Introduction: Forests are the most complete, valuable and diverse vegetation on the earth. In the current situation, compliance with the principle of sustainability in forest exploitation requires giving sufficient opportunity for trees to regenerate and re-grow, which is possible by using alternative sources to meet the growing need for wood. Iran is located in a region where the share of forest lands in its country sides is insignificant. In addition to natural and human factors, the most important factor in the destruction of Iran's forests is the unauthorized exploitation of the forests and the supply of industrial wood for various purposes. Wood farming with hardy species outside of natural stands can be the best factor for reducing the pressure on forests and meeting the needs of industries and economic prosperity. The approach of stopping the exploitation of commercial forests in the north of the country on the one hand and the high costs of importing wood due to exchange rate fluctuations on the other hand has doubled the necessity and importance of wood farming in Iran. Optimum planning in this sector and identification of suitable potential investment plans require a fundamental evaluation of the plans. Therefore, with the aim of predicting the result of the implementation of wood farming projects and determining the criteria and basis for investment decisions in this area, this study was conducted the economic evaluation of wood farming projects in three provinces of the country using discount criteria.Materials and Methods: Project evaluation methods are classified into two main groups, the first group of which is static methods in evaluating investment plans. Static methods are simple methods in which non-deductive criteria are used. The most important feature of these indicators and criteria is that the time factor is not considered in their calculations. But in the second group, which is called dynamic methods, the factor of time and life span of the plan is considered, and discount criteria and indices are used. In this study, dynamic methods such as the common criteria of Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) were used for the economic evaluation of wood farming development plans. The required data and information were collected by referring to the Organization of Forests, Pastures and Watershed Management in 2021. Totally, the information on seven plans with different cultivated areas was obtained from three provinces of the country. Incomes and expenses were calculated for each of the years of operation, discounted according to the base year of zero; then, the economic evaluation of the project was done. It is also worth mentioning that five percent of the total cost of inputs and services was added to the total cost of each plan as an unforeseen cost. The discount rate in the calculations was considered equal to 22 percent and the calculations were done using Excel software.Results and Discussion: Examining the amount of cost and income indicated that the Agh-ghala plan had the largest cost of planting among the plans; and in terms of harvesting cost, the same plan was also among the most expensive plans. On the other hand, it had the lowest amount of income per hectare in both exploitation periods. The highest income earned in the first period of exploitation belongs to the Yampi plan with 13655400 thousand IRI rials per hectare, and in the second period of exploitation belongs to the Kordkouy plan with 2394929 thousand IRI rials per hectare. Qasr Shirin with 86,310 and 49,266 thousand IRI rials had the lowest cost of planting and harvesting in the first period, respectively, and the Ravand plan had the lowest cost of harvesting in the first period with 17,358.8 thousand IRI rials per hectare. The calculation of the net present value of the plans indicated that this criterion was positive in six plans and negative in the Agh-ghala plan. This means that for the assumed discount rate, the present value of the benefit flow in the Agh-ghala plan is smaller than the present value of the cost flow and the benefit will not be enough to compensate the costs. In this case, it is better to save the desired capital in the bank with the assumed interest rate or invest in a more useful plan. Kordkouy project with 2,260,726 thousand IRI rials had the highest net present value among the projects, and Gonbad Kavus, Ravand and Qasr Shirin projects were in the next ranks, respectively. Regarding the criterion of internal rate of return, all plans (with the exception of the Agh-ghala plan) had a rate of return equal to or greater than the opportunity cost of capital (22 percent) and hence investing in these plans will be profitable. The results showed that the implementation of six plans out of the seven reviewed projects had economic justification and would bring profitability at the end of the exploitation period. Conclusions: Considering the possibility of regrowth of trees after cutting in the second period of exploitation, it is recommended to plant trees in areas such as the northern regions of the country where due to the favorable environmental conditions, the growth rate of the trees is very high. In this case, many of the costs of the first period, which are done by direct planting of seedlings, will no longer exist. Also, the rapid growth of trees in the second period will lead to early income for the project. Irrigation costs were one of the major costs of wood farming, especially in the Ravand plan. Basically, it is not recommended to use treated wastewater for the irrigation of agricultural crops. But due to the non-edible use of wood in wood farming projects, the use of wastewater in this type of agriculture is unimpeded and will save water consumption and irrigation costs. The establishment and development of contract farming in wood farming projects can provide the required liquidity and inputs, the necessary support to the operators during the long period of farming and the necessary guarantee for purchasing of products by industries.

