kurdistan province

Energy is an indispensable component of modern society and civic life, playing a fundamental role in the industrial economy. However, the extensive use of fossil fuels has led to a significant increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, resulting in adverse climate change impacts. The agricultural sector, being one of the largest contributors to GHG emissions, holds particular importance in addressing this issue. One of the most effective strategies to mitigate GHG emissions is transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Given the significance of this transition, this study aims to conduct an economic analysis of the development and utilization of renewable energy in the agricultural sector of Kurdistan Province. The research participants consisted of experts from Kurdistan Province, selected through the snowball sampling method. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, which continued until theoretical saturation was achieved (after 15 interviews). The collected data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis in MAXQDA software. The findings revealed that economic factors had the most significant influence on the development and use of renewable energy, accounting for 42.86% of the impact. Within this category, 10 key indicators were identified, including high initial costs, low farmer income, and other economic challenges. Additionally, the study identified economic obstacles to renewable energy development, including 10 indicators related to the national energy sector and 14 indicators specific to the provincial energy sector. Finally, the study proposed economic solutions for promoting renewable energy in the agricultural sector, encompassing 8 core strategies. These include financial support, investment in education and awareness campaigns, reallocating subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy, implementing incentive-based and regulatory economic policies, expanding specialized financial and credit institutions, providing equipment-based facilities, and establishing renewable energy networks with financial participation from farmers.

The experience of many developed countries highlights that tourism development is a fundamental driver of national growth and should be prioritized accordingly. This research aims to investigate the impact of tourism on sustainable rural livelihoods in Kurdistan Province by comparing two groups: tourism-oriented villages and non-tourism villages.

This study adopts a quasi-experimental design, comparing data from tourism and non-tourism villages. A questionnaire was employed to gather the necessary information. Using Cochran's formula, the sample size was determined to be 350 households, consisting of 203 heads of households from tourism villages and 147 heads of households from non-tourism villages. Participants were selected randomly. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Excel software, with the reliability of the questionnaire confirmed by a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.82.

1. Livelihood Conditions: The one-sample t-test revealed that the five livelihood capitals (human, social, physical, natural, and financial) in both groups of villages were below average and in poor condition.
2. Comparison of Capitals: An independent t-test showed that the average human and social capital and total investment were significantly higher in tourism villages compared to non-tourism villages.
3. Livelihood Strategies: A Friedman test identified the key livelihood activities in each group:
Tourism Villages: Gardening. Agriculture, Local food sales, Handicraft sales, Home rentals, Sales of local dairy products, and Sales of local clothing.
Non-Tourism Villages: Gardening, Agriculture, Local dairy product sales, Animal husbandry, and Labor.

The findings demonstrate a significant difference between tourism and non-tourism villages in terms of livelihood capitals: human, social, physical, natural, financial, and total. The average levels of human capital, social capital, and overall livelihood assets were higher in tourism villages. These results underscore the positive role of tourism in enhancing sustainable rural livelihoods, particularly by diversifying income sources and strengthening human and social capital. Prioritizing tourism development in rural areas can thus contribute to broader economic and social improvements.

Mining offers significant economic opportunities for farmers and rural residents in Iran, supplementing their primary occupations in agriculture and animal husbandry. Given the country’s specific territorial conditions, mining activities can contribute to sustainable development and influence various dimensions of rural life. This study investigates the effects of mining on sustainable rural development in Karani District.

This study is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in method. Data collection was conducted through library research and fieldwork. The statistical population comprised 10 rural settlements in the Karani District with active mines in their surrounding areas. A total of 250 households were selected as the sample using the Cochran formula. Sustainability was assessed across three dimensions—environmental, social, and economic—using 40 indicators evaluated via a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the t-test and Mabak model, supported by SPSS and Excel software. ArcGIS was employed to generate maps.

The study revealed that mining activities have positive and significant effects on the economic (average: 3.34) and social (average: 2.83) dimensions and also negative and significant effects on the environmental dimension (average: 3.22).
The Mabak model ranking of village sustainability showed top-ranked villages: Aghbolagh Taghamin (0.940), Ochgonbad Khan (0.715), and Bastandereh (0.568), and lowest-ranked village: Shahrak (-0.869).

Mining activities in the Karani District have led to a stable economic status, semi-sustainable social development, and unstable environmental conditions in rural areas. The sustainability ranking further indicates that, beyond proximity to mines, several factors influence village sustainability, including:
Social awareness and the demand-driven spirit among residents.
The performance and socio-political relations of local village managers, especially the village council and village head.
The findings highlight the dual-edged impact of mining, underscoring the need for strategies to balance economic benefits with environmental sustainability.

Inequality is an important feature of Third World countries. The dimensions of inequality in various economic, social, political and cultural spheres are debatable. Therefore, reducing deprivation and inequality due to economic, social, cultural and political consequences is important and noteworthy. Hence, one of the basic needs and challenges of development planners and economists to get rid of poverty traps and social deviations, which are among the phenomena that are closely related to each other, is to identify the situation and development.The purpose of this study is to study the development of agriculture, health, education and transportation in Kurdistan province and the ranking of these cities according to the development indicators of the studied sectors and determining the most privileged and deprived Most cities and show the priorities of agricultural development, health, education and transportation in the province. In this study, 93 indicators were collected in four sections using a review of sources: agriculture, health, education and transportation, then the weighting of the indicators was done using the McGranahan method and finally the counties were ranked using the TOPSIS method was determined and values were compared using Morris method. The results of TOPSIS showed that there is a significant difference between the degree of development of the cities of Kurdistan province and Sanandaj city is in the first rank and Sarvabad city is in the last rank.

Today, long-term forecasting of climate variables has received much attention in order to be aware of the extent of change and, consequently, to take the necessary measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. In this study, minimum temperatures in Kurdistan province were predicted using LARS-WG6 downscaling for the next three 20-year periods (2040-2021, 2060-2041, 2080-2061). For this purpose, the HadGEM2-ES general circulation model and three scenarios of RCP8.5, RCP4.5 and RCP2.6 were used. To generate the time series of future periods, daily data for the statistical period 1989-2019 were used and the trend of its changes was analyzed using Mann-Kendall test. The results showed that LARS-WG6 software simulates the minimum values of the minimum temperature well with low error indicators. Also, based on the results of the HadGM2-ES global model output in the study area, the minimum temperature in the future period will be higher than the base period in all scenarios and periods. The intensity of this increase under the RCP8.5 scenario is related to the last period of the century (2080-2061) and its lesser extent is related to the period (2060-2041) under the RCP4.5 scenario. Examination of seasonal averages also shows that spring has a lower temperature increase and autumn has a higher temperature increase. The trend of changes shows that the trend is positive and negative in both directions, so that in most stations and scenarios in different forecast periods, spring will have the most positive trend and autumn will have the most negative trend. Therefore, it can be concluded that the temperature will increase in future periods and the effect of cold waves will decrease.

Problem definition: 

The need for attention has been raised more than before to the border areas and the competitiveness of these areas by entering the age of globalization. The competitiveness of border regions is an effort to eliminate unfavorable social and economic situations and protection and pay attention to the capabilities of these areas as well as the improvement of physical, natural, and artificial capitals.

The present research has been done with the aim of expressing competitiveness in Kurdistan and analysis of possible situations from future competitiveness in the province.

 The type of the current research is applied in terms of purpose and it is exploratory in terms of nature based on the future research method. Data collection has been done in both library and field methods. To express the status of indicators and extraction of key factors and scenarios from forecasting software, Mic Mac, and Scenario Wizard were used. Meta swot software was used to identify the competitiveness strategy. Qualitative data were gathered with an open questionnaire and document review and quantitative data were collected numerically which was used in the first stage from the open questionnaire for general extraction of effective factors on competitiveness. In the second stage, key factors were extracted from the weighting of Delphi questionnaires in MicMac software.

The results indicated that the competitiveness model of Kurdistan is unstable and fragile. In addition, the research coefficient has shown the realization of scenarios with unfavorable situations. The best solution for moving from unfavorable scenarios to favorable situations has been to emphasize indicators with the most success, inimitability, and compatibility with competitiveness.

Tourism as a socio-economic activity plays an essential role in the economic, social, physical, and cultural dimensions of rural settlements in developing countries, which can have significant impacts on rural physical identity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of tourism on the identity changes of rural settlements in Oraman area of Sarvabad Township in Kurdistan province. Therefore, the present study questions 1. What is the relationship between tourism development and rural identity changes in the study area? What are the most critical factors influencing the physical development of rural settlements? He answers. The present study is a descriptive-analytical based on data collection using a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study consisted of 7 villages located in the Dezli-Hajij communication axis in Oraman District based on population and housing census data of 1395 with 1572 households and 306 households were selected using Cochran formula. One-sample t-test and factor analysis were used for data analysis. The findings of the study showed that tourism development in the sample villages in terms of continuity over time such as housing construction quality (3/67), sanitation (3/39) and land-use changes (3/78) and unity and plurality such as Design and style of housing architecture (3/01) and public transit architecture (3/23) and then differentiation and homogeneity such as proportionality with rural life (3/58) and rurality or location (3/43) have a positive impact on the physical dimensions of rural settlements in the region. The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that tourism development plays a vital role in the development of rural physical identity in the region. So that the proportion of rural life with a specific amount of 13/6 and 27% of the total variance had the most influence among the factors.

