An Evaluation Model of Environmental Layers in Hengam Island toward Sustainable Tourism Development

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Shafiei
Reza Sameh
Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.
10.22034/he.2025.541097.1132
Abstract
One of the key requirements of adopting a holistic perspective toward the environment and human life in the contemporary era is adherence to the principles of sustainable development in planning, which simultaneously pursues economic, social, and environmental objectives. Coastal border areas, particularly islands, have long been recognized as dynamic and significant environments due to their biodiversity and their role in sustaining local livelihoods. To ensure long-term benefits, strengthen capacities in these regions, and mitigate the adverse effects of development, the sustainable tourism approach provides a foundation for conserving biological resources while promoting the well-being of local communities. This study demonstrates how a proper assessment of various environmental layers—such as water, land, vegetation, and wildlife—in coastal islands can lead to the formation of spatial experiences that foster sustainable tourism, with a particular focus on Hengam Island. By identifying the island’s inherent potentials and analyzing its environmental layers, the research offers a spatial model aligned with the principles of sustainable development and the enhancement of tourism capacities. The study seeks to address two central questions: How can the evaluation of environmental layers and natural assets in Hengam Island generate new spatial experiences? And what vision does the sustainable tourism approach provide for the island’s future development and planning? The research methodology is based on a qualitative approach with an inductive reasoning process, combining field studies and case study analysis with documentary and archival data, supported by design-level assessments and spatial planning. The findings ultimately propose a framework for spatial definition and expression aimed at creating sustainable experiences and stronger environmental interactions, offering a physical program for the functional, perceptual, and structural utilization of Hengam Island’s areas and resources.

Keywords

Subjects

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Human Ecology
Volume 4, Issue 13
Winter 2026
Pages 1537-1552