Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Natural Resources Faculty, Lorestan ‎University, Khorramabad, Iran

2 Professor, Department of ‎Environmental Science, Natural ‎Resources Faculty, University of ‎‎Tehran, Karaj, Iran ‎

10.22054/urdp.2025.83888.1685

Abstract

Fragmentation and reduction of ecological function in urban areas are ‎important threats to the protection of valuable ecological resources, and ‎effective strategies to control land fragmentation and destruction in ‎these areas require the identification of ecological resources and ‎biological functions. Accordingly, the present study identified sensitive ‎and ecological resources and prepared an ecological network map in the ‎Tehran-Alborz urban complex. Then the continuity of biological ‎function in this complex was examined. According to the results, the ‎most important sensitive and ecological resources in this urban complex ‎include protected areas, including national parks, national natural ‎monuments, protected areas, wildlife refuges, no-hunting areas, and ‎forest conservation reserves. Also, the northern and northeastern regions ‎of the region, which have a greater distribution of protected areas and ‎biological reserves, have higher ecological importance and greater ‎biological sensitivity to urbanization and the development of human ‎activities. Also, ‎the analysis of ecological performance and continuity in the Tehran-‎Alborz urban set indicates that between 1379 and 1402, ecological ‎continuity in this region has decreased. Given that the network of ‎biologically sensitive areas in the Tehran-Alborz urban set is of ‎great importance, it is essential to plan and provide appropriate tools to ‎reduce the effects of urban development and the threats arising from it. ‎Likewise, the results of this analysis can, as a management strategy, help in ‎proper protection and planning in line with the development of human ‎activities and the subsequent environmental risks and consequences. ‎

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