Protected areas are central to biodiversity conservation, yet zoning schemes are often implemented without explicitly incorporating habitat fragmentationand empirical landscape change. This study develops an integrated framework for Golestan National Park (Iran) that combines expert-driven spatial indicators, multi-criteria decision-making, and landscape-structure analysis to support adaptive protected area management. Zoning was conducted using a transparent linear indicator approach incorporating ecological sensitivity, vulnerability, development capacity, land-use characteristics, and management objectives. Habitat integrity was independently evaluated using land-use/land-cover (LULC) change (2014-2024) and class-level landscape metrics. Six functional zones (i.e., restricted nature, protection, extensive use, intensive use, special use, and buffer) were delineated, revealing strong spatially explicit contrasts in conservation priority and development suitability. Strict protection zones occupy 55% of the park, while only 4% is allocated to controlled physical development. LULC analysis indicates forest loss and expansion of built-up areas, accompanied by increasing habitat fragmentation, including higher patch subdivision and edge complexity within core forest areas. Integrating indicator-based zoning with quantitative fragmentation metrics provides a robust, evidence-based framework for identifying vulnerable core areas, refining buffer zones, and constraining infrastructure expansion. This approach provides a transferable and evidence-based methodology for aligning zoning decisions with measurable landscape change in protected areas.

Mangrove forests are vital coastal ecosystems currently facing significant threats from anthropogenic pressures. The sustainability of these habitats, particularly in resource-dependent regions like Qeshm Island, relies heavily on the active engagement of local communities. This study aims to empirically evaluate the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory's efficacy in explaining conservation behaviors and to derive strategic insights for the participatory management of these sensitive ecosystems. A structured questionnaire was administered to individuals across coastal settlements using a stratified random sampling technique. The theoretical framework and the complex interrelationships between psychological constructs were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), ensuring a rigorous assessment of both measurement and structural components. The results confirm the robust hierarchical flow of the VBN theory within the studied context. An Ecological Worldview was found to be the foundational driver, significantly shaping the Awareness of Consequences and fostering a sense of Attribution of Responsibility. These beliefs, in turn, activate Personal Norms, which emerged as the most direct and potent predictor of pro-environmental behaviors and support for mangrove restoration programs. The analysis underscores that moral obligation, rather than mere environmental knowledge, is the primary catalyst for local conservation engagement. This research highlights that effective coastal governance must transcend top-down regulatory approaches by integrating the internal value systems of local residents. The findings provide a validated psychosocial roadmap for enhancing community-led stewardship in mangrove ecosystems. By fostering a sense of moral obligation, policymakers can ensure the long-term resilience of these sensitive marine habitats against increasing anthropogenic pressures, providing a model for similar coastal regions globally.

Increasing population density and improper land use have led to significant degradation of land resources, which is now a major environmental problem. A key challenge in sustainable agricultural planning is the separate application of land capability assessment (LCA) and land suitability assessment (LSE) methods in land spatial planning. The main objective of agricultural land suitability assessment is to assess the potential and constraints of land relative to the needs of target crops. This study aimed to develop a practical approach to integrate ecological LCA models with LSE models in Alborz province, Iran. Four cereal crops with a history of irrigated cultivation in the province were selected as target crops. The LCA model was integrated with the LSE model using nine factor-type and eight constraint-type criteria. The findings showed that approximately 7% of the province is suitable for irrigated cultivation of four crops, while the current irrigated agricultural area is approximately over 11%. A comparative analysis of two multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods showed that calculating the programmable water amount and replacing monthly temperatures with continuity for target crops instead of the annual mean temperature by reflecting the potential agricultural capacity of the land and the initial crop composition increases the accuracy of the suitability measurement, which reduces the land identified as suitable for irrigated agriculture.

