GIS–AHP–based land suitability assessment for sustainable agricultural planning on Qeshm Island

Abstract

Abstract Sustainable agricultural planning necessitates a holistic approach that considers ecological, economic, and social dimensions, balancing agricultural yield with long-term ecological sustainability. In the face of intensifying environmental pressures, such as climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss, agriculture must adopt adaptive land use strategies to ensure long-term viability. This paper explores how integrating landscape ecology principles into agricultural planning on Qeshm Island can enhance landscape resilience and efficiency to guide land use strategies that preserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services. A land suitability model was applied by converting socio-ecological factors (soil, slope, geology, water accessibility, land use and land cover, and sensitive habitats) into standardized raster layers, weighting them with AHP, and integrating them through a GIS-based weighted overlay. Suitability map was evaluated through accuracy assessment and sensitivity analysis to ensure reliability. The results showed high and very high suitability areas (18,628 ha) aligned with optimal conditions, while moderate zones (13,935 ha) required interventions such as erosion control and water management. Low-suitability (1,408 ha) and unsuitable areas (112,188 ha) faced significant constraints as steep topography and erosion-prone soils, limiting agricultural potential. The findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration (e.g., agronomy, social, ecology, and geography) and the adoption of innovative planning tools to achieve sustainable agricultural landscapes.