Wind erosion and villages relocation in the Sistan area, Iran

Abstract

The Sistan Plain has four sand corridors that have caused numerous problems for its inhabitants due to wind erosion. The lack of water resulting from dam construction and climate change has made it necessary for these people to relocation. Instead of stabilizing the active sand dunes, it is more cost-effective to relocate a limited population to villages outside the corridors. The strong winds in the region prevent the sediment from being retained for 120 days. This study examines the feasibility of planned population relocation and the relocation of rural settlements at risk to safer areas to determine if moving villages from within the dust corridors is the right decision. The overall findings of this research indicate that, as a result of the prolonged drought and the presence of fine dust, along with the unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to address the issue of Hamoun-wetland rights, the proposed solution is to systematically relocate over 12,000 rural households from 125 villages to a new and secure location.