Despite the widespread recognition of mangroves as multifunctional social–-ecological systems, spatially explicit assessments that integrate ecosystem service (ES) identification, prioritization, and zoning remain limited, particularly in arid and semi-arid coastal regions. In this study, we developed and applied an integrated spatial framework to identify, map, weight, and prioritize potential ES supply/capacity across 19 mangrove habitats along the southern coasts of Iran. The framework combined proxy-based ES identification, GIS- and InVEST-based spatial mapping, Analytic Network Process (ANP) weighting, and expert rapid assessment. A total of 521 ES occurrences were identified across the study area, encompassing provisioning (18.4%), regulating (17.5%), supporting (32.4%), and cultural services (31.7%). ES richness varied among habitats, with the highest richness observed in the Qeshm Coast habitat (39 services) and the lowest richness in the Bordekhon habitat (18 services). Supporting services had the highest global priority weight (0.351), followed by cultural, provisioning, and regulating services. Spatial zoning identified approximately 1.23 million ha of mangrove-related landscape representing potential ES supply/capacity, including 266,420 ha associated with provisioning services, 223,588 ha with regulating services, 423,557 ha with supporting services, and 311,757 ha with cultural services. Within the supporting-service zone, 214,065 ha were classified as high priority, representing 50.5% of its total area. These results show that supporting services were both the most highly weighted and the most spatially dominant ES category across Iran's mangrove landscapes. Beyond the national context, the study presents a transferable framework for integrating ES richness, relative importance, and spatial prioritization in mangrove ecosystems. This framework can support ecosystem-based management, conservation prioritization, and sustainable coastal planning, particularly in mangrove regions undergoing rapid development and environmental change.

The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman are globally significant marine ecosystems, hosting coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, algal beds, and coastal salt marshes that support key ecological processes and species, including marine mammals, sharks and rays, sea snakes, and sea turtles. These ecosystems face increasing pressures from oil pollution, harmful algal blooms, habitat degradation, unsustainable resource use, and climate change, threatening both biodiversity and coastal livelihoods. Potential exists to reduce gaps in the marine conservation network requiring a spatial assessment to identify a pathway to achieving the 30% protected area target of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.This study mapped coastal and marine habitats in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman within Iran’s Exclusive Economic Zone, reviewed sensitive species, and assessed ecological sensitivity using a GIS-based spatial multi-criteria decision-making approach. The current protected area network (~2.1 million ha) covers approximately 24.7% of the coastal area and 33.6% of the shore area. Nationwide, only 0.7% of Iran’s coastal water and 12.7% of the coastal zone are under formal management by the Department of Environment of Iran. Incorporating approximately 1.3 million ha of highly sensitive habitats into the protected area network could increase coastal water protection from 0.7% to 16.8%, shore area coverage from 34% to 55.6%, and overall protection within the coastal zone to 27%, which is expected to improve ecological coherence by increasing representativeness and connectivity, while reducing habitat fragmentation and strengthening ecosystem resilience. This expansion represents a significant step toward achieving the 30% conservation target and advancing sustainable marine management in southern Iran.

The quality of habitats determines ecosystem integrity and is associated with its structure, functioning and components, reflecting the degradation degree, serving as the basis for assessing sustainable landscape development. Urbanization in Karaj County endangers ecosystems, requiring spatial planning to prevent habitat loss. The objective of this study is to evaluate habitat quality and degradation in Karaj County from 2013 to 2032, with predictions for the near future. Landsat images from 2013, 2018, and 2023 were obtained, and after LULC classification for the respective years, the InVEST model's habitat quality ecosystem service model was utilized to determine habitat quality. Based on existing threats to habitats, habitat quality was assessed by selecting six threats, including agriculture, urban areas, rural areas, railways, main roads, and secondary roads. Threat layers were weighted between zero and one. According to the results, the urban areas information layer was assigned the highest weight due to causing the most habitat destruction. The predictive results indicated a decrease in habitat quality from 2013 to 2032, with an increase in landscape degradation. During the study period, the area classified as "severe degradation" increased by 51.752 km2, nearly doubling from 2023 to 2032. The InVEST model, using LULC maps and habitat threats, effectively assessed habitat quality and predicted future changes. High-accuracy LULC classification (Kappa>90%) ensured reliability. Integrating the CA-Markov model improved land use change predictions. Habitat quality declined from 2013 to 2032, with the greatest loss in human-built areas, while conversion. Urban expansion from 2013 to 2023 reduced agricultural and natural areas, a trend expected to continue, increasing habitat threats. These results indicate the need for limiting urban expansion, preserving ecological corridors, and adopting targeted nature-based solutions, particularly in rapidly urbanizing zones like Karaj County, to mitigate projected degradation and maintain ecosystem integrity by 2032.

