Environmental vulnerability assessment of Choghakhor International Wetland during 1985 to 2018

As of natural constraints, and the specific climate of Iran, as well as the increasing importance of international water resources in the socio‐economic development of societies, studies on surface water resources, especially wetlands, merit special attention. Accordingly, the TM, ETM+ and OLI satellite images of 1985, 2000 and 2018 were used in the present study to detect changes in the Choghakhor international wetland. Classifying the images with a supervised method, and using maximum likelihood algorithms, the distinct land use/land cover classes of waterbody, aquatic plants, pasture and forest, agricultural lands, bare land and human built lands were ranked. Selected landscape metrics information on the spatial pattern of the Choghakhor wetland was quantitatively determined, using Fragstats software, and the spatial composition and vulnerability of the wetland were evaluated. The vulnerability assessment of wetland contamination was investigated using the WRASTIC index based on the catchment area scale. Time processing of the data obtained from the maps indicated a 26.63% decrease in the pasture and forest area, and a 12.1% increase in the area of human built lands and agriculture lands during the period from 1985 to 2018. Further, in spite of the waterbody area expanding during 1985 to 2000, it subsequently shrunk in size from 2000 to 2018, with the area of aquatic plants lands increasing during the same period. Analysis of landscape metrics generally indicated the natural wetland cover has been changing during this period along with increasing anthropogenic impacts. Degradation, rotation and replacement of natural land cover such as pastures and forests with human built areas can be considered undesirable development effects on the Choghakhor wetland. The results of the WRASTIC index calculation indicated a major impact of Choghakhor wetland components from water pollution. The results of the present study place an emphasis on more sustainable land use and prevention of land destruction in the Choghakhor wetland basin.