The effect of dams on sustainable rural development, a case study of the Shian Dam, Kermanshah province, Iran

Introduction: Assessing the sustainability of rural areas and its influencing factors is of paramount importance. This study aimed to measure the sustainability of villages in Shian Rural District, located in Eslamabad-e Gharb County, Kermanshah Province, Iran.Methodology: This research utilized a descriptive-analytical approach. The statistical population consists of 13 villages in the Shian Rural District, which were examined using questionnaires and field observations. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by subject matter experts, and its reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha test (0.907). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software.Results: A significant difference was observed in the sustainability of the villages. Accordingly, the villages were ranked as follows: among the 13 villages of Shian Rural District, Karmere Sofla village obtained the highest score (133.84), and Tajar Karam of Panah Abad village had the lowest score (65.72). Subsequently, using the Wilcoxon test, it was concluded that according to the ranking table, the mean score before the construction of the dam was 19, while this value was 23 after the construction of the dam, indicating a positive and significant impact.Conclusion: The construction of the Shian dam significantly affected the sustainability of the villages, improving income and livelihoods.Keywords: Sustainability; Economic and social variables; Shian dam; Islamabad-e Gharb County