Locating of planting project using Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy logic (case study: Maravehtappe watershed, Golestan province)

Planting project is one of the methods for improvement of rangeland degradation that exact implementation depends on many factors. Therefore, there is a need for a fundamental method. In the present study for locating planting project, in Maravehtappe watershed, analytic hierarchical process and fuzzy logic are applied. In this study, four ecological criteria of vegetation, soil, physiography and climate were determined along with fourteen sub-criteria. Fuzzy pair comparison matrixes of criteria and sub-criteria were determined through fuzzy analytic hierarchical process; and using triangular fuzzy numbers, proportional importance of each one of them towards others was presented by getting the opinions of experts. In the following stage, by the use of Changchr(chr('39')39chr('39'))s extent analysis, the weight of FAHP for criteria and sub-criteria were achieved. Then, the data layers of the sub-criteria were provided and weight of FAHP was executed on them. Finally, by combining the weight-given data layers, the prioritized plans for executing planting project were achieved. The results showed, the criteria of climate and soil with the weights 0.529 and 0.254 and sub-criteria of rainfall, EC and canopy cover with the weights of 0.313, 0.145 and 0.121 as the most important ecological factors respectively, having the most influence on locating of this method. Also, the results show that the regions with excellent priority for executing planting project 9.07% of the studied region. Totally, in order to evaluate the correctness of the executed locating, validation of the model was carried out by field visiting and evaluating ecological features. The correctness of results for planting project was calculated as 92.79%. The results showed that using AHP and Fuzzy models, because of simplifying complicated processes and removal of uncertainty, can provide more appropriate selection power for managers.