected watersheds and more accurately identify their health problems. |
Article number: 1 |
| Keywords: Human pressures, Environmental changes, Assessment indicators, Spatial zoning, Watershed response |
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Full-Text [PDF 3503 kb]
(183 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/29 | Revised: 2026/02/28 | Accepted: 2025/10/8 | ePublished ahead of print: 2025/11/12 | ePublished: 2026/01/4
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