Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Environment, Research Center of Environment and Sustainable Development, Tehran, Iran
2
Assistant professor, Environment, Department of Environmental Governance, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3
Assistant professor, Environment, Department of Environmental Studies, the Institute for Research and Development in the Humanities
Abstract
Context and Purpose Nature-based tourism serves as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development, playing a significant role in environmental conservation and the empowerment of local communities.
Design/methodology/approach: This study employs an integrated spatial-fuzzy approach to assess natural recreation potential in Zanjan Province. Using the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) framework, the research systematically incorporates physical, social, and management criteria. Spatial data layers—including land cover, distance from roads, rivers, human settlements, and protected areas—were processed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. By integrating multi-criteria decision analysis and fuzzy logic functions, the inherent uncertainties of qualitative criteria were modeled, resulting in a final map classifying natural recreation potential into five categories.
Findings: Findings reveal an uneven spatial distribution: zones with high and very high potential are primarily concentrated in the northern part of the province (Tarom, Mahneshan, and Zanjan counties), adjacent to forested highlands, permanent rivers, and protected areas. In contrast, central and southern regions mostly fall into low to moderate potential categories.
Conclusion: Spatially-explicit and differentiated management strategies are proposed: "active conservation and managed recreation" for high-potential zones, "balanced development and ecological restoration" for moderate zones, and "focus on alternative land functions with no investment in nature-based recreation" for low-potential zones.
Originality/value: This study provides an operational framework for spatial planning and sustainable management of nature-based tourism.
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