By using molecular farming, plants are used as a bio-reactor for producing low cost recombinant proteins. This technology had been successful in the production of primary products in the commercial field. Other recombinant products are in final steps of production. In the last 10 years, up to 100 different recombinant proteins are produced in transgenic plants. Plants have many advantages in comparison with other expression systems, especially in economic, safety, operations and production aspects. However, there are some problems for using plants as a bio-reactor with the goal of recombinant proteins production that should be considered. Some of these problems are: the quality of final product, extraction and the processing of plant derived pharmaceutical macromolecules and bio-safety. In this study, we will review the global view of molecular farming and some successful cases in Iran. During 8 years of research in the field of molecular farming in Iran, especially in Tarbiat Modarres University, different kinds of recombinant proteins such as VHH single domain antibody in tobacco and canola and tPA protein in tobacco were expressed. The human gamma interferon in canola and tobacco and also the luciferase enzyme in tobacco, African violet and canola were produced. Also, useful projects are executed in the field of transplastomic plants in order to express the mentioned genes in the chloroplast. In transferring the human pro-insulin gene to chloroplast genome, this gene was bombarded onto tobacco leaf ex-plants using a particle delivery system. Leaf ex-plants produced adventitious shoots when cultured on shoot-inducing medium containing spectinomycin. The results of peR confirmed that the pro-insulin gene was present in the chloroplast genome.

Although Golestan Province is situated within the temperate climate zone of northern Iran, large portions, particularly in Gonbad-e Kavous county, are at risk of desertification. This environmental degradation, along with the increasing spread of dust storms, has severely impacted local livelihoods and, coupled with migration, is likely to exacerbate economic and social challenges both within the region and in adjacent areas. The promotion of wood farming has been consistently considered as a viable strategy to combat desertification and to sustain the livelihoods of local populations. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing wood farming with Populus euphratica in Gonbad-e Kavous county using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) methodologies. Additionally, it seeks to map areas suitable for the plantation of this species. In this research, 10 climatic and edaphic variables, along with four auxiliary factors—distance from the surface water, distance from the roads, depth of groundwater, and land use—were extracted from relevant data sources to assess land suitability. Expert opinion was solicited to prioritize these factors, after which digital layers were weighted and classified according to established standards, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive database and thematic maps. Subsequent scoring and analysis using hierarchical and multivariate approaches enabled the delineation of areas suitable for wood farming. The results indicate that climatic variables were the most significant determinants in the final suitability maps, with soil electrical conductivity (EC), among the edaphic factors, contributing the highest weight (0. 0424). These findings offer valuable insights for decision-makers in developing and implementing effective wood farming strategies in the region.