Hara Coastal Marine Protected Area (CMPA) in southern Iran contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Middle East, providing essential Cultural Ecosystem Services (CESs) and supporting biodiversity conservation. Despite its ecological and socio-cultural significance, increasing human pressures and inadequate infrastructure threaten its sustainability. This study evaluates CES perceptions among local communities and tourists, identifying priority recreational activities, perceived barriers, and site-specific stressors using integrated social and ecological indicators. Findings reveal a strong dependence of local communities on the Hara CMPA, demonstrating high place attachment and a commitment to conservation. In contrast, tourists showed lower ecological awareness, valuing aesthetic and recreational experiences over conservation concerns. Natural features such as mangrove forests, tidal zones, and wildlife habitats were most valued, whereas human-modified sites like docks and historical villages were considered as less important. Infrastructure deficiencies and lack of suitable facilities emerged as the most significant barriers to CES utilization. Among CES categories, aesthetic values ranked highest, while educational values received the least recognition. To support sustainable management of the Hara CMPA, targeted strategies should enhance environmental awareness, upgrade infrastructure, and incorporate local knowledge in planning. The findings provide a set of ecological and social indicators to inform coastal policy, emphasizing the need for inclusive, stakeholder-centered approaches to balance conservation and human activities in marine protected area governance.

Urbanization has led to the creation of macrotrends affecting the environment and the disruption of desired environmental patterns. In this regard, the driving forces, macro-trends, and uncertainties were identified in the Tehran-Alborz urban complex. The present research is a systematic effort to explain and rediscover possible futures in the environmental field in this urban complex with a holistic view. To identify the most important driving forces, macrotrends, and environmental uncertainties, a list was prepared based on research history and theoretical studies (including criteria, sub-criteria, and indicators). Then, data analysis was performed using structural analysis and scenario-building methods. According to the results, among the criteria, the highest importance coefficient was assigned to the "ecological" criterion, among the sub-criteria related to "water resources" and among the indicators, to "per capita water resource consumption". The results of the scenarios of the first to third groups in the Tehran-Alborz urban complex respectively express the desired and ideal state of the environment (55 %), the intermediate and static state (35 %), and the critical state of the environment (10 %) in the development of this urban complex. In addition, the results of the macro-future scenarios in the future cone include "preferred futures" (first group scenario), "likely futures" (second group scenario), and "unreasonable futures" (third group scenario), the probability of each occurrence being predictable based on the results obtained. According to the analyses conducted, improving the environmental situation in the development of the Tehran-Alborz urban complex requires that planners and officials preserve and support the environment of this region, in a way that strives to preserve its valuable biological resources and improve its condition.

This empirical study tries to reveal the complex relationship between mangrove ecosystem services (ESs) and the well-being of local communities, emphasizing the importance of this connection for achieving sustainability indicators. Mangrove ecosystems face risks from challenges such as industrial development and economic instability. In Iran, these ecosystems play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods and well-being of local communities, including the provision of edible aquatic resources, honey production, and fodder for livestock. This research seeks to identify the variables influencing the duality of ecosystem well-being and human well-being (HWB) to contribute to sustainability commitments and support the HWB of local communities. To better understand the effects of mangrove ESs on HWB, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and the Social Progress Index have been employed, examining the impact of community perceptions of these services on their attitudes. Ultimately, this research aims to clarify the complexities in the relationship between ESs-HWB of local communities through a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from 400 households across 45 urban and rural settlements. Overall, the results indicated a negative association between mangrove ESs and HWB, however, a positive perception of these ESs was find, which is linked to a favorable community attitude toward mangrove conservation. We used the FIMIX technique to revealed hidden heterogeneity in the data, and the results showed that this relationship varies across regions, influenced by cultural differences and dependence on natural resources. Local factors such as livelihoods and awareness of ESs also play a significant role in shaping community attitudes and behaviors. Our finding suggest that management programs should emphasize awareness-raising and environmentally compatible economic development, particularly through creating added value for local mangrove products, which simultaneously enhance mangrove sustainability and local HWB.

