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Badamfirooz J, sharifi L. Assessment of water and soil resources in the Gando Protected Area. jgs 2025; 25 (77)
URL: http://jgs.khu.ac.ir/article-1-4071-en.html

By evaluating the functions and ecosystem services of protected areas, it is possible to help planners and decision makers of land management and sustainable development in the region and the country. The present study specifically assesses water and soil resources in the Gando Protected Area and the economic valuation of these services. In order to model the ecosystem services of water balance, soil protection and water quality, a hydrological model -WWPSS- based on RS data was used. The simulation was performed using a series of one-degree square meters (one hectare) on a monthly scale. In order to evaluate the economy, the Invest model and the alternative cost method were used. The results showed that the total water produced in this region is 401,205,344 m³ per year. Also, the minimum, maximum and average water budget of all three are negative and are equal to -1492.76, -38.04 and -639.24 mm per year, respectively, which indicates the lack of rainfall and the intensity of evapotranspiration in this region. The average potential of surface water pollution is 4.5% and this area prevents erosion of 2 tons per hectare per year. The real economic value of water production and soil protection in 2019 with inflation reform of 20.18%, 67.54 and 2729.65 billion rials, respectively, is estimated. Three scenarios with discount rates (combined) of 8, 12 and 15% in 5, 10, 15- and 30-year periods were used to determine the economic value of the functions of these resources. The results showed that for example; With a discount rate of 15% and over a period of 30 years, the economic value of water production and soil protection will reach 4471.82 and 180.730 billion rials, respectively. totally, the economic value of water production and soil protection is 0.35 and 14.17% of the total value of the region.