Kurdistan Province Of Iran Research Articles

Energy budget and economic analysis of modern and traditional wheat production systems in Kurdistan province of Iran

This study was conducted to analyze input-output energies and economic analysis of modern and traditional wheat production systems of Kurdistan province, Iran. Data were collected from 100 dryland and 100 irrigated wheat fields. The fields were selected randomly, and inquiries conducted in a face-to-face interview from May up to August next year. The results showed that total energy inputs, energy use efficiency, and specific energy were 49,956 MJ ha-1, 2.4, and 4.9 MJ kg-1 in modern irrigated wheat system, respectively, 19,064 MJ ha-1, 3.4, and 3.4 MJ kg-1 in traditional irrigated wheat system, 16,598 MJ ha-1, 1.7, and 6.7 MJ kg-1 in modern dryland wheat system, and 14,471 MJ ha-1, 1.99 and 5.75 MJ kg-1 in traditional dryland wheat system, respectively. The economic analysis revealed that the total cost of production and net return were 546.5 and 1,448.6 USD ha-1 in modern irrigated wheat, 206.4 and 844.7 USD ha-1 in traditional irrigated wheat, 230.5 and 237.6 USD ha-1 in modern dryland wheat and 185.2 and 266.1 USD ha-1 in traditional dryland wheat systems, respectively. The results of this study showed that the modern wheat production system uses more energy compared to that by the traditional wheat production system. Thus, the wheat producers are advised to adopt modern wheat production systems with some caution.

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in groundwater of rural areas of Kurdistan Province Iran: A comprehensive study

This study focuses on the contamination of groundwater by heavy metals (HMs) in the Kurdistan Province of Iran, an area heavily reliant on these water resources, especially in rural regions. This research aimed to quantify the concentrations of 20 HMs in groundwater sources and assess the associated health risks, including both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects, for different age groups. The study was conducted in 2024. We collected 155 groundwater samples from water resources of the villages in Kurdistan Province, west of Iran. The study encompassed comprehensive sampling of groundwater from various wells and springs throughout the province, which was subsequently subjected to thorough laboratory analysis utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) for the quantification of heavy metal (HM) concentrations. The highest concentrations of As, Co, Cu, and Mo were 7.90, 0.22, 2.48, and 1.68 μg/l, respectively. It was related to the cities of Qorveh, Sanandaj, Baneh, and Qorveh respectively. A Health Risk Assessment (HRA) was performed, indicating that, while the concentrations of most HMs were within the thresholds established by national and international standards, certain metals, such as arsenic and lithium, presented notable non-carcinogenic risks, especially to children. These metals were responsible for over 48 % of the cumulative hazard index (HI) across all ten cities evaluated. Furthermore, the HI for the adult demographic exceeded 1.0 (specifically 1.23) exclusively in Qorwe city. The study also identified a high carcinogenic risk associated with lead across the province, which has a carcinogenic risk of 7.3 × 10−03 in 10 studied cities, which is more than the guideline value of 10−04. The findings underscore the urgent need for continuous monitoring and the implementation of preventive measures to safeguard public health. The results provide crucial insights for policymakers and health authorities, facilitating informed decisions to mitigate the health risks posed by HM contamination in the region's groundwater.

Parental acceptance of Silver Diamine Fluoride in two lower-middle-income countries: Iran and Tajikistan

BackgroundUsing Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) may be an effective public health approach for managing dental caries in children. Parental acceptance of SDF has rarely been investigated in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to evaluate parental acceptance of SDF to manage dental caries in children aged 2–12 in Iran and Tajikistan.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kurdistan province of Iran and Khatlon region of Tajikistan, 2022–2023. Parents watched a video about SDF and its weaknesses and strengths as compared to conventional approaches before completing the questionnaire. We also reported Prevalence Ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the relationship between parental acceptance and associated demographic factors as well as dental attitude and experience.ResultsParticipants were 245 and 160 parents in Iran and Tajikistan, respectively. In both countries, a majority (Iran: 61.6%, Tajikistan: 77.9%) accepted SDF over conventional treatments for all primary teeth. The majority also accepted SDF only for posterior permanent teeth (Iran: 73.5%, Tajikistan: 78.7%). Black discoloration was the main reason for rejecting SDF. Overall, demographic factors and dental experience and attitude were not significantly associated with SDF acceptance.ConclusionsSDF was widely accepted by Iranian and Tajik parents. Establishing parental acceptance of SDF is an important step toward its application in LMICs where inexpensive solutions are needed.

