Optimization of geographical space of ecosystem service areas and land-use planning, Iran

This study provides a framework for optimizing ecosystem service zones based on landscape patterns. Ecosystem service zoning is a tool for making more informed land-use decisions and integrating ecosystem services into land development strategies. Accordingly, a meta-heuristic algorithm (simulated annealing-genetic hybrid) was applied to optimize zones of three ecosystem services, including aesthetic value, recreation value, and noise pollution reduction service. The goal was to select ecosystem service zones in terms of area, percentage of landscape, shape, and number of patches in two land-use types, including the built-up and green cover. The results indicated that optimum zones based on green infrastructure comprised more extent and average suitability than human infrastructure. The western and southern parts of the target area showed the highest values of ecosystem services for the two land-use classes. The convergence curve of the objective functions indicated the good performance of the employed algorithm in optimizing ecosystem service zones. Overall, the results indicated that optimizing ecosystem service zones based on landscape patterns improved the land-use management framework in the study area. Moreover, the used algorithm allowed for integrating different parameters into ecosystem services zone configurations.