A B S T R A C T 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 Extended Abstract Introduction  As an important socio-economic activity in local and regional development, tourism has a high potential for political, social, and economic changes in communities. Scholars widely regard it as the engine of development. Today, rural areas in developing countries face various economic, social, and environmental challenges. Planners need to pay more attention to complementary sectors of agricultural activities such as the development of handicrafts, food industries, and tourism because agriculture is now retreating from its hegemonic position in some rural areas. Therefore, tourism as one of the essential approaches to rural development has multiple effects on the socio-economic dimensions of rural areas. Tourism can play a vital role in shaping spaces, reconfiguring and rebuilding processes, creating new socio-economic opportunities in less-developed rural areas,  and leads to changes in the physical dimensions and physical identity of the villages.   Methodology This study aims to investigate the role of tourism development in the physical identity of  rural settlements located in the Dezley-Hajij road axis in Oraman County (Sarvabad Township- Kurdistan province) in western Iran. This applied study methodology of research was based on analytical– descriptive methods using questionnaires. After the survey of theoretical bases, the questionnaire was set using a Likert spectrum and distributed randomly among the sample. The statistical population of this study consisted of 1572 households residing in the villages of Daraki (Dezli County), Veisiyan and Kamaleh (Oraman County), Belbar, Jivar, Celin, and Novin (Shalyar County), with a sample of 306 was selected by Cochran formula. A questionnaire was further validated by an academic panel of experts in the field of research. Cronbach's alpha determined its reliability, which was up to 0.890 for measured indexes. The data were analyzed by One sample T-test and Factor   analysis tests in the SPSS software package.    Results and discussion To investigate the role of tourism activities in the physical identity change of rural settlements, the research indices in terms of three components of time continuity (quality of constructions, health, and environmental cleanliness and land-use transformations), unity/multiplicity (Landscape of free passages and the type of architectural style), and differentiation/similarity (proportional to rural life and Compliance with the physical environment) were classified. The results of the one-sample t-test showed that assuming numerical utility (3 mean spectra), the components of continuity in time, variance, multiplicity, and differentiation and similarity with numerical mean values (3.62), (3.35), and (3.27), respectively. The effect of tourism development is affected, and the difference is positive and means between upper and lower boundaries. There is a significant difference at the 95% level between the components. Evaluation of the importance of tourism in the physical development of rural settlements from the viewpoint of the respondents using factor analysis statistical test showed that the relevant data according to the KMO coefficient (0.812) is appropriate, and the Bartlett's test is 99% significant. Therefore, 50 variables extracted from the questionnaire were classified into six main factors, namely rural planning and architecture, beautification and environmental hygiene, privacy and road improvement, rural livelihoods, cultural regeneration, and physical security.   Conclusion Findings based on the utility analysis of indicators indicate the positive impact of tourism development on the development of physical identity changes in rural settlements in the study area. Thus, the development of tourism in the villages under study has been able to positively influence the three dimensions of identity, such as continuity in time, unity and plurality, and differentiation and similarity. Therefore, it can be concluded that tourism development due to its social and economic impacts on the villages has also led to changes in rural physical identity. Moreover, hygiene and cleanliness of the rural environment were observed with a numerical mean (3.81) and (3.67), respectively, both of which are indices in the continuity component over time. The results of the data analysis using factor analysis showed that the studied variables had 6% of the total variance in 5% of total variance. Based on the results of this analysis, it can be concluded that tourism development in two factors in terms of continuity in time has the most impact on the physical identity of rural settlements at 41%. Thus, planning and architecture of rural housing with 27% of the total variance and beautification and sanitation of the physical environment with 14% of the total variance have a significant impact on the physical changes and, consequently, the physical identity of the rural settlements. Based on the research findings, the following suggestions can be considered: Strengthening local institutions, such as the Islamic Council and the local managers, in order to promote the use of local patterns in the construction of new instruments to conform to the physical structure and function of the villages in the region; Management of land use changes on the edge of the village in order to prevent unnecessary physical changes in the way of preservation and environmental beauty; Prevent the accumulation of pesticides in public passages due to tourism in the area; Improving public beauties and beautifying them using the social and cultural elements of the region.   Funding There is no funding support.   Authors’ Contribution The authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.   Conflict of Interest The Authors declared no conflict of interest.   Acknowledgments The authors appreciate to all the scientific consultants of this paper.

With regard to importance of medicinal plants, this study has carried out in Kurdistan province in 1998-2001 for identification of medicinal plants of this province. There were various stages contained collection of rural and locale information about medicinal plants, field and in situ investigations and collection of herbal samples and identification of them. According to results, 144 medicinal plants species were identified that 59 species of them were new in comparison with previous references. The most numbers of medicinal plants were belong to the families of Compositae, Umbelliferae, Papilionaceae, Rosaceae, Labiatae, Cruciferae, Solanaceae, Ranunculaceae, Alliaceae, Malvaceae, Liliacea with 18, 16, 11, 10, 8, 6, 4, 4, 3, 3 and 3 species, respectively. In addition Anacardiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiacea, Linaceae, Orchidaceae, Tamaricaceae, Polygonaceae, Moraceae, and Papaveraceae families allocated 2 species and the other families included one species.