The comprehensive and forward-looking nature of land use plans on the one hand and the continuous changes in the developmental environment due to the impact of trends, events and key factors that are referred to as drivers made the importance of identifying, controlling and planning on them in order to organize the rare space for development and the realization of the goals and missions of land planning essential. In the meantime, without the effective role of rural areas, the realization of the strategic document of the provinces' land use planning as the highest development document faces many challenges. Based on this, the current research, with emphasis on the first and important phase of prospective studies with the aim of identifying the most important driving forces affecting the empowerment of rural areas in order to play an effective role in realizing the goals, mission and vision of the strategic document of land use planning of Kurdistan province has been completed. In the current applied research with a descriptive-analytical method and with an exploratory approach using the Delphi technique, the main factors were identified and then by using the MicMac software, the relationships and the way of their influence and effectiveness, the effective drivers were determined. Finally, 60 variables with a management, economic, social, physical, natural and spatial nature in local, regional, national and transnational spatial scales were identified in the field of communication with the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and according to the way of influence 29 variables that had the greatest role in the performance of other variables were determined as the main propellants. The distribution of the identified variables and drivers ended with a compilation of all the main influencing dimensions, among which, drivers and variables of economic and managerial nature with the most influence in determining the change process and performance of other variables and drivers were determined. The distribution of more than 69 percent of main variables in the 1st or effective area, the 2nd or bimodal area and in the 4th or regulatory area, shows the complex and intertwined relationships and the sensitivity of control and planning on the drivers in order to achieve the goals and missions of the documents of the province is based on the role of its rural areas.

The creation and expansion of rural settlements is influenced by various factors, these factors are divided into two categories of natural and human factors, whose impact on the construction and pattern of these settlements is undeniable. Changes in the pattern and architectural style of rural housing have occurred in many different ways. The present study has examined all the factors affecting the rural housing model in Khalkhal county. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the role of natural and human factors in the rural housing model and determine the degree of correlation between these factors and rural housing. The research method in this study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive -analytical in terms of method. In the first part, the results of studies show that natural factors have played a very effective role in the pattern of rural housing in this region. Therefore, the role of factors such as water resources, climate and, most importantly, the specific topography of the region have played a more colorful role than other environmental factors. In the second part, the effects of human factors in rural areas on the rural housing model are examined. The statistical population of the study is 5 villages of Khalkhal city with a population of 10,650 people in the form of 1940 households. The sample size is 320 rural households, which were interviewed by random sampling. For data analysis, Pearson and Spearman and multivariate regression methods were used using SPSS software. The results show that there is a significant and relatively strong relationship with a coefficient of 0.675 between human factors and the rural housing model in the study area, so that the socio -cultural index explains about 58.8% of the housing model .

Today, education is recognized as a key factor in the process of comprehensive growth and development of societies It is the basis of development as a whole. Expanding and improving educationcan help reduce inequality in society and accelerate the development process.The purpose of the research is to explain the educational development in the cities of Kurdistan province. The present research is applied and its implementation method isanalytical-descriptive.The statistical population is the cities of Kurdistan province. According to the purpose of studying the educational development of Kurdistan province, 20educational indicators including entropy model for weighting, scattering coefficient to determine the scattering of indices, two models SAW and SAR and a combined method for leveling and determining the extent of enjoyment Cities were used. Due to the fact that in the research, two models were used to level the cities and because the rank of some cities was variable, the combined method was used to Merge the results. The results show that 40% of the cities are Relatively enjoyed (Sarvabad, Bijar, Qorveh and Dehgolan), 50% are Half enjoyed (Kamyaran, Divandere, Marivan, Sanandaj and Saqez) and Baneh is Relatively deprived These results indicate inequalityamong cities in having an educational index. Among the 20 research indicators, the highest differences and inequalities were related to the ratio of staff to students in primary school and the ratio of educational facilities to students in junior high school, respectively, and the lowest were related to the ratio of those admitted to junior high school, respectively. The total number of junior high school students and the ratio of those admitted to the junior high school to the total number of junior high school students is According to the results, it was found that there is inequality between the cities of the province in having indicators of educational development.

