Sustainable Strategies for Medicinal Plant Enterprises in Taleqan County Using SWOT–TOWS

Medicinal plants, as valuable natural resources, play a fundamental role in the global economy, rural livelihoods, and environmental conservation. Taleqan County, with its diverse ecosystems and rich plant habitats, possesses significant potential for the development of nature-based Business. The aim of this study is to formulate development strategies for medicinal plant businesses in Taleqan using the SWOT–TOWS framework, thereby providing a model for sustainable local development. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ۲۰ active stakeholders and expert-validated questionnaires assessing internal and external factors. The analysis revealed that these Business are positioned within the “Aggressive” strategic quadrant, indicating strong internal capacities—such as biodiversity, active social networks, and market expansion capabilities—combined with favorable external opportunities, including increasing domestic and export demand, governmental support, and the growth of digital markets. Accordingly, aggressive strategies such as establishing credible local brands, entering online markets, and producing high value-added products were proposed. In addition, competitive and defensive strategies were designed to address weaknesses and mitigate threats, including packaging redesign, creation of local investment funds, and collective transportation systems. At the national level, the findings suggest that linking local capacities with broader policy frameworks in the green economy and biodiversity conservation can provide an effective model for the sustainable development of medicinal plant Business in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Medicinal Plants ، Nature-Based Business ، Sustainable Development ، Taleqan County ، SWOT–TOWS Analysis