Background and objectives: In light of projections indicating a growing demand for wood in the forthcoming years and the initiation of a plan to cease the exploitation of the Hyrcanian forests from 2019, the inadequacy of wood essential for the country's wood industry has emerged as a paramount challenge. The escalation in the exchange rate has rendered wood imports insufficient to cater to the nation's entire needs, underscoring the imperative to elevate wood cultivation levels as a primary solution. Despite the relatively modest expanse of poplar plantations and wood cultivation in Kurdistan province, the conducive conditions of ample rainfall and the presence of numerous seasonal and permanent rivers render it a viable area for expansion. Consequently, it becomes crucial to identify and effectively manage the obstacles and challenges impeding the development of wood cultivation in Kurdistan province. Methodology: This study focused on wood plantations and management strategies in Kurdistan province. A comprehensive questionnaire, encompassing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the development of wood farming in Kurdistan province, was meticulously prepared and finalized. The geographical boundaries of Kurdistan province served as the system's perimeter for the identification and categorization of these four key components. Employing purposeful sampling, experts well-versed in the research topic were deliberately chosen for their valuable insights. A total of 60 informed experts and local stakeholders, determined in accordance with Cochran's formula with a 10% error rate, actively participated in the review and scoring of the SWOT analysis questionnaire for wood farming in Kurdistan province, utilizing a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5 points. The collected data, including the questionnaire results and SWAT analysis scores, were meticulously entered into an Excel program. Subsequently, total points for each item were calculated, followed by the determination of averages and relative weights for each of the four subsections of the SWAT analysis. Building on the average scores for strengths and weaknesses (internal organization) as well as opportunities and threats (external organization), the management strategy was discerned through the utilization of the Space Matrix and Strategic Action tools for wood farming in the province. This determined management strategy served as the foundation for the development of strategic plans spanning a period of 10 to 15 years, meticulously crafted to optimize wood farming in Kurdistan province. Results: According to the research findings, there are 16 strengths, 22 weaknesses, 15 opportunities, and 8 threats identified for the development of wood farming in Kurdistan province. The results highlight the most significant strength and opportunity for wood farming development in Kurdistan: "3000 kilometers of seasonal and permanent rivers in the province" and "the increasing demand from wood and paper industries for wood raw materials," respectively. Conversely, the most critical weakness and threat for wood farming in the province are identified as the "long harvest period of wood (economic age over 8 years) and the lack of income during this period" and "climate change leading to a reduction in annual rainfall and surface water." Local stakeholders emphasized that "the increase in demand for wood in other Iranian provinces (due to the lack of conversion industries in Kurdistan province)" stands out as a pivotal opportunity for the development of wood farming. Based on these findings, the conservative strategy (with a position of -19.67; 25.14) was endorsed in the second quarter of the coordinate system. Consequently, four long-term programs were formulated to optimize wood farming development in Kurdistan province: 1) Ensuring the annual pre-purchase of wood from farmers, 2) providing support and allocating facilities for the development of wood cultivation in the province, 3) promoting wood farming and increasing community participation, and 4) enhancing the province's infrastructure and fostering the growth of wood-related industries. Conclusion: Recognizing the crucial significance of advancing wood farming in Kurdistan province, it is imperative to underscore and strategically plan the following short-term initiatives: 1- Construction of a Wood Industry Factory, 2- Cooperative and Local Organization Engagement, 3- Technical Involvement of Natural Resources Experts, 4- Formation of Trade Union Cooperatives, 5- Guaranteed Wood Purchase Opportunities, 6- Wood Farming Festival, and 7- Infrastructure Enhancement and Industry Development.

Regarding stop industrial forests exploitation in northern Iran, this study was conducted to determine the suitable areas for wood farming by Eucalyptus in Khuzestan province using Fuzzy AHP and GIS. The indices used were included four main indices, water resources, land use, climate and soil and 22 related sub-indices (Soil texture, soil depth, soil salinity, soil acidity, distance from the river, water volume, surface water salinity, groundwater depth, groundwater salinity, mean annual temperature, mean minimum annual temperature, mean maximum annual temperature, minimum absolute temperature, maximum absolute temperature, mean annual rainfall, mean annual relative humidity, mean annual wind speed, shrublands around the rivers, sandy hills, Jihad Nasr lands, empty lands around the Jihad Nasr channels, empty lands around the water resources). Maps of these factors were prepared using Google Earth satellite imagery (from summer of 2017 to 2019), ground sampling (September of 2019) and available data. Eucalyptus cultivation map in Khuzestan province was also prepared from Khuzestan Natural Resources Administration and ground sampling by GPS in September of 2019. The land use map was prepared by the digitization of land use/cover using Google Earth satellite imagery from summer of 2017 to 2019. Accuracy of land use map was evaluated by 60 ground control points. The weight of effective indices in Eucalyptus wood farming potential was calculated using Fuzzy AHP. For this purpose, 30 expert questionnaires (30 expert judgments) were distributed among the scientific and operating experts of wood farming to express the importance and priority of effective factors in wood farming. Then, the mean questionnaire was obtained and it was analysed by Chang triangular fuzzy extent analysis. Based on this method, the normal weights of the indices and subindices were calculated using Fuzzy AHP method. Using the linear weighted combination of effective sub-indices, maps of the main indices and then a map of Eucalyptus wood farming potential was prepared. Finally, the wood farming potential map was validated by Eucalyptus cultivation map and its accuracy was evaluated in identifying the suitable areas for Eucalyptus wood farming in Khuzestan province. The results showed that among the main indices, water resources and land use had the most importance in the determination of the prone lands for Eucalyptus farming in Khuzestan province based on the Fuzzy AHP. According to the results, 12. 83% of the area had very good potential and 10. 47% of the area had good potential for Eucalyptus farming. The results of the accuracy assessment of wood farming potential map also showed that Fuzzy AHP with overall accuracy 82% had good accuracy in identification of the prone areas for wood farming in Khuzestan province.

