Classification of Taleghan Rangelands for Medical Plants Use and Sustainable Development

Rangeland suitability is usually determined for recognition and assessment of its potential for apt utilization of this resource. This research performed to determine the capability of Taleghan rangelands for medical plants use in a sustainable utilization manner and to prepare the model of rangelands' suitability for medical plants. This model is based on the methodology introduced by FAO [1], considering the effective factors on each land use. Sampling process was done by stochastic-systematic method with four transects parallel with local slope and two transects perpendicular with the slope and using one square meter plots along with the transects in each vegetation type. All of the data had prepared by field surveys. Results show that in the medical plants sub-model, 28.9 percent of lands are located in the suitability class of S1, 33.5 percent in S2 class, 36.9 percent in S3 class and 0.7 percent in non-suitable class. These results could be used in land use planning, which may decrease the utilization risk, make the utilization units economic, increase the income of beneficiaries, and improve rangelands' condition