Risk is an inevitable part of life, every day people are somehow at risk. Different risks in various forms and perspectives have different functions. Kurdistan province, with various heights and relatively good rainfall, It results the country's cold spots. Since most of seasonal rainfall occurs in winter, Snow cover is often the domain and passes it hillsides…..

Autecology's studies on plant are conducted to investigate about the relationships between a particular plant and other components of ecosystem. Ecological knowledge about range plant species are essential for rehabilitation, and management of rangelands. This study was accomplished to provide information about ecological characteristics of range plant of prangos ferulacea from 2001-2004 in Kurdistan province. In the survey, some topographic, climatic and edaphically aspects, as well as boundaries of the ecological habitats of this species were delineated. Phonological stages, root system, crown cover, density, reproduction, adequate depth for seed planting, preference value of this plant were evaluated.The results showed habitats from view point of crown cover not significant difference at a¢£0.05, but from aspect of density and regeneration were significant difference between of them at a¢£0.05 & 0.01. The highest average of plant density achieved in Daraki 16.7 in 4 square meter and lowest density in Ariz 6.5 plant in 4 square meters. The Daraki habitat's from aspect of plant regeneration with 13.3 plants in 4 square meters was better than the other, and Shian has the lowest regeneration (3.1 plant). Phonological stages showed that this plant has a short period of growth and starts in April and continues still early August. Soil texture and soil depth were affected on root grow and development. In Khan and Ariz habitats, penetration of root were 140 & 177.5 centimeters, whereas this parameter measured in Shian and Daraki 146.7 & 77.75 centimeters, sufficient depth for seeding Prangos ferulacea was 4 centimeter. Average of thousand Seed weight 212 gram was measured. Plant mostly grows at 500 mm. rainfall, 1700-2300m above sea level and northern slopes in Kurdistan. Test of soil texture indicates that this plant grows in different soils, especially clay soil texture. Finally this plant has an important role in rangelands by having forage production and soil conservation.

Introduction and Objective: Balanced regional development is the basis for sustainable development in different aspects of system resources, particularly the industrial capacities, plays an important role in regional development and one of the main objectives of balanced development and deployment of the system of organizing, planning Technology national level to regional level is the space that has been emphasized in all five-year development plans.The main aim of present study is to examine regional development level of Kurdistan, including nine cities, and industrial facility distribution in the area.Methods: literature reviewing, selection of appropriate indicators, statistical methods and Multi-criteria decision making techniques, industrial and regional development of the named cities in 1390 was prioritized.Results: The results show that in industrial ranking Sanandaj and Bijar are first and second, respectively, Saghez and Kamyaran ranked last.Conclusion: The results show that the rank of divided city that there is tremendous variation in the level of industrial development of these cities so that 8 of Sanandaj city in the region, the majority of the low level of industrial development are in the city. In addition to the industrial city of Sanandaj and Bijar city the rest of the city and the development of low Z more than it have.

In recent years, the kinetic energy of wind as a source of renewable and inexhaustible energy is considered by many countries. This research aimed to evaluate the wind power in the province of Kurdistan. In this research, direction and wind speed data of the Synoptic stations in Kurdistan (Sanandaj, Saghez, Marivan, Bane, Bijar, Ghorveh and Zarineh Aobato) and also 21 synoptic stations outside the province, Since founding of these synoptic stations up to 2005, was used. Direction and wind speed data in the studied stations (28 stations) were converted to zonal and meridional wind components. Using these data, the zonal and meridional winds for 2068 cells (approximate dimensions 3.7´3.7 km2) in Kurdistan province for all days using Kriging interpolation method was estimated. Wind power in the province of Kurdistan was presented by the maps. The results of the wind power estimation (using three types of turbines with radius of rotors of 10, 15, and 25 m) showed that based turbines with radius of 10 meters can be up to 170 thousand Watts per square meter of energy in every cell. However, only limited areas of the province of Kurdistan (especially Zarineh Aobato, Ghorveh and Bijar) have the ability to produce this amount of energy. For turbines of rotor of 15 meters radius, roughly the same area can be up to 370 thousand Watts per square meter per cell to produce energy in the Kurdistan province. Finally, using turbines rotor with radius 25 meters, the harnessing energy can be more than 1 million Watts per square meter per cell. Although there is the possibility of energy production, but wind energy production in some parts of the province of Kurdistan (large parts of Sanandaj, Marivan and Bane) may not be economically affordable. According to the estimates of wind power in Kurdistan province, it seems that Zarineh Aobato and surrounding areas are the most appropriate place to install wind turbines. In fact, based on the estimated wind power, this region was identified as the maximum power generated for wind energy in this province. In the next places Zarineh Aobato, some parts of the Ghorveh and Bijar also have high potential for wind energy production.