Colbary is a job that deals with smuggling goods. Indeed; Due to the lack of decent job opportunities in the border areas, which is above all, the result of underdevelopment and lack of efficient investment in these areas, a significant part of the labor-seeking workforce is attracted to the informal economy, especially Colbary. Meanwhile, Kurdistan Province, with its 227-kilometer border with Iraq, has become one of the main routes for legal and illegal border exchanges, through three official Markets in Bashmagh of Marivan, and the informal markets of Seif Saqz, Siranband of Baneh, and official Colbary thoroughfares Legal exchanges take place, In addition to legal exchanges, illegal exchanges are also carried out by colbars in the borders of the province. Meanwhile, the cities of Baneh, Marivan and Sarvabad have enjoyed special importance in the import of smuggled goods in recent years. Considering the effects and consequences of this phenomenon (Colbary) on the stability of the country's security, especially in economic, social and political dimensions, the approach and management of this phenomenon is complex and has many ambiguities and ifs and buts. The main research question is based on this point is that; What are the most important factors and grounds for the occurrence and continuation of the Colbary phenomenon among the rural areas of the border counties of Kurdistan province and the most effective ones?

The present research is applied in terms of type and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. In order to collect data in the theoretical part, the documentary method has been used and in the field part, the survey method has been used based on observation, interview and questionnaire. Quantitative-qualitative research in the qualitative section to identify the most important causes and factors of occurrence and persistence of colbary in the region by conducting in-depth targeted interviews with statistical communities of research and in the quantitative section, using inferential statistics to confirm qualitative findings were generalized. According to the comprehensive view of the research, it was tried to examine and question all the groups involved in the continuation and organization of the Colbary phenomenon in the villages of the province. Based on this, three groups and statistical populations based on rural culverts, development officials of the province and border counties and local experts, including scientific experts in the field of development and people with ideas and solutions in the field of culverts were considered. These individuals were identified purposefully and based on the snowball sampling method. The interviews were analyzed in the qualitative part with the basic theory technique and in the quantitative part using factor analysis and path analysis. Formal, content, and structural validity were confirmed by distributing pre-tests and surveys of related scientific experts, especially in the field of rural development and familiar to the region, respectively, and then, factor analysis and reliability tests were confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.79.

Findings of factor analysis indicate that the first factor with a specific value of 15.28 and an explanation of 25.46% of variance, contains 25 indicators or barriers. Considering that among the aggregated indicators, 17 indicators related to the weakness of planning, policy-making and management and two major and high-factor indicators belong to the weakness of border management, therefore; This factor can be called the weakness of policy, development planning and security management of this border area. The second factor with an eigenvalue of 10.46 and an explanation of 17.43% of the variances, has 11 indicators or barriers. According to the accumulated indicators, this factor can be called weakness in protection laws and weakness in the physical infrastructure required for economic development in the border villages of the province. The third factor, with an eigenvalue of 7.52 and an explanation of 12.54% of the variances, includes 14 indicators or barriers. Due to the frequency of accumulated indicators, this factor can be called "social inadequacies and unsuitable business environment for rural economic development". And the fourth factor with an eigenvalue of 6.28 and an explanation of 10.47% of the variances, has 8 indicators or barriers. According to the accumulated indicators; This indicator can be called "lack of capital of local people for economic development and job creation in rural areas. Also, the findings of the route analysis indicate that the cause of weak policy, development planning and security management of this border area with indirect impact on the formation of other barriers and then, lack of local capital for economic development and job creation in rural areas are the most effective obstacles identified in order to eliminate the Colbary phenomenon in the region

The results showed that in total, 76 variables, in the form of seven categories of development planning, policy and management weakness; Inadequate business environment in the area; Border security management; Weak laws and protections; Weaknesses in the physical infrastructure required for economic development; lack of local capital; Socio-cultural weaknesses in the context of four main categories or obstacles, including institutional inadequacies, weakness of financial resources and weakness in human and social capital; that they affect the continuity of the Colbary phenomenon in the study area. The results of factor analysis test showed that all variables in the four main factors of policy weakness, development planning and security management of this border area; Weaknesses in protectionist laws and weaknesses in the physical infrastructure required for economic development at the village level; Social inadequacies and unsuitable business environment for rural economic development and lack of capital of local people for economic development and job creation are summarized as the main factors in the continuation of the Colbary phenomenon in the region. Also, the final result of the path analysis test showed that the weakening of policy, development planning and security management of this border area and then, lack of local capital for economic development and job creation in the studied rural areas are the most effective obstacles identified in order to eliminate the Colbary phenomenon in the region.

