Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages: 76-81

Assigning ID to Geomorphic Landforms as the Initial Stage of

Geoconservation by Scientific Research Approach, Iran

Vajihe Gholizade

, Ali Eshraghi

1- MSc. in geomorphology, University of Applied Sciences Iranian heritage, Mashhad, IRAN

2- MSc. in geomorphology, Payamnoor University of Mashhad, Mashhad, IRAN

Received: 22/01/2015 Accepted: 26/05/2015 Published: 30/06/2015

Abstract

The initial stage of geo-conservation is assignment of ID to geomorphic landforms by scientific approach. There is a variety

of important landforms in Iran. As national capital, they are used for economic purposes and also research and education aims.

Some of the specific landforms are in danger of destruction due to excessive and inappropriate exploitations. If this type of

operation continued ecological imbalance in the region will follow. Thus, protection of the geologic heritage for better protection

of the environment and for scientific and educational applications seems necessary. Geo-conservation attempts to protect these

features of the earth to avoid their decay. The purpose of this research is to conduct a hypothetical coding pattern for landforms

of Iran. Identification, listing, programming, design of coding system, registration and definition of standards are performed to

define buffer zones for the landforms. This ID assignment is to be suggested to the ministry of Science, Research, and

Technology of Iran for implementation and further studies. With implementation of this coding system and access to a

comprehensive database, execution of many plans can be performed with proper recognition of the area. It can be concluded that

these results can be effective in conservation of geomorphic land features as natural invaluable resources.

Keywords: Geo-conservation, Geo-diversity, landform, ID assignment, landscape, Iran

1 Introduction

Conservation of environment is considered as one of

the 8 Millennium Development Goals and one of the three

fundamentals of sustainable development in the 21st

century. As many kinds of animal and plant species are

identified and conserved in all countries of the world, land

surface features and landforms as an important part of the

environment require such identification and conservation.

But this acknowledgment is realized just in a few cases.

The main reason may be poor understanding of these land

surface features and their importance in natural evolution

process of the earth. Pollutants, land degradation, and

destruction of earth and texture are the issues can

frequently be observed in many regions in Iran [1].Land

use change and urbanization towards surrounding

mountainous areas increase the risk of flooding due to

increase in peak flow and volume of discharge and decrease

in time of concentration [2].For average people, all the

features and earth surface topography are called mountains

and hills regardless of their importance, divisions, and

function. As a result, these landforms are disregarded for

their conservation and are also subject to destruction,

erosion, and anthropogenic threats. Thus geomorphologic

Corresponding author: Vajihe Gholizade, MSc. in

geomorphology, University of Applied Sciences Iranian

heritage, Mashhad, IRAN. E-mail:

vajihe_gholizade@yahoo.com Tell: +989155257401 and

Fax: +985136059535.

processes and the consequent landforms must

comprehensively be identified in all the country of Iran.

They should be archived as a comprehensive collection in

related organizations (Geography group of Ministry of

Science, Research, and Technology). The importance of

these resources can better be understood as one see that

degradation and excessive exploitation of these landform

resources have caused extinction of these invaluable

features in some cases. Conduction of this research is

essential in that many scarce and unique landforms are

devastating due to unplanned manipulations. Thus, a

landform shaped during millions of years can be

disappeared from the earth surface. It is necessary to

conserve geological and geomorphologic landforms to

maintain them for future scientific and educational

purposes. As the first step, the entire landforms should be

identified and registered to assign a national identity to

each. As there is still no comprehensive list of the

geomorphologic landforms as a basis for conservation of

the features and buffer areas, this research suggests a

completely novel pattern to make the list of the landforms.

The study area of the research can be all the country of

Iran. Identification and registration can be executed first by

main landforms of those in vulnerable conditions.

2 Material and methods

It seems necessary to use two historical and empirical

methods of geomorphology to achieve the goal of

identification. Hence, this research has been conducted by

field observations of some threatened and vulnerable

Journal weblink: http://www.jett.dormaj.com

J. Environ. Treat. Tech.

ISSN: 2309-1185

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages: 76-81

landforms. Then, it has been continued by library studies.

This study has designed a process pattern for the

registration and defining buffer for these landforms. It will

be suggested to Ministry of Science, Research, and

Technology for implementation.

3 Results and Discussion

Geomorphic information have not been employed, as it

may seems essential, in many studies to meet the

requirements related to environmental and sustainable

development projects. Nevertheless, geomorphologists and

many politicians are increasingly noticed that

geomorphology play an important role in many

development projects along other fields of study [3].

