Abstract:

Demographic studies, especially examining the trends in rural settlements facing diverse livelihood challenges due to natural hazards, can significantly aid in integrated management and comprehensive planning in watershed areas. The target area of this article is located in the Pirsahrab district of Chabahar, comprising about 204 inhabited villages. In this study, four villages—Bol Shaml, Laniyari, Gholam Mohammad Bazaar, and Jangarkh Pazin—situated in areas of severe gully erosion, were analyzed for demographic changes. The aim of this article is to explore the demographic transformations of these villages from 1966 to 2020 using census data from these periods and population statistics from the Awraki health house. The results indicate that although the villages are at significant risk from gully erosion, the population in these areas continues to grow due to a strong sense of place attachment and relatively low living costs compared to nearby urban areas. In other words, the population growth rate in these villages has remained positive over the years examined, despite significant fluctuations.