Optimizing monitoring locations using a combination of GIS and fuzzy multi criteria decision analysis, a case study from the Tomur World Natural Heritage site

Monitoring is a fundamental aspect of protecting World Natural Heritage sites (WNHs), and determining the appropriate locations for monitoring sites is an important component of this mission. Given the requirements of the World Heritage Convention and the reality of WNH sites, heritage values, protection and management, and threats defined as key to monitoring WNHs, a framework for selecting suitable monitoring locations is proposed. Initially, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was utilized to assign weight to alternatives for monitoring. Subsequently, the fuzzy AHP method was used to overcome the shortcomings of AHP, and assign scientific and reasonable weights to each alternative. Based on this application, a suitable monitoring map was obtained and the planned monitoring sites were evaluated, indicating that the majority of sites need to be reconsidered. Generally, the fuzzy AHP is an effective method for optimization of monitoring locations for WNHs.