Fellowship of the Spring: An initiative to document and protect the world's oases

•A multi-dimensional barometer of sustainability was proposed for the first time.•Spatial and temporal variations were found in the Shazand Watershed sustainability.•The social dimension had a high impact on sustainability in all sub-watersheds.•The Shazand Watershed was mainly classified as a relatively unsustainable state.•The developed barometer facilitates realistic recommendations for decision-makers.