Environmental degradation is a multidimensional, spatially heterogeneous, and policy-relevant phenomenon that requires robust, reproducible, and spatially explicit assessment frameworks. This study constructs a Composite Environmental Degradation Index (CEDI) for 397 counties in Iran (2018-2022) by integrating multi-source satellite observations with a stochastic dominance (SD) algorithm and mixed-integer programming (MIP)-based weighting. Seven environmental dimensions were incorporated: climate change, greenhouse gases, land use, biodiversity, water resources, air pollution, and soil erosion. Quantitative results indicate that the SD-MIP approach assigns the highest contributions to climate change (0.279), greenhouse gases (0.226), and land use (0.223), while air pollution and soil erosion exert relatively lower impacts. Spatial autocorrelation analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) reveals statistically significant hot spots of environmental degradation across the western, southern, southeastern, and central regions, whereas cold spots are concentrated along the northern belt, particularly within the Hyrcanian forests, indicating greater ecological resilience. Temporally, although year-to-year fluctuations were observed, the overall trend suggests a gradual intensification of environmental stress, with the peak average CEDI reaching 0.58 in 2018 and 2020. Methodologically, applying stochastic dominance to composite index construction eliminates the bias of arbitrary weighting, incorporates the full distribution of each indicator, and quantifies uncertainty through Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis (n = 1000). The results demonstrate high robustness (mean Spearman's rho = 0.91; SD = 0.03; mean Jaccard hotspot overlap = 85.2 %), confirming the model's stability and reliability. From a policy perspective, the CEDI functions as an early-warning and decision-support system, enabling region-specific interventions in high-risk areas while reinforcing sustainable practices in resilient regions. The proposed framework directly supports Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land) and can be adapted to other developing-country contexts with diverse environmental and data conditions.

In the ‎present study, using Terjong climate index, the ‎optimal time of day and night tourism was ‎determined (from 1996 to ‎‎2021) in the mangrove forests of the Hara protected area. Then ‎using ‎ACCESS-CM2 and CNRM-CM6-1 models to predict the suitable times ‎for the ‎development of nature tourism under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 ‎scenarios. Terjong index showed that ‎the best time for ‎nature tourism in this region is during the day in the months of January, ‎‎February and March and during the night in the months of April and ‎November. ‎It is observed that the ‎maximum temperature trend has accelerated since ‎the second half of the 2050s and its average ‎has increased under the ‎SSP5-8.5 scenario in the period of 2090-2099. Although the rainfall ‎‎trend is fluctuating, it shows a decreasing trend in a significant part of ‎the year. I‎

Constructing wind power plants is a multidimensional activity, which determines land potential based on a series of effective criteria and indicators. Accordingly, in the present study, a list of location indicators for wind farms development in the north of Oman Gulf (Sistan and Baluchistan Province) was presented through theoretical literature review and expert viewpoints. Then, location indicators were screened using the Delphi method and weighting by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model. In this study, combining layers using the weight linear combination (WLC) method and, finally, identifying areas with spatial value for wind farm development and prioritization of these areas using numerical estimating method (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution [TOPSIS]) and artificial intelligence optimization (whale optimization algorithm [WOA]). According to the results of the Delphi method, 14 indicators have been identified, with selected indicators related to the role and necessity of application, including average wind speed, wind continuity, and wind power density as mandatory indicators of capability and distance from military operational areas and distance to historical monuments as mandatory restriction indicators. Based on the weighting results and the combination of indicators, the coastal area was divided into four categories: weak, medium, suitable, and very suitable. Among classes, suitable class covers about 36% of the studied area. As the results show, the cities of Dashtyari and Chabahar have the highest priority for wind farm development, followed by the cities of Zarabad and Konarak. Likewise, in this study, the WOA method achieved the best results, according to root mean square error (RMSE) and R 2 outcomes. According to the results obtained, 75% of the identified areas are suitable and very suitable for wind farms development. Therefore, by prioritizing coastal cities, wind farms can be developed in this province.

