Evaluation of Combating Desertification Alternatives Using Promethee Model

TLDR: It is suggested that the obtained results and ranking should be considered in projects of controlling and reducing the effects of desertification and rehabilitatyion of degraded lands plans.

Abstract: According to the extent of damage, various effects and complexity of desertification process, selecting appropriate alternatives considering all effective desertification criterions is one of the main concerns of Iran in the field of natural resources. This can be effective in controlling, reclamation of disturbed lands and avoiding destruction areas at desertification risk. This paper tries to provide a systematic and optimal alternatives in a group decision-making model. For this aim, PROMETHEE II method was used for ranking desertification alternatives. At the first in the framework of Multiple Attribute Decision-making (MADM), normalized decision matrix was provided by  Delphi model. Then, to ease and accuracy in estimating the criteria preference and alternatives priority, the normalized decision matrix data were entered in Visual PROMETHEE software. Based on the results, the alternatives of prevention of unsuitable land use changes (A18), vegetation cover development and reclamation (A23) and modification of ground water harvesting (A31) with pure out ranking progress of =0.3660, 0.1909 and -0.0887 were selected as the main combating desertification altarnative in the study area, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that the obtained results and ranking should be considered in projects of controlling and reducing the effects of desertification and rehabilitatyion of degraded lands plans.