In recent decades, poplar cultivation as wood farming has been developed up to 50 thousand hectares using the fast growing eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. 77.51) has become a common practice in north of Iran. The current study aimed to select appropriate sites for increasing growth and yield of this poplar clone. For this purpose, three different 20 years-old plantations on three different media naming: loam, silt-loam and silt-clay-loam soils of Noor alluvial plain in north of Iran were selected. The measurements were carried out based on 400 m2 plots with four replications. Quantitative and qualitative analysis showed significant differences among poplar trees grown on different soil textures beds. The poplar trees grown on loamy soils displayed the highest annual height increment of 1.27 m and volume of averaged tree of 0.956 m3. Values for average diameter, basal area and volume ha-1 were also highest in trees grown on loamy soil with total 29.1cm, 32.59 m2 ha-1 and 443 m3 ha-1, respectively. The mean height of the trees in the silt- loam soil (24.47 mm) was significantly greater than that of the silt- clay- loam. Values for diameter increment and basal area of trees were higher in the silt- clay- loam than in silt- loam soil. In order to get an initial understanding of the habitat condition, clone selection and improvement operation, analyzing of soil is essential prior to planting of trees. In this case we can ensure and guarantee the plantation and the investment would be less risky.

Large demand of wood and restrictions on the efficiency forest’s wood production caused attention to fast growing trees poplars. Poplar genus trees because of dioecious, have insemination ability and hybridization that wood production of them are more than their parents that known as heterosis phenomena. The most properties of this hybrids are fast grow, smooth and cylindrical trunk for having a flexibility ecological and significant resistance against pests and diseases. In order to select superior varieties of hybrid poplar, four consecutive years of collection poplar clones that are growing on the bank of Sefidroud river have growing strong form that have longitudinal and diametrical growth than the others, cuttings were prepared. They planted in the nursery that already had been prepared for this purpose. Also, from female clone (P.d.69.55) in ripping seeds were collected and they were regenerated and planted in chassis greenhouse and then transferred to fields and planted. Analyze of data were done by analysis of variance for variables and variables mean comparison were done in SAS software by LSD test. The results of this research identified 13 hybrids clones of poplar with two base cutting (preparation of Sefidroud river bank) and seed (the seeds that collected and planted from deltoides clone). Selected clones in comparison with control clone (P.d.69.55) that had superior characteristics, were distinguished. Hybrid clones with superior diameter growth were: P.x.87.1.S, P.x.89.3.C, P.x.88.4.C, P.x.88.5.Cand superior height growth P.x.88.1.S, P.x.89.3.C.

Wood farming and its sustainable development according to forest poverty, many environmental hazards and current climate is one of the fundamental strategies. Therefore, this study was aimed at determination and prioritization effective criteria for sustainable development of poplar wood farming in Iran by using pair comparisons method. For this purpose, after review and interviews, 25 key indicators were identified. These criteria were divided into four major groups as: economic and social issues, protection and support of farmers, planting method and infrastructure indices. Prioritize these indicators and sub-indicators whit hierarchical diagram, questionnaires and matrix of paired comparisons were done and the priority rates of these criteria were evaluated by using the Expert Choice software. The results indicated that among 25 effective sub-criteria in sustainable development of poplar wood farming in Iran, the sub-criteria of annual household livelihoods (0. 162), liberation of importing and exporting of poplar wood (0. 135), providing new varieties and efficient such as modified seedlings (0. 093), use of potential prone areas poplar farming (0. 079), guaranteed purchase of products (0. 067), financial incentives and loans to poplar farmers (0. 058) and investment return after the 8 to 10 years (0. 049) had the highest priorities, respectively.

