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This research measured and analyzed forest ground vegetation in permanent plots of typical and exclosure areas in the Zagros provinces, providing the possibility for long-term monitoring of quantitative and qualitative changes in vegetation. In total, 30 one-hectare square sample plots and 600 one-meter square microplots were studied along the Zagros, with floristic and environmental data related to tree and forest floor measured and recorded. According to the results, 370 species were identified in the ground vegetation and 20 species of phanerophytes. The most abundant families in exclosure and typical sites were Asteraceae and Poaceae, respectively. Sixty-six percent of the ground vegetation population belonged to the Poaceae family, with the most populated genus being Bromus, comprising 25% of all plant individuals. The largest genus was Astragalus (with 18 species), and its population was about 2.5 times higher in exclosure sites than in typical sites. The average percentage of ground cover (51.2%) and litter cover (34.3%) in exclosure plots was significantly higher than in typical plots (37.6% for ground cover and 25.2% for litter cover). The number of phanerophyte species in the exclosure area was significantly greater than in the typical area, while the difference for other life forms was insignificant. The comparison of diversity indices for ground species in the exclosure and typical plots showed no significant difference between these two groups. In general, the relative protection implemented in some parts of the Zagros, although it did not affect ground species diversity indices, did affect ground vegetation cover, litter cover, species composition, and phanerophyte species.

Even though Kurdistan province in Iran has great potential for the development of the medicinal plant industies, the province does not hold a special position in terms of cultivated area, performance or expansion of this sector. This research was conducted with the aim of identifying the existing capacities and potentials in the field of medicinal plants development in Kurdistan province, as well as determining the challenges and management strategies in this regard by surveying experts and activists. A SWOT analysis was utilized  to identify Kurdistan's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats relating to the development of its medicinal plants industry. The strategic position and action evaluation matrix was used in order to determine the strategy for managing the development of medicinal plants in this province. This study revealed that according to the actors, the most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the development of medicinal plant cultivation in the province are: The presence of 144 medicinal plants in the province, The high initial costs and the absence of low interest rate loans with grace periods, The presence of 7500 and 4000 plant species in the Iran and Zagros region, respectively, as well as 2200 medicinal species in the country, the lack of financial support by the government for the development of irrigation modern systems , medicinal plants in Kurdistan. The actors confirmed that the conservative management strategy for medicinal plants development in Kurdistan province. The three following general programs were proposed in accordance with this strategy: 1) Increasing scientific researches, and executive supports for the development of medicinal plants in Kurdistan province, 2) to be increased the area planted with medicinal plants in the province from 2,500 to 25,000 hectares in the Iranian seventh and eighth five-year economic, social, and cultural development plans, and 3) increasing by  focus on medicinal plants by the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Kurdistan province and improving added value of products obtained from these plants.

Reproduction (regeneration) is a fundamental process that drives the dynamics of a forest, occurring continuously in a healthy and natural forest with a specific spatial and temporal pattern. Natural regeneration poses significant challenges in Zagros forests, Iran. This research was undertaken to examine and analyze the current state of reproduction of tree and shrub species in the monitoring sample plots of Zagros forests. This study, while scrutinizing the species composition, origin, distribution curves, and health of seedlings and saplings, explores the interrelationship between reproduction and nurse species. It will serve as the foundation for long-term studies that determine the temporal changes in reproduction and its characteristics in the Zagros forests.

This research was conducted in the permanent monitoring plots of Zagros, spanning from West Azerbaijan to Fars province. A total of 120 sample plots of 100 square meters were studied within these plots. Each province had 30 studied sites in the typical forests, with 10 of them located in the protected forests. The variables studied included reproduction density by species, origin and type of reproduction, nurse species, height of seedling, terminal bud, and health status of reproduction. A height of 0.5 meters was set as the criterion to distinguish reproduction. The t-test was used to compare parametric data in two groups, while the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed for non-parametric data.

In the studied area, the reproduction of 20 forest tree and shrub species was recorded, and the density of seedlings and saplings was calculated to be 366 plants per hectare. However, the reproduction was not uniformly distributed, with 37% of the sample plots lacking reproduction. The abundance distribution diagram in the height classes revealed a decrease in the number of oak (Quercus spp.) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) reproduction with a height of less than 5 cm. Of the total number of recorded reproduction, 72.5% originated from seeds and 25% were shoots. Overall, 66% of reproduction was dependent on nurses, with oak, hawthorn, stone, and rock playing the greatest roles as nurses. Stones and rocks played a more significant role in the revival of seedlings. Cerasus microcarpa (C.A.Mey.) Boiss., Q. infectoria Oliv., and Q. libani Oliv. had the highest dependence on the nurse, while Pyrus spp., Daphne mucronata Royle, and Crataegus spp. had the least dependence on nurse species. Reproduction sheltered by nurses was significantly healthier than those without nurses. Also, reproduction sheltered by stones and rocks had a higher health rate than reproduction sheltered by trees, although this difference was not significant. Lonicera nummulariifolia Jaub. & Spach, Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl, and Acer monspessulanum L. had the worst condition in terms of reproduction. Despite the presence of mature trees, they had no reproduction (L. nummulariifolia and F. angustifolia) or had very low reproduction (A. monspessulanum). The results showed that the number of reproduction in protected sites was higher than non-protected sites. Although this difference was not significant, the reproduction in the protected sites was significantly healthier.