This regard, this research was conducted with the general purpose of designing a proposed sustainable food security model in drought conditions. The statistical population consisted of a number of food safety experts and agricultural experts. Therefore, for selecting the samples, targeted snowball sampling (chain referencing) was used. Sampling continued until data saturation, in the end, the number of participants in the study reached 31 . The research method was of qualitative type based on the data theory method of the foundation. The research data were collected using a deep interview and group discussion and analyzed with three open, axial and selective coding methods.The results of the review of the requirements of sustainable food security in the form of data approach of the foundation consisted of 68 initial codes. Finally, in order to design a safety improvement model, the improvement of food security in drought conditions was subject to 8 requirements (managerial, technological, policy and supportive,infrastructure, cultural and empowerment requirements, Diversification, conservation, stabilization) and were inserted into the Strauss and Corbin model.Access to adequate nutrition and nutritional health is one of the main pillars of development and is the basis for the future development of the country. According to studies on the role of nutrition in health, its efficiency and its relation with economic development has been confirmed. Also, access to adequate and desirable food is one of the earliest human rights, but various studies show that rural communities, which themselves are responsible for food security, face food insecurity, which is in a drought condition much more inferior to the situation. Because rural households are always at the forefront of drought vulnerability and, in the absence of risk mitigation systems, they quickly lose their resilience and go out of the agricultural sector. Therefore, measures must be taken to enable them to continue to operate in agriculture in drought conditions and to maintain the backbone of food security in the country.

The increase in the urbanization population, industrialization, and the change in people's behavioral characteristics have expanded the use of recreation and entertainment ways.

Determining and evaluating the ecological capabilities of tourism in Kurdistan Province. Makhdoom model was used to evaluate the ecological power of Kurdistan Province.

The current research is a descriptive-survey study. Data collection includes the preparation of topographic map, geological map, meteorological data prepared from the meteorological department of Kurdistan, soil and vegetation information obtained from the environmental protection organization of Kurdistan. Also, population data was obtained through the National Statistics Center. Ecological capabilities were evaluated via Geographical Information System (GIS).

Geographical Context: 

The geographical territory of the current research was Kurdistan Province.

The findings showed that Kurdistan Province is highly capable for the establishment of concentrated tourism in an area of 14819.06.55 square kilometers, which is 51.570% of the total area; this is categorized the first class. On the other hand, there is a limitation in factors for the ability of extensive recreation, so the capability for this type of recreation in the study area is low. Therefore, totally 23,277.928 square kilometers is in this unsuitable class.

Based on the results, Kurdistan Province has a high potential for the establishment of concentrated tourism use in the first class with an area of 14819.06.55 square kilometers, which occupies 51.570% of the area under study. Although the study used Makhdoom model, other factors such as road access, water resources, and land use were utilized for the evaluation of the recreational potential of the study area.

For the successful development of tourism, the existence of appropriate infrastructure is necessary, especially for less developed countries and regions that often have limited infrastructure, its existence and expansion is considered a vital factor. Due to its favorable climatic and environmental conditions, Kurdistan has been considered as one of the human settlements since prehistoric times and the results of scientific archaeological excavations in ancient places indicate this. In Kurdistan, about 1,234 ancient works have been identified, of which 500 works have been registered in the list of national works. In addition to historical attractions, Kurdistan has a unique ability in terms of shopping tourism, ecotourism and cultural and folkloric features. The purpose of the current research is to analyze the infrastructures of tourism development in Kurdistan province. In order to collect the required information, documentary and library methods (Iran Statistical Center and Statistical Yearbook of Kurdistan Province) have also been used, as well as ARAS technique for data analysis. The results show that only two cities, Bijar and Qorveh, are privileged, and the rest of the cities (Dehgolan, Sarvabad, Baneh, Diwandre, Kamiyaran, Sanandaj, Saqez and Marivan) are relatively privileged.

