Sulaymaniyah Governorate and its Potential for Sustainable Development

Abstract

  This study analyzes the diverse landforms of the study area (Sheikh Al-Marin Basin) and their potential for sustainable development. The total area, 511.74 km², is located in the Penjwen District. The majority (270.02 km²) lies within the eastern parts of Sulaymaniyah Governorate, while the remaining 241.72 km² is located within Iranian territory, between latitudes 35°44' and 35°32' North and longitudes 44°45' and 46°46' East. The diverse landforms in the study area result from natural interactions between internal and external factors. The study posits that this diversity in landforms can be utilized for sustainable development. Therefore, the importance of this research stems from this diversity, which has contributed to the formation of varied environments that can be developed in various economic sectors, including industry, agriculture, and tourism. The study revealed a diversity of landforms, ranging from high mountains and hills to low hills, eroded plains, and valley bottoms. Each landform indicates a significant resource, including natural resources, agricultural and pastoral activities, residential areas, and diverse tourism potential, along with a suitable environment for both land and river hunting. The map matching method (cumulative effect method) To produce the final suitability maps, the results showed the possibility of investing in the spatial variation of landforms in establishing two sites for building dams on the eastern and western sides of the region, as well as the available potential of natural resources that enable the establishment of a cement factory, marble quarries, and areas for extracting gravel and sand, given the natural and human resources that the region provides. Thus, the research recommends the necessity of adopting integrated development plans based on geomorphological knowledge, to achieve a balance between investing in natural resources and the possibility of preserving the environment, as well as enhancing the role of tourism