The results indicated that the reproduction in the Zagros forests is not in a normal situation. However, given suitable spatial and temporal conditions, reproduction occurs and establishes. Although in conditions of disturbance and overgrazing, reproduction attempts to survive by taking shelter near stones, pits, or under thorny shrubs, the conservation of the forest stand by maintaining the tree canopy (oak, hawthorn, and other species) and the forest’s natural structure provides the best conditions for the establishment and survival of reproduction, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the ecosystem.

Eryngium pyramidale Boiss. & Hausskn (Apiaceae) is one of the rarest sub-endemic species in the flora of Iran. This rare species grows at an altitude of 1600-2000 meters a.s.l. Based on IUCN criteria and categorized and derived data from GeoCAT (EOO= 13.291 km2; AOO= 0.030 km2), this species is assigned as Critically Endangered (CR). Among the solutions to conserve this valuable sub-endemic species are the comprehensive protection of oak forests in the west of the country by all relevant organizations, preventing unauthorized constructions in the villages of Avroman, as well as ex-situ conservation by protecting its seeds in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran and its cultivation in botanical gardens.

Scorzonera nivalis Boiss. & Hausskn (Asteraceae) is one of the narrowest endemic species in Iran's flora, restricted to the Schahu and Avroman Mountains. IUCN criteria and GeoCAT data (EOO= 339.736 km2; AOO= 4.41 km2) classify this species as Critically Endangered (CR). This species was not collected after it was introduced 156 years ago by Boissier and Haussknecht until 2013 when it was collected for the second time from Schahu Mountain. Later studies conducted in Kurdistan Province added other populations from the Avroaman Mountains to the samples of this valuable species. The most efficient way to protect this species is to help its propagation through seeding and sowing in other similar habitats in the Schahu and Avroman Mountains. Introducing Schahu Mountain as a protected area by the Department of Environment of Iran, preventing livestock from entering the top of the mountain, collecting seeds, and storing them in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran are other effective ways to protect this valuable reserve.

Lactuca adenophora Boiss. & Kotschy (Asteraceae), is reported here as a new record from Nacarouz and Dalanpar Mountains for the flora of Iran. The geographical distribution of the new record and its distinguishing characters plus its detailed photos are presented.

Geranium kurdicum Bornm. (Geraniaceae), is reported here as a new record from Dalanpar Mountain for the flora of Iran. The geographical distribution of the new record and its distinguishing characters, plus its detailed photo are presented.

Sternbergia colchiciflora (Amaryllidaceea) is recorded for the flora of Iran from Kurdistan province (West Iran). The species has been collected from rocky oak forests around Bandol Village in Marivan.The geographical distribution of the new record and its distinguishing characters are discussed.

Trifolium kurdistanicum S.Yousefi, Assadi & Ghaderi(Fabaceae) is one of the endemic species in the flora of Kurdistan province, distributed in the mountains of Bendol village in the southwest of Marivan. Based on IUCN criteria and categorizes, this species is assigned as Critically Endangered (CR). This species has only one population. Although isolation of the species in a restricted habitat is the main reason for its conservation, it is also the main inhibitor factor for its expansion to create larger populations. Extreme rockfall and soil instability of the habitat of this species are serious threats to its survival. Due to lacking natural corridors for expanding and migration of the species to other similar habitats in the Avroman area, the best ways for such an aim are seeding and sowing in the area that requires sufficient funding and skilled people to be fully familiar with the area and its flora. Botanical gardens and research farms will be other destinations for propagation of this valuable species.

The present study was done in the southern part of Ardabil province in the habitats of Prangos genera. Plant samples in the region were collected during the growth season and detected based on plant taxonomical methods, and the medicinal species and the used tissues were identified. Based on IUCN classification system and Red data book of Iran, the conservative class of plant elements was investigated. Totally, 157 species belonging to 92 genus and 27 families were detected. The biggest families based on the number of species were: Poaceae with 31 species (19.74%), Asteraceae with 23 species (14.64%), Lamiaceae with 20 species (12.74%), Fabaceae with 18 species (11.46%), and Apiaceae with 10 species (6.37%). Regarding to life-form, 50.31% of species were Hemicriptophyte, 29.93% were Trophyte, 12.10% were Camephyte, 4.45% were geophyte, and 3.21% were Phanerophyte. The results indicated that most of species (64.96%) in the study area belonged to Irani-Torani region. Of the 157 identified species, 76 were medicinal belonging to 22 genus and the most important ones include: Lamiaceae with 16 species, Asteraceae with 13 species, Fabaceae with 9 species, and Apiaceae with 5 species. Investigating the rare and endangered species indicated that 14 species fell into less endangered (LR) category, 2 species were in the limited data (DD) category, and one species belonged to the vulnerable (VU) group.