The Landscape as a Unit for Rangeland Inventory in Arid and Semi-arid Regions of Iran

Severe range degradation was critically extended in many region of Iran and caused many rangelands were restricted and interwoven with croplands in a complex system. Therefore, rangeland planning and inventory as an isolated activity has become almost impossible. Current landscape planning involves contributions of different social organizations often with different interests and with different desired outcomes. In this study, landscape is considered as a management unit. I have proposed an integrated model based on traditional pastoralism which will facilitate sustainable land use of natural resources in future. Combining the benefits of different rural groups is the most important part of our decision making plan which provides solution to the problems of non- dependency of villagers to the rangelands. Formation of research work group from urban specialists and rural skilled workers with cooperation of international organization are the keys of preparation the integrated projects. Our monitoring of the past land use, suggests that the use of rangelands by local herders was being co-adapted with natural environments. We have proposed an integrated model that includes various levels of management, needs of social organizations, potential rangeland classes, and agro-ecological-based dry land farming. The main advantage of planning based on landscape unit is that by consideration of ecological aspects of past use and present features of land use, integrated models can be provided based on land suitability. Combining the benefits of different rural groups is the most important part of such decision making which provides solution to the problems of non- dependency of villagers to the rangeland as Badripour et. al. (2016) emphasized on them.