Geomorphologic landforms as natural resources and

national capital can be considered in many economic

activities including tourism. These landforms can be

recommended for tourism visits, though some of them due

to scarcity and vulnerability are advised to be used with

more caution for tourism or mining activities. Scientific

tourism can be suggested for them because it takes shorter

time of visiting and has less adverse impacts on the

geomorphic forms and the environment.

Tourism income of Iran is annually 150-180 million

USD. This is very low compared with other countries

including Canada, Tunisia, and Jordan. Even this amount

makes huge environmental changes in natural landscapes of

Iran. The tourism traffic in destination areas has influenced

water bodies, forests, urban environments, and particularly

mountainous areas throughout the world [4].

There are some principles in constitution of Islamic

Republic of Iran about the importance of conservation of

natural resources.

Principle 45: public wealth including barren lands, mines,

seas, lakes, rivers and other water bodies, mountains,

valleys, forests, flaggy ponds, rangelands, pastures, legacies

without descendent, and the estates with unknown owners

are entirely owned by Islamic government and under its

jurisdiction to apply them for advantage of the public with

details of uses according to the law[5].

Principle 50: in Islamic Republic it is incumbent upon the

public to conserve the environment for the current and

future generations in order to develop a growing social life.

Hence, any economic activity or others which cause

pollution or irreversible devastation in the environment are

strictly prohibited[5].The conservation of environment was

so important for the legitimate law makers authority that

article 22 in chapter 4 stated explicitly to form an armed

guard as an organization to protect natural resources and

the environment[6].

3.1 Importance of conservation of geomorphic landforms

There are very much Natural Protected Areas where

their abiotic elements have a high value and they are

protected by geological, geomorphological, hydrological or

landscape values. The current concept of Geodiversity was

born like a applied tool to the management of Natural

Protected Areas [7].Geodiversity refers to diversity of earth

surface features in geologic and geomorphologic

phenomena, soil types, process and systems. In one hand, it

is related to current active processes and the forms shaped

by them and, on the other hand, to the landforms left from

the past as “heritage” landforms. The concept of geo-

conservation is broader than that just to contain heritage of

earth sciences and conservation of natural and geological

signatures. The concept emphasize mainly upon geologic

features and landforms for their scientific, educational,

research, and aesthetic, and spiritual values for human. It

also maintains that the survival and presence of the

geologic formations, landforms, and soils, and their

formative processes are necessary for human survival over

the planet. The primary concepts in geo-conservation are

geologic sites and geomorphic forms and systems [8].

Geoconservation aims to preserve the natural diversity -

or 'geodiversity' - of significant geological (bedrock),

geomorphological (landform) and soil features and

processes, and to maintain natural rates and magnitudes of

change in those features and processes [9].

This is to conserve two groups of phenomena: one

group is related to landforms and processes which were

active and formative in the past and not so effective now

(heritage forms). The further is related to currently active

processes and landforms (active forms). There are different

management approaches for these. In active formative

systems, landforms are dependent on the current active

processes for their conservation and integration. In

addition, all active and inactive landforms are related to

active surface processes and constitute the essence of

ecologic systems. Since the heritage forms were created in

the conditions different from those of the present, any

anthropogenic changes can cause irreversible impacts

devastations that lead to permanent extinction of the

landforms. Therefore, some economic activities including

extraction from mines must be controlled.

Eberhard believes that geo-conservation is

identification and protection of geologic, geomorphic, soil,

processes and systems for their aesthetic and ecologic

values and their assignment in list of earth science heritage

[9].

Geo-conservation approach emphasize on management

of lands for their application in human life. To protect

natural and aesthetic values of rocks, landforms, and soil a

sensitive and separate part of geo-conservation is seeking to

find some approaches to impede devastation of the land

features and also to decrease the degradation [8].

Geomorphologic diversity is a function of the

sensitivity of the landscape, the divergence in response to

changes in non-linear and dynamic processes at different

spatial and temporal scales [10]. Many geomorphologists

have attempted to explain the landform evolution in a

predicable trend. Some systems are very sensitive against

slight changes in their dependent variables. Thus, a

negligible change in their primary condition may lead to

huge changes in whole the system. As it is said that there is

equilibrium between forms and processes, this is not to say

that there is no change, but a tendency can be observed

towards sustainability and directions of the landforms.

Although there may be some fluctuations, these are around

a certain axis [11].Nevertheless, concept equilibrium is

accompanied with that of sustainability in geomorphic

landscape so that sustainability in landscape is indicative of

a kind of equilibrium in form and process [12].