One of the main factors in the development of tourism in any region is the satisfaction of tourists. Given the multiplicity of tourist needs as factors in attracting and developing tourism, the development of this sector requires the recognition of these needs and their provision by the destination. Acquiring the satisfaction of tourists requires measuring their satisfaction and recognizing the dimensions and factors affecting it. Accordingly, in the present study, the satisfaction of tourists from Kurdistan province and the factors influencing it have been studied. The present study was descriptive-analytical. The statistical population of the study included all tourists who visited Kurdistan province in the research season in 1397, and finally, using the Cochran's formula, the sample size of 160 questionnaires was determined. The data collection method was library and field. Findings show that men are more satisfied than women and there is no significant difference between the age and education of tourists and their satisfaction; But there is a significant relationship between the job and economic status of tourists and their satisfaction. Research shows that the most important motivation for traveling to this province is to visit ecotourism attractions. Although the province's tourist attractions have been able to satisfy tourists; However, due to the weakness in services and amenities, the satisfaction of tourists is low. Research shows that the most important motivation for traveling to this province is to visit ecotourism attractions. The most important reason for tourists to enter this province is due to its suitable climate. Those who have traveled to the province in the past have also been interested in future trips.

Morphometric analysis of a drainage basins and river network plays an vital role in understanding the hydrogeological behavior of the drainage basin . Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of modeling flood and its relationship with morphometric variables using multivariate regression. The research method is based on the destruction of morphometric parameters and statistical analysis, including correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. In this regard, first, the studied basins have been selected using ARC GIS 10.5 software, and the limits of each one has been determined. Then, their morphometric characteristics have been extracted. The Flood discharge has also been reconstructed in return periods of 2 to 500 years using easy-fit software. For modeling, first, the linear relationship between each morphometric variable as an independent variable with flood discharge as a dependent variable was investigated. After ensuring the linear relationship between variables and flood discharge, correlation between each variable and flood discharge was calculated. The variables with the highest correlation were watershed area, basin length, and surface flow length. Using multivariate regression, modeling was used for independent variables and flood discharge. The results show that as the return period increases, the relationship between independent variables and flood discharge increases, So that the correlation of the area with the return period of 25 years is 0.609 and with the return period of 200 years is 0.677.also, the proposed models have more validity for flood prediction using multivariate regression analysis in return periods above 25 to 500 years.

Nowadays, one of the main challenges for the existing and growing human population is food providing. The use of water resources such as natural lakes, reservoirs, dams and rivers are crucial for accessing new food sources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the construction of Azad dam with an emphasis on structural changes in the affected villages. Water as key of life has a special place in geographical studies. Water is the vital factors to activate of human in its environment because the relationship of human with natural environment without water resource or access will be without support. Therefore, people have always been searching for means to access water. Among these ways, dams play crucial role in storage of current water resource, and storage of water behind dams can be used in different ways.  Technology to control, manage, storage and transfer water, besides producing energy, is important for sustainable management of water resources to reach an optimum situation and consumption. The economic evaluation of activities for dams is important in two views: first to optimize allocation and second to justify dams for stakeholders. The current study aims to evaluate the constructed Azad dam in Kalatarzan District, Sanandaj County, Kurdistan Province, Iran. So this study analyzes economic issues in view of people who live the dam base on tangible benefits and costs using benefit-cost method from merely available data and not necessarily long run profits and losses.     

Respondents were selected by simple random sampling method. The statistical population includes the heads of households living in the villages along the Azad Dam in the Kalatarzan District. Data were collected through a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews in 2021.  146 respondent were determined and asked. Descriptive statistics and cost-benefit model were used to analyze the research data. The number of villages around dam are four.

The study regarded the decrease in the value of changes in agricultural production (after construction compared to before) and the value of benefits and costs of the dam for the villagers around the dam. The results showed that the total benefits and cost are 65557.3 and 146368.14 million Tomans (IR), respectively. Also, the benefit-cost ratio (at a discount rate of 18 per cent) is 0.4480. As a result, the project of constructing Azad dam for those who live around it has no economic justification. However, the evaluation of results may change, considering all other positive effects such as tourism extension, employment for local people to manage the dam, fishing activities and hunting or negative effects like fast changing of living pattern, climate changes, increase of activity constraints due to live around dam. More specifically, the number of households before dam were about 209 and after that reached to 179 due to decrease of agricultural land that have been sold to dam project. To compensate this loss, a deeper investigation may help to increase labor productivity and hold human capital over there. If human capital will be enhanced in the study area, more value will be added due to the investment and consequently reduced population will be compensated.  
According to the area capacity, there are lot of economic opportunity which can take place after dam construction. According to the results, we recommend to establish a study regarding to find out the optimum cropping pattern to increase the income and reduce the losses. Added value of storage water in the area may guarantee investment to constructed dam and its safety. Therefore, the policy maker should provide the complementary activities emphasizing people culture and area advantages.

