Comparative applicability of MCDM‐SWOT based techniques for developing integrated watershed management framework

Abstract

Environmental planning facilitates decision‐making to achieve sustainable development goals and provides a crucial way to achieve integrated watershed management (IWM). However, such systematic planning has not been adequately conducted worldwide. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop an IWM framework using SWOT (i.e., strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) model for the Cheshmeh–Kileh Watershed, Mazandaran Province, Iran. The input components were comparatively weighted using different multicriteria decision‐making (MCDM) techniques, including Game Theory Algorithm (GTA), Best–Worst Method (BWM), VIekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW). Semistructured interviews with stakeholders, including watershed residents, executive experts, and policymakers, were used to identify the SWOT factors. The number of interviewees in subgroups of local users, policy‐making institutions and executive organization were 75, 13, and 6 respectively. Five different MCDM techniques were then used to calculate the overall weight of SWOT factors. According to the results, the groups of SWOT factors of abundant water resources, severe floods, promotion of environmental conservation culture, and increasing migration of young age groups with respective weights of 0.298, 0.298, 0.372, and 0.279 scored higher than other factors. Based on the overall weights, it can be said that positive factors scored more points than negative factors. Therefore, according to the opinions of the stakeholders, the Cheshmeh–Kileh Watershed was in a good condition based on strengths and opportunities compared to weaknesses and threats, and for this reason, GTA and SAW, which had included the watershed status in the growth and development strategy, were selected as the best method. BWM and TOPSIS provided relatively acceptable results, and the weakest result was associated with VIKOR, which showed the watershed status in the defensive strategy. The present study results can help managers in optimal decisions for planning and optimal management in the Cheshmeh–Kileh Watershed to create ecological balance and increase the welfare of watershed residents.