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages: 76-81

3.2 the purpose of assigning ID to geomorphologic

landforms

Many of geo-diversity elements are fossil landforms or

heritage forms that cannot be rehabilitated in case of

destroy. As many changes on the earth are resulted from

anthropogenic sources, the critical problem of earth

sciences is conservation of geological heritage. Some of the

examples are important fossil sites, mineral resources due

to unmanaged manipulations, making geological

collections by individuals and organizations, unsuitable

waste management, and etc. many of the sites are very

sensitive and access to these areas should be prohibited.

The main purposes of geo-conservation are to preserve

natural rates and magnitude of changes. This purpose

emphasizes on traditional approach of earth science

heritage. It says that the landforms must be conserved for

their research and educational values. As a result, it is

important to conserve ther heritage of earth sciences in that

the geo-diversity considers the integrity of ecologic

processes as a whole and attempts to know the inherent

value of geo-phenomena for themselves. This conserves the

special elements of geo-diversity and their natural values

by making a listing of them. There are many plausible

effective actions for this aim in China, New Zeeland,

Australia, and European countries. Geo-conservation

phenomena and processes are divided into eight classes by

Grey (2005) and each is investigated in normal and

exceptional conditions [8]. (Table 1)

Table 1: Geoconservation goals for the eight elements of

biodiversity-[8]

No.

Class

Condition

Goe-conservation management objectives

Rock

Scarce

Maintaining the integrity of facies and transfer of samples

for conservation

Normal

Maintaining the facies and encouragement of authorities

in collection and conserving the facies

Mineral

Scarce

Maintaining the integrity of minerals and transfer of

samples for conservation

Normal

Maintaining the minerals and encouragement of

authorities for collection and conserving them

Fossils

Scarce

If possible, conserve fossils in their own place and if not,

transfer them for conservation

Normal

Encouragement of authorities for collection and

conservation of fossils

Landforms

Conserving the landforms and rehabilitation based on

their importance

Landscape

Conserving topography of rock facies and active

processes of landscape based on their importance

Processes

Conservation and restoration of process integrity

Soil

Conserving quality, quantity and performance of soil

Other earth

resources

Encouragement of valuable and sustainable use in

historical and modern fields

Although in many issues there is no consensus among

many countries of the world, the subject of conserving the

environment and natural resources seems to be the only

case that many countries agree about that [13].According to

the legislation and historical precedence, the main goals of

the authorities established environmental institutes were

conservation of the resources as the principal tasks. There

was a need to establish a new particular military force for

conservation. It was due to the many variant task fields of

the existing military force, new crimes and criminals, and

lots of administrative problems. This resulted in suggestion

and approval of article 179 of 3

development plan.

According to this article, the administrative organizations

providing that they adhere to the rules can constitute their

own organs to serve the conservational purposes [6].

Other than aesthetic values of conservation of natural

resources, there are lots of other powerful scientific reasons

for conserving global genetic resources. When a species is

distinct, the world has to suffer from lose of aninvaluable

collection of genetic information that took hundred millions

of years to evolve [14].

3.3 Examples of unsustainable exploitation and landscape

degradation

Some of the landforms and geomorphic processes in

Iran are affected by manipulation and unsustainable

exploitations. If this situation continues, it will be resulted

in enormous devastation and complete disappearance of a

form and disequilibrium in a region. Examples of these

landuse changes and manipulations of geomorphic

landforms are as following:

1: global increase of cave tourism has caused problems

due to irreversible degradation of cave ecotourism by

changes in entrance shape and number of visitors

[15].Members of international union of caving along with

the caving groups of Iran have visited some caves and

declared these caves in Iran are in unsuitable environmental

condition. This was believed to be by caving members

rather than other people [16]. Excessive exploitation of the

caves leads to increase in degradation and irreversible

devastation in these areas. One of the uses is visiting these

caves and changes in some forms such as stalactites and

stalagmites. Furthermore, human spaces inside the caves

and lighting facilities made also damages to the

environment. It has led to the growth of some algas. An

example of this is Katleh Khor Cave in Zanjan Province

(Figure 1). Because of sensitivity of the environments, the

caves should be protected particularly.