Kurdistan province is one of the provinces of the country that can become an important center of health tourism in Iran due to its proximity to Iraq and Kurdistan of Iraq. Existence of numerous resources, such as the large number of patients in Kurdistan of Iraq, tourist attractions and climate of Kurdistan, low cost of medical services, equipping a number of medical centers in the province with modern medical equipment, the province's capacity for medicinal plants and the province's pristine nature. Nature therapy, cultural and linguistic homogeneity with Kurdistan of Iraq, and the training of physicians by Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences have enhanced the province's capabilities in the field of health tourism. Kurdistan, with 227 km of border with Iraq, as well as the three border cities of Baneh, Marivan and Sarvabad, has a good potential for the development of medical tourism, but nevertheless, the revenues of this province from the health tourism sector are still low and in fact despite the potential. Many of these types of tourism have not been able to play an effective role in the economic and social sustainability of the province. In this regard, the two main research questions that must be asked during the strategic planning process as follows: 1- What are the most important internal and external factors and processes affecting the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province by attracting health tourists to the Iraqi Kurdistan region? 2- What are the most effective strategies and favorable perspectives for the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province by attracting health tourists to the Kurdistan region?

The present research is applied in terms of purpose, descriptive-analytical in terms of type and a combination of documentary-survey method in terms of data collection. In order to achieve the objectives of the research and, in fact, to plan the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province by attracting health tourists from the Kurdistan of Iraq, it was necessary to form a specialized or Delphi team in the present study. In this regard, an attempt was made to form a team consisting of experts, managers and officials, local experts. In quantitative method, in the present study in the form of using Hierarchical analysis process (AHP) to determine the most desirable strategies for the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province by attracting tourists to the Kurdistan region in combination with SWOT technique in the process of strategic planning.

Findings indicate that the low cost of treatment in the province, ethnic and cultural affinity, extensive socio-economic ties, the existence of ancient traditional medicine and numerous medicinal plants with healing properties and having pristine nature and numerous mineral water springs, capability Unique to other trans-provincial competitors, such as the cities of Tehran, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Urmia and even Turkey are among the strengths of tourism in the region, which if the necessary conditions and infrastructure are provided, can Help the sustainable attraction of health tourists from Iraq.Also, the study of the weaknesses identified as the main obstacles to the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province in order to attract health tourists from the Kurdistan region of Iraq shows that the health tourism system in Kurdistan province to attract tourists from the Iraqi Kurdistan region with several challenges. In both main dimensions of supply and demand and in various components, which are necessary to develop health tourism in the province. On the other hand, opportunities and threats affecting the health tourism status of Kurdistan province, had a range of performance and impact from local to national and transnational level to understand the importance of the impact of the tourism situation of destinations from trans-regional conditions and its consideration and management .In order to determine the most important strategies for the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province, it was determined that among the opportunities; The reason for the persistence of the exchange rate difference, among the forces, is the presence of Kowsar Hospital and private hospitals and clinics (completion of Aria Private Hospital), among the threats; The reason for the existence and emergence of powerful competitors active in the health tourism market of Kurdistan of Iraq (Tehran, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Orumieh) and among the weaknesses, the cause of weakness in management, planning and monitoring in the development of health tourism in Kurdistan, with Having the highest relative weight has the greatest impact on the four strategies adopted. These identified cases had the greatest impact and importance among their factors so that they can be confidently mentioned as key drivers or very influential factors in the development and expansion of health tourism in Kurdistan province.

