Assessing the Wild Mammals Status Affected by Human Wastes, Based on the Field Works and MCDM Analysis

Abstract

Background: Waste causes negative impacts on animal species and their habitats. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the status of animal species based on the effects of human wastes. Methods: This study was carried out in villages of the Oshtorankooh protected area of Lorestan province in 2019. Sampling and measurement of waste were used to analyze the quantity and quality of the waste of 42 villages in the protected area. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), in combination with the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was applied to evaluate the effects of waste on animal species. Results: The average total of solid waste generation rates was 555 g/day, and the average density of waste was 412 kg/m3. Also, the results of ranking showed that Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, and Hyaena hyaena were ranked with the highest scores of 2.260, 1.958, and 1.948, respectively, and the most effects will be on these species. Conclusions: It is necessary to consider the impacts of waste on animal species, and according to the results of TOPSIS and impacts assessment, the presented method has shown good performance.