Agricultural Landscape of the sandy desert in Iran. Integrating green belt and productive landscape in the desert margin, for the sustainable development of residential areas

One of the most important examples of the artificial ecosystem is the agricultural ecosystem. Through the extent of land use, agriculture has become the main contributor to global environmental change. About 2 billion rural individuals live in agricultural systems associated with a high amount of risk and low levels of yield in drylands of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In desert and semi-desert areas, the short rainy season provides a limited opportunity for plant growth. Apart from natural factors, human factors play an important role in desertification. With several centuries of poor management of natural resources and increasing pressures associated with the rapid population growth, degradation of natural resources, especially vegetation, has occurred desertification in the desert areas environment. One of the causes of desertification is the shortage of water. Currently, in Iran, different methods are being used to exploit water resources for urban, rural, industrial, and agricultural uses, which is less consistent with productivity standards. In dry and semiarid regions, which have very fragile ecosystems, soil degradation, due to human activities or climatic and natural conditions, is one of the most important and influential factors of desertification. This phenomenon has occurred in many regions of Iran, particularly the villages in the periphery of the central desert of Iran, and has made living in these oases so difficult that the number of abandoned villages is increasing every year.Also, the incorrect use of soil will erode it, which would have many adverse consequences, including that it could turn agricultural land into desert, block the desert paths, reduce food production, pollute the air of the city and the countryside, cause flooding and accumulate soil in dams, lakes and water resources. In the past that the livelihood of people was mostly based on agriculture and livestock, due to its salty soil and the lack of water resources, the deserts were the main factor of backwardness in the arid region. But today, with the advancement of science and technology, deserts can be considered to be one of the most valuable natural resources. One of the most important models for achieving sustainable development in desert areas is population conservation in these areas. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and formulate a strategic model for adjusting spatial inequalities of population settlement in desert areas. Migration analysis in different countries, including Iran, shows that this rate in desert areas due to severe natural and climatic conditions such as lack of rainfall and water, salinity, etc. is higher than other areas and regions. The research tries to show that by using the existing potentials in the region and turning potentials into actual ones in the form of defining new oases, consolidating existing settlements, reviving abandoned villages, creating job, emphasizing cultural and social and natural attractions, etc. many of the migrations can be stopped, and even reverse them.