2: Semi-Cuesta in Mashhad-Baghcheh Road is used for

installation of telecommunication pole due to its high

altitude. This is not only related to aesthetic and landscape

degradation, but it can also result in intensified erosion by

the roads and transportation around the facilities. (Figure 2)

3: mountains have inherently very fragile systems that

their location in arid areas of the world like Iran makes

them even more vulnerable and sensitive. The mountains

are affected by anthropogenic and natural forces. Damage

to the mountains in Iran is more than that in other countries

[17].One of the exploitation of the geomorphic landforms is

mining exploration in mountains with sometimes complete

extermination of the earth features. For example, in

Rostamkola, a region on coastal area in north of Iran,

mining operations in an old headlands destroyed this

coastal landforms and in addition made an unkempt

landscape (Figure3). However, subterranean mining

activities are better than in open spaces on marked

geomorphic landforms.

4: The Lake Urmia is the largest hypersaline lake in the

world that is rapidly drying. The drying leaves salt layers in

a belt around the shore of the lake [18]. Tourism activities

and building infrastructure such as a transportation bridge,

eliminated circular water flows and decay of rare aquatic

ecosystems, accelerated decay of this water body. In

addition, manipulation in drainage basin of the lake with

dam building activities upstream has disrupted equilibrium

of the lake and drying of this water body. This is not

possible for the lake to restore its condition and back to

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages: 76-81

previous equilibrium conditions. Figure 4 shows terrible

acceleration rate of the drying in the recent years.

5: Addition to mining operations, installation of

building stone works industries in the vicinity of landforms

have led to unsuitable landscapes in a region between

Mashhad and Nishaboor cities (Figure 5). Human activities

by making obstacles in climatic processes accelerate

erosion of the landforms.

6: A project was recently suggested to build a bridge

between Behshahr City and Miankaleh Peninsula. This can

destroy the aquatic and land ecosystem of Gorgan Bay and

the peninsula just in a short time, regardless of better access

to this tourism site and easy transportation.

Figure 1: artificial lighting and growth of algas inside the

Katlehkhor Cave, Zanjan (2010)

Figure 2: installation of telecommunication pole on a semi-cuesta

and destruction of landscape in road of Mashhad-Baghcheh (2010)

3.4 Landform codification pattern

The first step geo-conservation is identification and

listing of landforms as well as assigning formal ID for these

land features. This involves participation of a research-

execution group of geomorphologists and thorough

planning based on scientific standards. The initial steps can

be as following:

1: Identification and listing of all recognized landforms

in Iran. This should be performed according to different

subject areas including fluvial, coastal, aeolian, mountain,

and glacial landforms. A variety of data can be used

including researches and literature, aerial photos, satellite

images, and other resources.

Figure 3: mining operations in headland of old coastal areas in

Behshahr, Rostamkola (2013)

Figure 4: rapid drying of Lake Urmia in the recent years (2013)

Figure 5: industries in the vicinity of landforms and landscape

change in Mashhad-Nishaboor (2010)

2: Identification and listing of scarce and unique

landforms of global importance. Some of these are sand

pyramids. The maximum height of the highest pyramids is

about 300 meters, in Libia. In Iran, there are some of the

pyramids with about 475 meters and it would be the highest

of the world [19].

3: Identification and listing of the landforms in ranger

of destruction due to human activities and manipulations in

their vicinity.

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages: 76-81

4: Programming for coding system to define ID for

each recognized phenomena.

5: defining required standards to determine suitable

buffer zones for the features. This is based on the landform

dimensions, active or inactive landforms, dynamic or static

landforms, and sensitivity and scarcity of landforms.

6: presenting the list of features and landforms to

Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology to

formulate an agenda and instruction for conservation of the

phenomena by cooperation with related organizations.

7: introducing the phenomena and the areas after

confirmed by the ministry to the universities and research

institutes as laboratory of geography. Their ownership can

be assigned to some scientific centers like Iranian

Association of Geomorphology (IRAG).

This can initially be implemented in Iran for

geomorphic landforms which have global importance in

terms of extent, archaism, elevation, and other

geomorphologic factors. Then, it can be continued for other

landforms based on their importance and scientific values.