The final result of the research as a future perspective for the development of health tourism in Kurdistan province By attracting tourists from the Kurdistan region of Iraq in the future, it should become a reliable and privileged center in the field of health tourism for the market of Iraq Kurdistan in the next 10 years.A center that has the power to compete with other competitors outside the province in attracting health tourists from the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The current communication with the rival centers is coordinated and the health tourists of Kurdistan region are purposefully directed from this province to other neighboring centers if the tourist needs and interests. In this perspective, the basic principle of diversification of health tourism products was laid in order to increase the length of stay and spending of tourists. This perspective emphasizes the use of rural areas with tourism potential and health tourism in the province, and in order to achieve the principle of balance to distribute the benefits of tourism for comprehensive support, these rural areas, as a support And sub-centers that support the main centers were considered

Border is considered as one of the most sensitive and strategic parameters in political, security and economic life, and in general, in the development process of the countries. Borders are, according to their nature, the points of the flow of goods, thoughts, threats, opportunities, and the focal point of communication with the outside world. Considering the importance of the border, the spatial planning of the border regions in the direction of development and security is always one of the major concerns in any country. The borders of the Middle East and Iran in particular, have always been the locus of conflict, struggle and security problems, due to the ethnical-religious context and the rivalry between the powers of the region. The borders of Kurdistan Province as part of the international borders of Iran are also a part of this puzzle. In the border regions of Kurdistan province, Sunni Kurds live with ethnic orientations, and share the same culture, language and race with the other side of the border, which shows the importance of the border areas of this province. In the border areas of Kurdistan province, we are witnessing the priority of security over development. Border is one of the most sensitive and strategic parameters in political, security and economic life and the spatial development of a country, and it serves as a showcase for the stability and progress of the country. Borders, due to their nature, also contribute to strengthening or weakening national security, national interests and national power. Borders are the locus of the flow of goods, thought, threats, opportunities, and the focal point of communication with the outside world. Considering the importance of the border, the spatial planning of the border regions in the direction of development and security is always one of the major concerns of the sovereignty of any country. The borders of the Middle East in general, and the borders of Iran in particular, have always been the locus of conflict, struggle and security problems, due to the ethnical-religious context and the geopolitical rivalry between the powers of the region. Iran has a long border with its neighbors in the critical zone of Middle East which are unstable in terms of politics, security, defense, and even the land, and there is every chance of the release of these crises inside the country. Iran has a dry and semi-arid climate, inadequate water resources and, consequently, inappropriate distribution of the population and some ethno-religious conflicts between the border areas and the central areas that enhance the sense of divergence and promote authoritarianism. Most of the ethnicities and religions of Iran are located in the border areas, and most of them are geographically expanded on the other side of the border, therefore, border areas are under the influence of security look, and comparing with the center, have a lower development in all aspects. The level of spatial development in Iran follows the center-perimeter pattern. The perimeter of Iran, which is usually the living place of different ethnicities and religions, does not have a desirable level of development, and this underdevelopment has caused the border regions to be always pregnant with more challenges and conflicts. Today, given the new political situation and the rivalry of the powers in the region, we see widespread threats in the border regions of Iran that have led to a security approach toward the spatial planning of the border regions, and the mere security approach has exacerbated the underdevelopment and the reproduction of security problems in those areas. The border areas of Kurdistan province are a part of this puzzle, considering that all of these harmful factors are found there, and in these areas, like most of the country's border areas, the security approach and the priority of security over development are dominant. In the border regions of Kurdistan province, Sunni Kurds live, and share the same culture, language and race with the other side of the border, which shows the importance of the border areas of this province. The main question of the research is that what factors have led to a security approach in the spatial planning of the border regions of Iran in general, and Kurdistan province in particular? The research findings indicate that political, geo-cultural, geostrategic and geo-economical indices are generally effective in the spatial planning of Iranian border regions, and in each province of the country, according to the type of border and the human conditions, the importance and priority of these factors and their sub-indices are variable. In the security approach towards the spatial planning of Kurdistan province, these factors have the following impact priorities: first, the political factor (including the political underdevelopment in Iran, the pale political participation in the border areas of Kurdistan province, the centralized form of governance in Iran, the activities of counter-revolutionary parties in the border areas of Kurdistan province, the history of Kurdish movements and the lack of use of local elites in the management of the border areas of Kurdistan province), second, the geo-cultural factor (including language, religion, ethnicity, the bolstering of the role of ethnic groups in the age of globalization, local customs and the non-conformity of the borders of the province with ethnical-cultural borders), third, the geostrategic factor (including the military presence of the world powers near the border areas, the political rivalries of the regional powers, the phenomenon of terrorism in the region, the condition of the Kurds in the region and the vacuum of the power of the neighboring countries of Iran near the borders of the Kurdistan province), and finally, the geo-economic factor (including the smuggling of goods in the border areas of Kurdistan province, the imbalanced economic development in the borders of the province with the borders of the Kurdistan Region and the deficiency of resources in the border areas of Kurdistan province) are effective on the security approach toward the spatial planning of the border regions of Kurdistan province.