www.ijbmas.in Vol.3. Issue.2.2016 (Apr-June) 3149 ESMAEEL SALEHI et al., http://www.ijbmas.in INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND ALLIED SCIENCES (IJBMAS) A Peer Reviewed International Research Journal INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF SOIL AS AN INDICATOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN URBAN AREAS UNDER THE DPSIR FRAMEWORK LOBAT ZEBARDAST 1 , ESMAEEL SALEHI 2 , FATEMEH ADELI 3 , PARASTOO PARIVAR 4 1 Assist. Prof. Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran 2 Assoc. Prof. Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran 3 M.Sc. Environmental Planning, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran 4 Ph.D. Environmental Planning, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran ABSTRACT Although the development of global society has brought about dramatic progresses, the world has paid its price by facing excessive environmental degradations and pollutions. In the city of Tehran, the capital of Iran, growth of construction and land use change from one hand and industrial activities on the other hand end in sinking of pollution in the air and water and finally soil resources which plus very high negative environmental consequences, will also gather in soil as a final receptor and entering the foot chain and can cause serious consequences on the civilians’ health. Considering the complexity of soil pollution problem, an integrated and holistic approach is needed to address this issue and propose an environmental planning solution. This paper is a part of State of Environment Report (SoER) which was prepared for the period of 2008-2010 using the DPSIR framework for interpreting different environmental factors in the city of Tehran. In this research, the growth and concentration of activities and facilities, degradation, pollution and over consumption of resources were recognized as the main drivers. In the analysis of the pressures, constructions, industries and mines, air and water pollution and stresses were determined. In the state section, soil pollution and erosion and in the impacts reduction in sustainability and stability of ecosystems and soil fertility was distinguished. At the end, by means of the DPSIR conceptual framework, responses for each part of the causal chain were proposed. Key words: Soil degradation, Driving force- Pressure-State-Impact-Response framework, Systemic approach in environmental planning. ©KY Publications ©KY PUBLICATIONS RESEARCH ARTICLE Vol.3.Issue.2.2016 Apr-June.