Investigating Agricultural Ecosystem Functions and Services in Northern Iran

Agricultural ecosystem provides various functions and services for humans. Therefore, investigating their role and importance in agricultural land programming and management is one of the research goals. In this research, we used Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) for identification of the Agricultural Ecosystem Functions and Services (AEFS). Also, Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) models were used for weighting and prioritizing of the AEFS like Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) for calculating their weight, and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW), Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS), and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for prioritizing them. The research data was extracted using field survey, random sampling, and completing the Delphi questionnaire of ۴۰ agricultural experts in the north of Iran. Also, the R۲ coefficient was used to compare the AEFS prioritization models. The results of SWARA technique showed that provisioning, regulation, and cultural functions with weights of ۰.۰۲۹۸, ۰.۰۲۸۶ and ۰.۰۲۵۰ had the highest weight, respectively. Also, the results indicated that the SAW model with the R۲= ۰.۹۰ was chosen as the appropriate prioritization model. Provisioning, regulation, and cultural functions with marginal weights of ۰.۶۳۱۹, ۰.۵۴۴۸, and ۰.۵۰۹۲ were ranked the first to third priority, respectively. Also, food supply, employment, genetic material supply, and educational and research services were important positive services of the agricultural ecosystem compared to the other services. It is suggested that more appropriate programming and more research be done by relevant organizations for the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems in northern Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Agricultural Ecosystem Functions and Services ، Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services ، Weighting assessment