Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
MSc in Crisis Management, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
2
Assistant Professor in Desert Area Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3
Assistant Professor in Political Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
4
MSc in Weed Control and Identification, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
This study was conducted to identify the effective factors and drivers in green space development and to present possible strategies and scenarios in critical situation. In this work, the main drivers (criteria) of green space development were identified in Mashhad city using experts' opinions and based on a questionnaire approach (in two rounds). The questionnaires were designed using the Likert scale. The validity was established based on Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.829), which is based on the variance of records, within the SPSS environment. The reliability of the questionnaire was also confirmed based on the opinion of experts. The number of samples as 30 people was determined via the Morgan's table and the samples were analyzed based on the Delphi method. The results showed that the criteria and indicators affecting the development of green space in the first round were social, managerial, climatic, economic criteria, respectively, and in the second round of the Delphi technique were managerial, climatic, economic, and social, respectively. The examination of the two important management and climate criteria showed that lack of management of water resources and continuous droughts form the worst-case scenario and the management of water resources and lack of droughts form the best possible scenarios in the future. Some of the most important strategies proposed for the management criterion are the proper utilization of groundwater aquifers and the alignment of urban management policies with the policies of other government agencies. The most important strategies proposed for the climate criterion are preparation for the occurrence of drought, the study of the impacts of global warming on vegetation, low annual rainfall management and rainfall intensity control, respectively.
Keywords