3.5 Automatic coding system

Coding system of landforms must automatically assign

a unique identity code to each landform by giving the

characteristics of that landform to the application. For this,

the landforms can be categorized into main groups of

fluvial, mountain, coastal, and aeolian based on their

formative process. This can specify the first digit of

number, e.g.,a ten digit code number, as the subject area of

that landform (Table 2).In the second step, numbers of 1

and 2 can specify erosional or depositional nature of the

landform. The type of landform can be specified by two

digit code number, e.g., from 00 to 99. Finally, location of

the phenomena in administrative divisions can also be

specified by two digit number from 01 to 32, each for each

province. Therefore, a ten digit code number can represent

identity (ID) of a unique landform (Table 3). Other

characteristics of landform and supplementary information

can be entered in field of attribute table information. The

information can be age, extent, elevation, latitude and

longitude, buffer zone for prohibition, images of that

feature. The date of registration can also be recorded in the

same table. (Table 4)

All information must be recorded in a comprehensive

system. The related organizations and institutes, including

environment organization, industry, mining and trade

organization, and natural resource organization should have

access to the database. In case of allocation of these

landforms to different land uses, they can be determined as

prohibited areas to prevent manipulation.

Table 2: the principal and subsidiary divisions of

geomorphic processes and landforms*

Types of processes

Fluvial

Coastal

Aeolian

Erosional

Yardang

Kalute

Micro-Kalute

Depositional

Mountain

Glacial

Table 3: coding of landforms*

Identity

Code

Serial number of

features

Province

Types of

landforms

Erosional/

depositional

Process

South Khorasan

Micro-

Kalute

Erosional

Aeolian

0137-093013

0137

Table 4: field of attribute table for each landform*

Descriptions

Registration date

Buffer definition

Conservation type

Threat situation

Area

Elevation

Approximate age

Active/inactive

Geographical situation

ID code

Physical setting

Rural/urban

Province

Terminal basin

Birjand

South Khorasan

0137-093013

*All these digits and divisions are just suggested as hypothetical

3.6 Suggested buffers for conservation

For optimized conservation of geomorphic landforms it

is required to determine an appropriate buffer for each. This

buffer is defined based on type of the feature, strategic

position, importance and uniqueness, the rate to which they

are threatened, age and scientific value, and dynamism. In

fact, the type and the radius of the buffer should be

according to the type and possibility of destruction. (Figure

For example, there are many barchans dunes in deserts

of Iran on the areas where detached sands and strong winds

are available. In Lut, Dasht-e-Kavir, and Jazmorian deserts

crescent shape landforms can be observed along with other

depositional sand masses [20].In case of barchans dunes

because of their dynamic characteristics the buffer zone

should be considered along their movement path and

approximate speed rate. In some other cases, the radius of

buffers must be changed according to type of landforms

and over time, e.g., some coastal landforms formed in tidal

zone. Finally, in order to conserve the features properly, it

is suggested to introduce the extent of the buffers to related

equipments for better decision making in the future.

Figure 6: Schematic figure of the extent of barchan dunes

buffer zone and sand pyramid

sand pyramid buffer zone Barchan dune buffer zone opposite direction of the wind

Landform area

The extent of bufferlength and direction

Wind speed and direction

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages: 76-81

4 Conclusion

Destruction of landforms as a main part of natural

resources, addition to serious economic damages, leads to

lose of invaluable scientific heritage with irrecoverable

detriments in the future. Conservation of these landforms

requires a competent management of accurate planning

consistent with scientific international standards. It is

expected that after the geomorphic landforms are given ID,

the conservation trend extend to the forms and processes

with the best way. There are some suggestions and

following:

- Examination and modification of the legal rules related to

exploitation of natural resources to conserve the

landforms

- Legislation of codes for protection of the landforms

- Enhanced coordination between execution, research, and

academic organizations related to natural resources

- Formation and strengthening the groups for rehabilitation

of landforms by experts

- Assigning conservation responsibilities to related experts

- Comprehensive supervision and punishment of violent

people to protected areas

- Allocation of enough budgets for conservation of

landforms to the Ministry of Science, Reseach, and

Technology

- Making the public familiar with the natural features and

landforms by education in media

- Continuous effective cultural programs to change the

public attitude to the landforms by introducing geo-sites

and geo-parks

- Independence of landforms from other natural resources

in conservation for specification in scientific and

executive activities

- Forbidding the assignment of natural areas of valuable

landforms to human activities

- Reforms in the plans of exploitations in natural resources

such as Miankaleh Peninsula, Anzali Wetland, and Lake

Urmia

In conclusion it can be said that all the landforms

should be under the supervision of the Ministry of Science,

Research, and Technology as the laboratory of geography,

geomorphology. Legal rights must be applied for the areas

as a university. It must be attempted to maintain the

scientific history of the features for use of all students and

researchers. It is expected that by assigning ID to the

landforms as documents representative of their values and

identity and also defining a buffer zone for each landforms

prepare the requirements for better conservation of these

invaluable resources in the near future.

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