Uploaded on 2017-09-20 by Mahnaz Izadi

Ecosystem services in my living area I live in Karaj, capital of Alborz Province, Iran. Alborz is located on the south side of Alborze Mountains and is limited to desert areas to the South. Therefore, it has a great biodiversity. Unfortunately, during the past few decades many of its resources have been diminished due to rapid urbanization. Still, Alborz provides its citizens with many many services. Provisioning Services: -Karaj River that originates from Alborz’s southern mountainsides and flows into the Khazar Sea in the North, is a rich source for food and fresh water provision. Also, Karaj River’s dam is an electricity generator using water turbines. -Alborz mountains are great soil and stone resources for building construction. -We obtain lots of vegetables from Alborz mountainsides, Karaj riverside forests and manmade gardens, and suburban areas. Also, there are a number of urban farms in Karaj, especially in Mehrshahr that provide us with vegetables like eggplant, pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, etc. -Alborz mountains are rich resources for medicinal plants like lavender, rosemary, pennyroyal, etc. Regulating Services: -Alborz, despite the heavy urbanization, has a rich vegetation in suburban planes, mountains and riverside forests that help mitigate the climatic conditions such as cooling and cleaning the air from particles, preventing from soil erosion, preventing floods,…. Habitat or Supporting Services: -More than 950 plants species from 57 families exist in Alborz forests and suburban plains, such as: mountain almonds, mountain pistachios, willows, medlars, walnuts,…. -155 bird species, 25 mammal species, reptiles and amphibians live in the Alborz mountains, suburban plains and forests and protected areas. Cultural Services: -Most of the recreational opportunities in my town is provided by the natural areas (mountains and riversides). Mountainous villages in Karaj are very popular for weekend getaways and provide us with restoration, inspiration and tourism attraction.