Mapping Natural Resources Vulnerability to Droughts Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making and GIS (Case Study: Kashkan Basin Lorestan Province, Iran)

Zagros Mountains in west of Iran are covered by unique forests and rangelands.Increasing population, low level of development and high dependence of local people onnatural resources for primary livelihood needs resulted in degradation of Zagros forests andrangelands. Along with these factors, since the last decade, climate change

includingsevere drought is an important issue in the world, particularly in semi-arid natural areas ofIran including Zagros. This research was conducted to develop an integrated method formapping vulnerability of natural resources to droughts in Kashkan basin Lorestan province, Iran in 2015. Hence, a combined method including AHP as a Multi-CriteriaDecision Making method and GIS was used. Based on literature review, study area

conditions and experts’ opinions, six criteria and nineteen sub criteria were determined.

The weights of this initial set of criteria and sub criteria were determined by experts using pairwise comparisons and weights of them were calculated. Then, maps of different subcriteria were analyzed in the GIS environment using calculated weights. Results showedthat the most important criteria in drought sensitivity were hydro climate, physiography,and vegetation cover. Annual mean precipitation and temperature, vegetation cover werethe most important sub criteria. Findings of research also indicated that 17.11%, 26.28%and 7.67%, of the studied area were classified as low, moderate and high vulnerable areas,respectively. In addition, 8.50% of the studied area is classified as extremely highvulnerable to droughts. This study introduces a combined method to mapping vulnerabilityof natural resource to droughts. Findings of this study could be considered by managers todevelop proper plans for vulnerable areas.