Understanding climate change trends, especially precipitation, has played a significant role in the hydrological cycle and the severity of recent droughts in the Mesopotamian Plain and other western and southwestern regions. In the present study, precipitation changes trend in western and southwestern Iran and the occurrence of droughts in the Mesopotamian Plain from 1989 to 2022 were investigated using the independent t-test in SPSS software, and analyzing statistical variables including mean, median, mode, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, range of variation, skewness, maximum, and minimum. The spatial distribution of annual rainfall has shown a noticeable downward trend, and rainfall in the country has become more concentrated and uniform in terms of time in recent years. The precipitation concentration index also showed that the highest index is related to the southwestern regions, and the lowest concentration index is assigned to the northern regions. Accordingly, the increase in the intensity of seasonality and concentration of precipitation in the southern parts indicates high variability and precipitation irregularity, as a result, an increase in the incidence of drought. The results obtained indicate a decreasing trend in annual and seasonal precipitation and, subsequently, an increase in the occurrence of droughts in the Mesopotamian Plain.

Ecological function continuity is considered one of the most important types of biological connections between habitats and natural ecosystems. The study evaluated landscape function using three main components: Ecological Function Area (EFA), Barrier Effect Index (BEI), and Ecological Continuity Index (ECI). Land use/Land cover (LULC) maps were identified as ecologically functional areas. BEI and ECI were calculated and mapped for 1989–2024 using GIS-based mathematical modeling. Areas with sensitive resources (historical and cultural monuments) and ecological resources (vegetation, water resources, protected/managed areas) were identified using two quantitative criteria: minimum area (25–200 ha, based on map scale) and a literature review. Human-made factors from development were then analyzed as the main ecological obstacles. As the results revealed, among the studied LULC classes, built-up areas with an area of 14032.32 km2 (46.40 %) have the highest increasing trend, while pastures with an area of 11438.62 km2 (37.82 %) have the highest decreasing trend from 1989 to 2024. In addition, the area of mangrove forests of Iran in 2024 (0.43 %) has decreased compared to 1989 (0.44 %), which is due to the growth of human activities, including the development of construction and infrastructure, especially ports and commercial docks, and tourism in this region. In the study area, about 30 % of natural and unnatural habitats are LULC ecological function areas, while 70 % are affected by ecological barriers, directly or indirectly. The largest allocations were to ecological function (74.45 %), ecological continuity (52.21 %), and barrier effect (22.46 %). Among these, ecological continuity showed the greatest decline, with a 12.31 % decrease between the studied years. Among the metrics, the AI metric at the intertidal zone class level showed the highest increasing trend with 7895 ha in 2024 compared with 1874 ha in 1989. The SPLIT metric at the bare land class level showed the highest decreasing trend by 28,219 ha in 2024 compared with 54,374 ha in 1989. The results indicate that in areas with a concentration of commercial and tourist docks, as well as built-up land, in the region, the highest barrier effect is observed due to the development of human activities. The study innovatively combines LULC-based ecological function mapping with BEI and ECI across 1989–2024, linking ecological connectivity directly to human development pressures (ports, docks, tourism) to prioritize barriers and guide conservation planning. It provides an assessment of mangrove continuity and habitat connectivity that supports actionable strategies balancing development with ecosystem sustainability and human well-being. The results of the present study, by simultaneously identifying ecological functions and prioritizing barriers to function and ecological connectivity, can assist planners in the management and sustainable development of the region.

