Evaluation of the Environmental Quality of Villages after the Implementation of the Rural Guide Plan (Case study: Villages in the Central District of Dargaz County)

Introduction

Smart villages are rural communities that actively respond to challenges and create new opportunities through innovative approaches. Over the years, various strategies have been proposed and implemented to address the issues faced by rural areas. One of the most prominent among these is the development of Rural Guide Plans, which aim to enhance the quality of rural physical and spatial structures, thereby improving socio-economic conditions and contributing to national rural development. The Rural Guide Plans represent the first comprehensive national initiative for the physical organization of rural areas, introduced in 1988. Their implementation in Khorasan Razavi Province began concurrently with other provinces across the country. However, similar to experiences elsewhere, these plans have encountered several challenges. Primarily focused on the physical and spatial aspects of rural settlements, a substantial portion of these plans has been executed nationwide. Essentially, Rural Guide Plans function as practical tools for rural development, providing a foundation for revitalization and guiding economic, socio-cultural, environmental, and physical dimensions of growth. In Dargaz County, the implementation of these plans began in 2014. Since then, numerous plans have been prepared for various rural areas across the county, covering approximately 70% of its villages. Given the extensive number of implemented plans, the size of the rural population, and census data from 2016 indicating that 44% of the county’s population resides in villages, evaluating the performance and outcomes of these plans is critically important. The central research question of this study is: To what extent have the Rural Guide Plans contributed to enhancing environmental quality in the rural areas of Dargaz County, and how effective have these plans been in achieving their objectives?
 

Methodology

This study employs a descriptive–analytical research methodology. Data were collected through both library and field methods. Library research provided the necessary statistics, documents, and theoretical background, while field studies involved direct observation, surveys, questionnaire distribution, and interviews conducted among the study’s statistical population. The research population comprised villages in Dargaz County where Rural Guide Plans had been fully implemented. Data analysis was carried out using statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics, the T-test, and correlation analysis. Descriptive tables and charts were first used to examine the villages’ physical–spatial indicators. Subsequently, a T-test assessed the impact of the plans on quality-of-life indicators, offering an overall evaluation of living conditions in villages with Rural Guide Plans within Dargaz’s central district.
 

Findings

Survey responses were collected from 172 participants, of whom 72.6% (146 individuals) were male and the remainder female. In terms of marital status, 76% (157 individuals) were married. Regarding educational attainment, 54.3% (96 participants) held a bachelor’s degree, 43 had a diploma, and 7% possessed postgraduate qualifications. To investigate the plans’ impact on the environmental quality of the studied villages, a T-test was employed—an appropriate method for comparing the status of two dependent groups using interval data to assess changes before and after an intervention. The results showed that 123 participants reported an improvement in environmental quality following plan implementation, while 49 observed a decline. Statistical analysis (z = −1.114, p = 0.111) indicated a significant difference in environmental quality before and after the implementation of the plans. The T-test produced a T-value of 11.614 for environmental quality, signifying a strong and positive impact of the Rural Guide Plans from the villagers’ perspective. Further analysis of physical–spatial indicators yielded the following T-values: 15.486 for physical indicators, 11.573 for functional indicators, 5.234 for environmental indicators, and 7.125 for aesthetic–perceptual indicators. Pearson’s correlation test revealed significant positive relationships between all plan dimensions and environmental quality (p < 0.01), confirming that effective implementation of the plans substantially improved the quality of the rural living environment.
 

Discussion and Conclusion

Evaluating the environmental quality of villages after implementing the Rural Guide Plans in Dargaz County underscores their importance as both a social and environmental initiative. These plans, as components of local development and economic programs, contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and enhancing residents’ quality of life. The findings correspond with earlier studies by Anabestani and Akbari (2012), Azizpour et al. (2012), Mohammadi et al. (2013), and others, reinforcing the positive role of Rural Guide Plans in improving living environments. Future assessments should also examine the plans’ broader social and economic impacts, including income growth, employment generation, local economic development, support for local production, and the strengthening of social and cultural ties among villagers. Overall, a comprehensive evaluation of environmental quality following the implementation of Rural Guide Plans in Dargaz County highlights the need for an integrated analysis of their multifaceted impacts—on residents’ lives, the environment, and the rural economy—to inform effective decision-making for the improvement and sustainability of rural living conditions.