Assessment of combating desertification strategies using the linear assignment method

Abstract

Abstract. Select appropriate strategies according to all effective criteria in combating desertification process can be so useful in controlling and rehabilitation of degraded lands, and avoid degradation in vulnerable fields. This study provides systematic and optimal strategies of combating desertification by group decision-making model. To this end, in the framework of Multi Attribute Decision Making (MADM) and by using Delphi model (Delphi), the preferences of indexes were obtained. Then priorities of strategies were evaluated by using linear assignment (LA) method. According to the results, the strategies to prevent improper change of land use (A18), development and reclamation of plant cover (A23) and adjustment for harvesting from groundwater sources (A31), respectively were identified as the most important strategies for combating desertification in this study area. Therefore, it was suggested to consider ranking results in projects which controls and reduces the effects of desertification and rehabilitates degraded lands.