Introduction: The ecological security of tourism provides a new research framework and practical tools for analyzing sustainable regional development. This facilitates the development of high-quality tourism and also protects natural ecosystems. Therefore, ecological security plays an important role in examining biological resources about society, economy, and environment and, especially concerning protected areas, can provide vital information for habitat conservation and conservation strategies. This study aimsto assess the ecological security of tourism based on the establishment of a driver framework and pressures in the Hara protected area.Materials and Methods: In the present study, the ecological security and vulnerability of tourism were assessed based on the DPSIR model framework in the Hara protected area. Accordingly, by considering five key factors ("Driver", "Pressure", "State", "Impact", "Response"), the effective indicators on the ecological security of tourism were examined and analyzed in this protected area. For this purpose, a list of effective indicators that can affect the ecological security of tourism was prepared based on previous documents and studies and according to the opinions of specialists and experts.Results: The results revealed that the highest ecological security of tourism is visible in the east of Khorkhoran island and the west of Sayeh Khosh habitat, especially in the central areas of mangrove forests, and in contrast, the lowest level is related to the north and south of the area around Marduv island, Khamir Lashtqan and coastal Qeshm due to the expansion of various human activities. In addition, the results of the classification of ecological tourism security showed that the Hara protected area has 68.56 percent of the ecologically safe tourism class and 32.43 percent of the unsafe class. The evaluation of the indicators affecting the ecological security of tourism also indicates that the highest score among the "drivers" is related to the increase in construction with a value of 64.3, among the "pressures" is the index of excessive harvesting of branches and feeding of wandering camels with a value of 88.4, among the "state" indicators is the level of vegetation density with a value of 22.3, among the "responses" coefficients is the prevention of branching and provision of fodder for livestock (especially camels) with a value of 18.3. According to the results, the status index in the mangrove forests of the island and the Khorkhoran Strait has the lowest value due to the limited development of human activities, while the highest state index is observed in the north, south of the region and the centers of human activity development. Also, the highest impact index is related to the surroundings of ports, commercial and tourist piers, coastal areas and tourism development centers. Accordingly, in areas that are the centers of human activity development, the driving, pressure and impact indices have increased, resulting in a decrease in ecological security in the region.Discussion: Based on the results obtained, the most threats to the ecological security of tourism are related to uncontrolled human activities and also insufficient supervision over the development and exploitation of ports and piers in the region. Therefore, controlling these pressures and threats requires integrated planning and management at the regional level. In this regard, the results of this study can help decision-makers and planners in developing a management plan and taking strategic measures in this area by providing a range of key factors and indicators affecting the ecological security of tourism in the Hara protected area.

Introduction: Mangrove forests in Iran are spread over about 11,000 ha and in the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea, between 25º 11 to 27º 52´ from Goatar Bay in Sistan and Baluchistan province to Bardkhon in Bushehr province. These forests are valueable due to the having sensitive biophysical resources, breeding important and biodiversity. At the same time, they are in the rank of one of the most important marine sensitive areas and need proper management. The purpose of this study is to assess the risks of mangrove forests in the international wetlands of Rud-e-Shur, Rud-e-Shirin and Rud-e-Minab using the DPSIR model.Materials and Methods: Based on the studies of existing documents, as well as the opinions and experts, environmental hazards were identified in the investigation of Driving Forces, Pressures, State, Impacts and Responses models. Finally, using the Delphi phase, out of a total of 78 factors threatening of wetland, a total of 30 environmental risks were identified and prioritized. At the second stage, the intensity of the effect, the probability of occurrence and the sensitivity of the environment accepting the specified risks and threats are scored in five categories: very high, high, medium, low and very low (in the numerical range of 1 to 5) and finally using the method TOPSIS and TOPSIS Solver software were rated.Results: The results of the study showed that 30 risky factors including 24 human and 7 environmental origin cases; put living and existence of International Wetland into danger and risk. 5 threat indicators with human origin include population growth, human activities, excessive harvesting of ecosystem services, aquaculture, and management weakness; 2 threat indicators with environmental origin include drought and climate change have been prioritized. Based on the results of risk factors rankings, human and aquaculture activities were identified in particular order with 0.912 and 0.648 coefficient as two intolerance ranks among threat indicators factors in the international wetland. Also, oil smuggling, destruction of habitat, and transmission of shrimp farming effluent into Wetland, was classified as 1, 0.87, 0.75 respectively, ranking in the first to third risk factors.Discussion: According to the amount of Cli, two factors of oil smuggling and destruction of habitats are categorized in intolerable risks. Two factors of the transfer of wastewater from shrimp farms to the wetland and water pollution are categorized at the noteworthy category, as well as the countless traffic of vessels inside the lagoon and the creation of shrimp farm channels in the estuaries leading to the lagoon are in the category of tolerable risks, respectively, in the first to sixth priorities, which require control measures to reduce environmental risks. In order to protect the studied international wetland, it is necessary to promote public information about the ecological characteristics and effects of the wetland in the environment of the province, as well as the threats facing them through public education. Educating everyone about the necessity and method of protecting the environment of wetland and the effects of neglecting its destruction, drafting laws, regulations, criteria and executive standards regarding fuel smuggling, along with the appropriate executive guarantee of the government and finally the organization's forecast. Implementation guidelines and mechanisms to include environmental considerations in the country's development plans are the pillars without which the desired goals cannot be achieved.