In this study, Shafarood watershed, in Guilan province, was investigated in terms of the implementation of value chains ecotourism, timber harvesting, and wood farming based on the prioritization of criteria and sub-criteria. To collect data observations, interviews and questionnaires were conducted with experts (55 people) selected based on their expertise and experience. Questionnaires were analyzed the pairwise comparison method. The results show for the ecotourism value chain, criteria vegetation diversity, distance from the spring, and distance from urban centers, as well as the sub-criterion, maximum 5 km distance from urban were important with a final score of 0.026, for the timber harvesting value chain, the number of trees per hectare, altitude above sea level, and volume of forest stand and the sub-criterion of terms and conditions, were important with a final score of 0.040, for the value chain of wood farming, criteria of soil structure condition, precipitation and erosion rate, and the sub-criterion of humid climate were chosen with a final score of 0.036. According to the results, 18.21 percent of the total area (6637.59 ha) was suitable for implementing the ecotourism value chain, 31.08 percent of the total area (11321.98 ha) was suitable for the timber harvesting value chain and 0.57 percent of the total area (210.63 ha) was suitable for the value chain of wood farming, which is recommended to be taken into consideration for the economic prosperity and dynamism of the area.

Background and ObjectiveGiven the increasing global demand for wood resources and the challenges arising from deforestation, identifying species that are compatible with dry and semi-dry conditions, such as Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.), and determining suitable cultivation areas for it is presented as a key strategy in the sustainable development of natural resources. The Shisham species, with its drought resistance, soil salinity tolerance, and high wood quality, is considered an ideal option for dry and semi-dry regions like Khuzestan province. This study utilizes a combination of GIS and ANP to assess the potential of Shisham wood farming in Khuzestan province, taking into account ecological, climatic, and resource accessibility criteria, and aims to provide an accurate model for reducing dependence on timber imports, preserving natural forests, and strengthening a resilient economy.Materials and MethodsField data including the locations of natural and planted Shisham patches in various regions of the province were collected. Effective criteria for assessing cultivation potential included climate (with sub-criteria of maximum, average, and minimum temperature, maximum, average, and minimum relative humidity, wind speed, sunlight hours, and evapotranspiration), topography (with sub-criteria of slope, geographical orientation, and elevation above sea level), soil, resource accessibility (including sub-criteria of distance from water sources and distance from roads), and environmental characteristics (including sub-criteria of soil type, land use, and geology), which were weighted with the participation of 28 experts through questionnaires. The final weights of the criteria were calculated using Super Decision software and the ANP method (with an inconsistency rate of less than 0.1). Raster layers for each criterion were prepared in GIS and integrated using fuzzy overlay. The final potential map was classified into five categories (very suitable to very unsuitable) and validated with field data and accuracy indices. For validation the locations of natural and cultivated Shisham patches in Khuzestan were used as actual samples to compare with the predicted map. The final cultivation potential map derived from the integration of weighted GIS and ANP layers, was meticulously compared with field data. Results and FindingsThe ANP analysis showed that resource accessibility (weight 0.62) and climate (0.22) had the greatest impact. Key sub-criteria identified as the most important determining factors for suitable planting areas included distance from water sources (0.23), elevation above sea level (0.18), and soil type (0.10). The results of applying the weights of the criteria and sub-criteria to the examined layers based on the GIS-ANP combined model also indicated that approximately 2,832.8 hectares of land in northern and central Khuzestan were identified as very suitable for Shisham cultivation with 85% overall accuracy. These areas, with conditions such as tributaries and rivers, low soil salinity, suitable soil depth, appropriate elevation range for the growth of this species, and annual rainfall exceeding 450 mm, possess ideal ecological potential. The model validation also showed an accuracy of 82% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.71, indicating that the predicted maps align well with the natural distribution of Shisham. Additionally, urban planted areas (such as Ahvaz) were not classified independently due to artificial irrigation conditions.ConclusionThe results of the study revealed that identifying 2,832.8 hectares of land in northern and central Khuzestan as highly suitable areas for Shisham cultivation can reduce dependence on timber imports and alleviate pressure on natural forests. The combination of GIS and ANP methods, with an accuracy of 85%, proved to be an effective tool for zoning suitable lands based on ecological criteria and resource accessibility. This model can be generalized to other arid and semi-arid regions of Iran and can aid in planning the industrial cultivation of species adapted to harsh environmental conditions.