Assessing the Impacts of Implementing a Guidance Plan in Rural Sustainable Development (Case Study: Kandovan Village, East Azerbaijan Province)

Despite the implementation of various construction and development projects at a local level, the majority of rural settlements in Iran are faced with several environmental, physical, social, cultural, and financial challenges through an unstable process; this is due to the domination of partial attitude as well as the absences of a systemic approach in the rural development planning system of Iran. Given the presence of distinct human and environmental conditions and capabilities along with the implementation of guidance plan, the historic and tourist village of Kandovan is faced with a number of different problems and inadequacies in the physical domain which have affected other dimensions of development. The present study aims at assessing the impacts of implementing a guidance plan in the sustainable condition of Kandovan historic village. Despite the studies conducted on the examination of effects and performance of rural guidance plans in Iran, paying attention to analysis and assessment of performance regarding the implementation of guidance plan in the physical sustainability and unsustainability of Kandovan village within the framework of sustainable physical development indices is one of the most significant features that demonstrate the scientific authenticity and value of the present study.