Iran is highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly evident in shifting precipitation and temperature patterns, especially in its southern coastal region. With these changing climate conditions, there is an urgent need for practical and adaptive management of water resources and energy supply to address the challenges posed by future climate change. Over the next two to three decades, the effects of climate change, such as precipitation and temperature, are expected to worsen, posing greater risks to water resources, agriculture, and infrastructure stability. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the alterations in mean daily temperature (Tmean) and total daily rainfall (rrr24) utilizing climate change scenarios from both phases 5 and 6 of the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project (CMIP5 and CMIP6, respectively) in the southern coastal regions of Iran (Hormozgan province), specifically north of the Strait of Hormuz. The predictions were generated using the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) and National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) predictors, incorporating climate change scenarios from CMIP5 with Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 and CMIP6 with Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) 1, 2, and 5. The analysis was conducted for three distinct time periods: the early 21st century (2021-2045), middle 21st century (2046-2071), and late 21st century (2071-2095). The results indicated that the CMIP5 model outperformed the CMIP6 model in simulating and predicting Tmean and rrr24. In addition, a significant increase in Tmean was observed across all the scenarios and time periods, with the most pronounced trend occurring in the middle and late 21st century future periods. This increase was already evident during the base period of 2021-2045 across all scenarios. Moreover, the fluctuations in precipitation throughout the region and across all scenarios were significant in the three examined future periods. The results indicated that among CMIP5 scenarios, RCP8.5 had highest changes of Tmean (+1.22 °C) in Bandar Lengeh station in 2071-2095 period. The lowest change magnitude of Tmean among CMIP5 scenarios was found in RCP4.5 (-1.94 °C) in Ch station in 2046-2070 period. The results indicated that among CMIP5 scenarios, RCP8.5 had highest changes of rrr24 (+150.2 mm) in Chabahar station in 2071-2095 period. The lowest change magnitude of rrr24 among CMIP5 scenarios was found in RCP8.5 (-25.8 mm) in Bandar Abbas station in 2046-2070 period. In conclusion, the study reveals that the coastal area of Hormozgan province will experience rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns in the future. These changes may lead to challenges such as increased water and energy consumption, heightened risks of droughts or floods, and potential damage to agriculture and infrastructure. These findings offer valuable insights for implementing local mitigation policies and strategies and adapting to emerging climate changes in Hormozgan's coastal areas. For example, utilizing water harvesting technologies, implementing watershed management practices, and adopting new irrigation systems can address challenges like water consumption, agricultural impacts, and infrastructure vulnerability. Future research should accurately assess the effect of these changes in precipitation and temperature on water resources, forest ecosystems, agriculture, and other infrastructures in the study area to implement effective management measures.

Mangroves execute a significant role in preserving biodiversity and productivity of shallow marine biosphere, yet are extremely vulnerable. Benthic diatoms forms the main constituent of mangrove forest biogeochemistry, also they are sensitive to environmental changes, so it is critical to assess the influence of expected/common ecological pressure on their assemblages. Water, intertidal sediments and epibenthic diatoms were collected from three designated mangrove regions/habitats, in the Persian Gulf, which is the main natural mangrove forest in Iran, nominated Hara Biosphere Reserve. CAP analysis differentiated three forest areas: (1) the Island zone, located in the innermost area of the forest with TOM enriched sediments, and colonized by the most number of dominant species, e.g. Nitzschia sigmodea, attained the highest allocation success of 88.89

