Education services of different landscapes using actor group opinions in Jiroft County

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 ‎Department of Ecological Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, ‎Iran.‎

2 Department of Ecological Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft

3 University of Jiroft

Abstract

Despite the importance of nature-based learning for ecosystem conservation, there is little information about ecosystem potential in providing education services. This study aimed to assess education services of different landscapes including woodlands, rangeland, and water bodies using actor group opinions in Jiroft county. Hence, the expert method was used to evaluate the educational values of different landscapes and explore the main drivers of education service provision. Results showed that rangeland landscapes had the highest education value compared to woodlands and water body landscapes. Rangeland dominated by semi-shrubs had the highest science value and was significantly difference from meadow and shrubland to supply education services (p<0.05). Juniperus excelsa and Pistacia atlantica had the highest science value in woodlands (p<0.05). Plant and animal diversity and degradation were the main drivers of education services based on expert's opinions and they can be potentially used for the assessments of education services of arid ecosystems.

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