In the present study, the political dimension of the current underdevelopment situation and how it is tied to the economy as well as its consequences in Kurdistan province have been explored. Undoubtedly, the study of how all aspects of Iran's political economy work and analyze requires extensive research, and sometimes due to lack of data, it is not possible to get an accurate picture of the monopolies that govern it. The arrival of hydrocarbon resources has added to the complexity of this structure, so that many consider the abundance of resources and the emergence of the rentier government as the main cause of the current situation, unaware that the defective structure of Iran's political economy without oil revenues is able to provide a minimum welfare. It also did not have the current limited infrastructure. In the present study, using a qualitative method, we will seek to answer the question of whether there is a significant difference in the development levels of Kurdistan province and the country as a whole or not. Comparing the indicators of human development in 1977 and 2017, it was concluded that in general, Kurdistan province in terms of human development has a lower rank than the national average, the main reason for which can be introduced in the form of political economy of monopolies whose roots It goes back to the period before the Islamic Revolution in 1978.

The aim of this study is synoptic analysis of heavy precipitations in Kurdistanprovince during 1/1/1961 to 31/12/2010(18263days). By using two thresholds ofextensively and intensity of precipitation, 107 days have been recognized. Intemporal view, the selected days occurrences in wet seasons of year that startfrom October to June. By applying the principle component analysis on the sealevel pressure during the 107 days, the results showed that 12 componentsexplain about 93 percent of sea level pressure variation. The results of theapplying cluster analysis on the component score showed that two circulationpatterns result in occurrence of extreme and heavy precipitations in Kurdistanprovince. In order to recognize heavy precipitation in dry season (June toOctober), the area mean precipitation for the province have been calculated. According to the 99 percentile threshold and extensively of precipitation theheavy phenomena recognized. By two thresholds 32 days selected and same asto the wet season precipitation the sea level pressure data from NOAA extracted. The data analyzed by Principle Component Analysis and 11 componentsextracted that explain the 93 percent of variation sea level pressure in the framestudy. By doing cluster analysis on the 11 components, one pattern recognizedfor the sea level pressure. The results showed that in lower atmospheric levels(1000, 925 and 850 hpa) occurred highest convergence on the study regionduring wet season. The source of humidity in the lower levels is Arabian, Red, Oman, Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Seas. In the high level atmosphere, thevalue of convergence is low. The sources of humidity in high levels atmosphereare Red and Mediterranean Seas. In the mid-level atmosphere (500 hpa) thepresence of trough results in nutrition of the instability on the study region. Alsoduring dry season, the highest moisture flux convergence occurred in the lowlevels but the resource of the moisture is Caspian Sea. In the upper levels (from700 hpa to up) in addation to Caspian Sea, Mediterranean and Red sea are theresource of heavy precipitations.

In this study, 3-h wind speed data for years 1987-2009 at 10, 20 and 40 m heights have been analyzed for Kurdistan province. Wind energy potential at five stations in this province was investigated. Six types of methods, namely, graphical, empirical, method of moment, energy pattern factor, maximum likelihood and probability weighted moments were used to estimate the parameters.The results showed that MOM was an efficient method among others in the present study because it had the lowest value of the Chi-square statistics. Also, wind speed for Tyear return period was estimated. In the annual time scale, the range of shape parameter, k, was between 0.78 and 1.03 whereas the range of the scale parameter, c, was between 1.84 and 4.37 m/s. Also, the most important characteristics of wind energy were evaluated. Among all the stations, Bijar and Zarineh Obato were found to be the best sites for wind energy harnessing. Bijar had the highest value of wind power density at 10 m height, which was equal to 308 W/m2. In average, the rank of stations according to 100 years return period was as: (1) Zarineh Obato, (2) Bijar, (3) Ghorveh, (4) Saghez and (5) Sanandaj.

This study attempted to investigate the marketing problems of strawberry as a major horticulture crop in the Kurdistan province during last two decades. During three time period 1996, 1999 and 2006 and based on the systematic sampling method 112, 243 and 80 sample were collected. The results showed that retailer market margin for the concern studies for the years 1996, 1999 and 2006 were Iran's Rls. 480, 562.8 and 1940 ( for the first class type) and 2270 (for the second class type) respectively. The marketing cost percentages for the same period calculated and were equal to 53.5 per cent, 43.5 per cent and 37.2 per cent (I case of first class type) and 50.41 per cent (in the case of second class type). The wholesaler market margin were Rls. 440, 998.25 and (1000 and 1410) in that order, and  total market margins were Rls, 920, 1561 and (2940 and 3220) in that order. The waste function estimated and results showed that the variables such as time distance of first harvesting, box weight, Distance from wholesaler market and total time remaining in the retailer shop had direct and significant effect on wastage amount. Total wasted strawberry for the year 1996 and 1999 estimated about 16.89 and 19 percent of total production. The change of current packing for both periods studied and result showed that, it is economically impressionable and in the case of acceptance by the farmers, it may increase their profits about Rls, 2104062000 and Rls, 810062000 respectively.