Extended Abstract Background: Forests are one of the renewable natural resources and national capitals of every country that provide a wide range of goods and services. Since the lives of local communities and their livelihood are directly and indirectly dependent on forest ecosystems, the management and protection of these natural habitats is an important issue for planners and decision-makers. Today, these valuable resources are threatened by numerous human and natural factors. With the development of technology, industry, and significant population growth, the exploitation and destruction of these natural areas to provide raw materials, space, and food are increasing progressively, leaving irreparable damages in recent years. Accordingly, the present study was carried out to identify the type of use and the degree of local communities’ dependence on the Khamir-Qeshm mangrove forests. The study also seeks to analyze the relationship between the livelihood dependence of local communities and the exploitation extent of these forests. Khamir-Qeshm mangrove forests account for reserves, shelters, feeding and nursing places for many plants and animals. These natural habitats are also the main source of providing ecosystem services for local communities and residents of the edges of these forests. Thus, the ecosystem services of mangrove forests in the studied area are an important tool to show issues such as the livelihood dependence of communities living on the edge of the habitats, the importance of food security, income, health, and sustainable development of human activities. In this regard, the present study complements other studies in terms of the importance of the exploitation of natural mangrove habitats and the use of each of these services in the lives of local communities and residents of the edges of forests. In particular, the areas that are closer to the villages are not of good quality and need more protection. Methods: In the current descriptive-analytical research, data were collected through questions and interviews with local communities. The statistical population of the research consisted of local communities, and a sample size of380 people was calculated in the studied area, which was sampled by the cluster method considering the population of each village. The validity of the research to measure the appropriateness of the questionnaires prepared by structural and formal methods was determined through the opinions of experts and specialists, and its reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha in SPSS software. The result is statistically confirmed and acceptable, with α = 0.9. Results: According to the obtained results, the Khamir-Qeshm mangrove forests are mostly used for food consumption, including harvesting wild honey, catching aquatic and edible invertebrates (for home use, restaurants, and selling in the market), hunting birds, and harvesting fodder for feeding livestock (camels). On the other hand, the lowest amount of consumption belongs to harvesting wood from mangrove forests for the construction of pavilions and residential houses. According to the obtained averages, the highest priority in the use of Khamir-Qeshm mangrove forests is assigned to food consumption, followed by tourism, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals, fuel consumption, and construction from the highest to the lowest priority, respectively. In other words, food consumption, especially fishing and aquaculture, is the first priority in this region, and other activities such as tourism, due to the limited time suitable for tourists in the region, making handicrafts, pharmaceutical consumption, fuel consumption, and construction due to the low market demand and necessary facilities have lower efficiency and priority. In addition, the employment of the residents of the area shows the level of livelihood dependence of the local communities on the mangrove forests of Khamir-Qeshm, who exploit these natural habitats for their livelihood and daily needs. In general, the income of most local communities is provided by fishing, although they are also engaged in other activities such as boating, tourism, boat building, and creating ecotourism lodges and beach restaurants. The results of the analysis of the relationship between subsistence dependence and the amount of exploitation of these forests indicate a significant and direct relationship between these two factors. This means that the exploitation level of these forest habitats increases with the increased demand and livelihood needs of local communities. As one of the most important natural resources, mangrove forests have a direct relationship and an undeniable place in providing livelihood, welfare, and comfort to human societies. On the other hand, these forests should always be the focus of planners and decision-makers due to their essential role in strengthening the livelihood and development of human societies. Conclusion: Considering the protection status and biological sensitivities of the studied area, ‎the continuation of this type of exploitation causes heavy damage to the forests of the area ‎and endangers their survival for future generations. Therefore, management policies and ‎arrangements should be considered to reduce the exploitation of mangrove forests by local ‎communities and to protect and sustain these natural habitats. In addition to this training, ‎informing and empowering local communities in the development of local businesses and ‎increasing their income can help reduce people's livelihood dependence on forests.‎

Evolutionary studies of plant groups which are distributed in vast geographical regions and face different ecological and environmental conditions are important as they through light on different mechanisms of local adaptation and species divergence through time. The genus Avicennia is one of these plant groups which inspire of few species show interesting geographical distribution with some degree of species-specific geographical isolations. In general, very limited molecular phylogenetic investigations have been carried out in the genus Avicennia, and therefore we conducted the present study with the following aims: To estimate the species divergence time based on different nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions, separately. This will illustrate how different genetic regions evolved in this genus,To identify the sequences with potential adaptive value against geographical variable by latent factor mixed models (LFMM) analysis,To illustrate the phylogenetic signal of these DNA regions and their role in speciation within the genus and,To introducing a new computational strategy for estimating adaptive time for the sequences. The results showed that different genetic regions may produce different species divergent time, both the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and chloroplast DNA sequences, contained potentially adaptive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).We could present a suggestive time for these adaptive sequences for the first time. In conclusion both local adaptation and independent mutations seem to have played role in Avicennia speciation and evolution.