The significance of natural resources in Iran’s national development plans and annual budgets (the case of Kurdistan Province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Forestry & The Center for Research and Development of Northern Zagros Forestry Dr. Hedayat Ghazanfari, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

2 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

3 Management and Planning Organization of Kurdistan Province, Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22059/jfwp.2025.384747.1316

Abstract

This study evaluates the significance and evolution of the natural resources (NR) sector in Iran’s economic, social, and cultural development plans (3rd to 6th plans) and the operational plans of Kurdistan Province. Development plan documents and data from the Management and Planning Organization and the General Directorate of NR of Kurdistan Province were analyzed using documentary analysis, library research, and content evaluation. The results indicated a lack of an evolutionary planning approach and the absence of a dedicated chapter for the NR sector; instead, it was integrated into the chapters on agriculture, water, and environmental management. The third plan focused on national land allocation and rangeland management, while the fourth plan emphasized sustainable forest management, public land ownership enforcement, and land auditing. The fifth and sixth plans prioritized watershed management. All plans highlighted orchard development on steep public lands and low-yield rainfed lands. A notable weakness of the plans was the neglect of promotion and education programs and a significant reduction in the rangeland budget. The results showed that budget allocation was higher in the third and fourth plans than in the fifth and sixth plans (approximately 80% versus 60%). Based on actual budget values, the fourth plan ranked highest, followed by the third, sixth, and fifth plans. Over 21 years of implementation, the share of the NR sector in provincial budgets declined from 1.6% to 0.6%. The findings indicate that the status of natural resources and their share of both national and provincial budgets followed a downward trend over time.

Keywords

References

  • Dabiri, F., Abbaspour, M., Maknoon, R., & Azadbakht, B. (2007). The status of environmental issue in programmatic laws after the revolution in Iran. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 9(1), 87-100. (In Persian)
  • Patnaik, R. (2017). Impact of industrialization on environment and sustainable solutions – Reflections from a south Indian region. Conference series: Earth and environment science, Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Manesar, Gurugram, India.
  • Saifouri, B. & Taghavi, R. (2018). Pathology of Iran’s development programs before and after revolution and presenting central strategies. Monthly Journal of Humanities Horizons, 22, 1-24. (In Persian)
  • Goldani, M. & Emami Meibodi, A. (2015). Environment’s Status in Five-year Development Plans, Regarding Seven Selected Topics. Majlis & Rahbord, 22(82), 297-336. (In Persian)
  • Milligan, B., Malini, M. (2018). Environmental law making and oversight for sustainable development: A guide for legislators. United Nations Environment Programme and Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE), March 2018, United Nations Environment Programme, Law Division, P.O Box 30552, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Barmaki, A. (2014). Pathology of development programs after the Islamic Revolution. Planning Deputy, Macroeconomic Planning and Program Evaluation Affairs. (In Persian)
  • Ramezani Ghavamabadi, M.H. (2013). The preservation of the environment in Iran's constitution. Judicial Law Views Quarterly, 18(63), 93-140. (In Persian)
  • Khalilian, S. & Shams-al-Dini, I. (2001). Investigation of the sustainability of renewable natural resources (forest and pasture) in the first and second development programs. Research and Construction, 3, 19-21 (In Persian)
  • Khalilian, S., Yousefi, A., Belali, H. & Karamatzadeh, A. (2007). Correcting the economic growth of the third development plan according to the depreciation of forests and pastures. Agricultural Research: Water, Soil and Plants in Agriculture, 4, 13-25 (In Persian)
  • Beiranvand, A., Zargham, N., Shamekhi, T., Nouri Naeeni, S.M.S. & Avatefi Hemat, M. (2020). Reviewing the forests and rangelands policies of the first to sixth economic, cultural and social development plans of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian Journal of Public Policy, 6(1), 154-179. (In Persian)
  • Ashtiani, M. & Manavy M.R. (2017). Amending Guidelines for the Allocation of National and State Lands for Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Projects. Tehran, Shadrang. (In Persian)
  • Soleimani, A., Safaei, H., Samadi, M., Tavakoli, A. & Sadrinia, H. (2011). Evaluation of the land allocation plan of national resources to Iranian families (Bagh-shahr). Majlis Research Center, Infrastructure Studies Office, Agriculture and Natural Resources Group. (In Persian)
  • Shoeibi, Sh., Heshmatol Vaezin, S.M., Amiri, S. & Shamekhi, T. (2010). Impact of wood import tariff on illegal wood logging in Northern Caspian Forests. Iranian Journal of Forest, 2(1), 13-24. (In Persian)
  • Bagherian, A.K., Lashkaripour, Gh.R. & Gafoori, M. (2021). Evaluating the Impacts of Implemented Watershed Management Project on Vegetal Cover and Sediment Yield in Kakhk Watershed Project. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 23(7), 51-63. (In Persian)
  • Matkan, A.A., Assorloo, D. & Panahi, M. (2015). Using object-oriented classification methods to prepare natural resources cadastral maps (case study: Soolaghan, Tehran). 23rd National Conference on Geomatics, Tehran, Iran. (In Persian)
  • Chamanpira, R. & Roughani, M. (2018). Evaluation the effects of watershed management operations in flood mitigation of Dadabad Watershed. Journal of Watershed Management and Engineering, 10(3), 350-360. (In Persian)
  • Amini, A., & Roughani, M. (2014). The effects of mechanical structure on runoff storage in the Gavdareh region of Kurdistan Province. Journal of Geographic Space, 14(47), 145-162. (In Persian)
  • Mohammadi, F., Pir bavaghar, M. and Shabanian, N. (2014). Application of artificial neural network for forest risk mapping based on physiographic, human and climatic factors in Sarvabad, Kurdistan Province. Forest and Poplar Research, 11(2), 97-107. (In Persian)
  • Khodaverdizadeh, M. & Mohammadi, S. (2017). Comparative Advantages and Analysis of International Market Structure of Medicinal Plants: Case Study of Anise, Badin, Fennel and Coriander. Journal of Agricultural Economics Research, 9(34), 153-174. (In Persian)
  • Rahiminia, L. & Heidari, A. (2014). Review of the implementation of forestry plans in the Zagros forests. In 2nd National Student Conference on Forest Sciences, Karaj, Iran. (In Persian)
Forest and Wood Products
Volume 77, Issue 4
March 2025
Pages 353-376

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics