Assessment of the impact of climate change on vegetation cover and water resources in Rasht County

Pakarian, Sareh; Riahi, Vahid; Yelghei, Mostafa

doi:10.22034/gahr.2025.556475.2617

Assessment of the impact of climate change on vegetation cover and water resources in Rasht County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

sareh pakarian ¹

Vahid Riahi ²

mostafa yelghei ²

¹ ...

² ..

10.22034/gahr.2025.556475.2617

Abstract

This study investigates environmental changes in water resources, vegetation cover, and land use in Rasht County from 1994 to 2024, aiming to gain a comprehensive understanding of human pressures on natural resources. The data were extracted from Landsat satellite images (TM 5, ETM+ 7, OLI/TIRS 8 and 9) obtained through Earth Explorer and processed using ENVI software. Results show that Rasht’s water bodies have followed a downward trend over the past three decades, shrinking from 13.05 km² in 1994 to 8.05 km² in 2024. The lowest extent (2.81 km²) was recorded in 2012, followed by a temporary increase in 2018 likely caused by the nationwide flood of March 2018. NDVI analysis also reveals a gradual decline in vegetation cover, particularly in central, eastern, and southeastern parts of the city. This decrease is mainly attributed to unregulated urban expansion and land‑use conversion from agricultural and forest areas to built‑up zones.Overall, the findings highlight intensifying human pressure on natural resources and emphasize the need for sustainable land and water management policies. Recommended actions include the protection and restoration of water bodies, controlling urban sprawl, and increasing urban greenery to ensure long‑term environmental sustainability. The observed environmental consequences include degradation of aquatic ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, reduced soil permeability, greater surface runoff, formation of urban heat islands, and heightened vulnerability to climate change. Collectively, the study underscores that preserving ecological balance and improving the quality of life in Rasht require immediate and coordinated implementation of sustainable resource‑management strategies by local policymakers and planners.

Keywords

Rasht County

water surface changes

vegetation cover changes

Landsat

climate change

Subjects

natural geography

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