A new Drusinae (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) species from the Zagros Mountains in the Kurdistan Province, Iran.

A new species of the Drusinae subfamily, Drusus chelchamaensis Ibrahimi & Mohammadi sp. nov., is described based on male genital morphology. The male of the new species is most similar to that of Drusus bayburtii akin 1983 (known from several places in Anatolia, Turkey), Drusus ketes Olh & Mey 2017 (in Olh et al. 2017) (known from the Hamedan Province, Iran), and Drusus kazanciae akin 1983 (known from the Hakkari Province, Turkey) and differs in the formation of superior appendages, intermediate appendages, inferior appendages, parameres, spinate area of segment VIII, and segment IX. The species is currently known only from Chel Chama Mountain in the Kurdistan Province of Iran and is the second known species of the Drusus caucasicus Species Complex from Iran. Chel Chama is part of the Zagros Mountains, which is rich in freshwater ecosystems, but currently with only a few reported species of caddisflies.

Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in a Mountainous Area Using Machine Learning Algorithms

Landslides are a dangerous natural hazard that can critically harm road infrastructure in mountainous places, resulting in significant damage and fatalities. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of three machine learning algorithms (MLAs) for landslide susceptibility mapping including random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and support vector machine (SVM). We selected a case study region that is frequently affected by landslides, the important Kamyaran–Sarvabad road in the Kurdistan province of Iran. Altogether, 14 landslide evaluation factors were input into the MLAs including slope, aspect, elevation, river density, distance to river, distance to fault, fault density, distance to road, road density, land use, slope curvature, lithology, stream power index (SPI), and topographic wetness index (TWI). We identified 64 locations of landslides by field survey of which 70% were randomly employed for building and training the three MLAs while the remaining locations were used for validation. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUC) reached a value of 0.94 for the decision tree compared to 0.82 for the random forest, and 0.75 for support vector machines model. Thus, the decision tree model was most accurate in identifying the areas at risk for future landslides. The obtained results may inform geoscientists and those in decision-making roles for landslide management.

Modeling the spatial variation of calcium carbonate equivalent to depth using machine learning techniques

Inorganic carbon is the largest source of carbon in terrestrial surface, particularly in arid and semiarid regions, including the Chahardowli Plain in western Iran. Inorganic carbon plays an equal or greater role than organic soil carbon in these areas, although less attention has been paid in quantifying their variability. The objective of this study was to model and map calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) presenting inorganic carbon in soil using machine learning and digital soil mapping techniques. Chahardowli Plain in foothills of the Zagros Mountains in the southeast of Kurdistan Province in Iran was taken as a case study area. CCE was measured at 0-5, 5-15, 15-30, 30-60, and 60-100cm depths following GloalSoilMap.net project specifications. A total of 145 samples were collected from 30 soil profiles using the conditional Latin hypercube (cLHS) method of sampling. Relationships between CCE and environmental predictors were modeled using random forest (RF) and decision tree (DT) models. In general, the RF model performed slightly superior than the DT model. The mean value of CCE increased with soil depth, from 3.5% (0-5cm) to 63.8% (30-60cm). Remote sensing (RS) variables and terrestrial variables were equally important. The importance of RS variables was higher at the surface than terrestrial variables, and vice versa. The most significant variables were Channel Network Base Level (CNBL) variable and Difference Vegetation Index (DVI) with the same variable importance value (21.1%). In areas affected by river activities, the use of the CNBL and vertical distance to channel networks (VDCN) as variables in digital soil mapping (DSM) could increase the accuracy of soil property prediction maps. The VDCN played a principal role in soil distribution in the study area by affecting the rate of discharge and, thus, erosion and sedimentation. A high percentage of carbonate in parts of the region could exacerbate nutrient deficiencies for most crops and provide information for sustainably managing agricultural activity.

Evaluation of influencing parameters on the causes of occupational accidents in the construction industry using Fuzzy logic-AHP and Pareto theory (case study: Kurdistan province)

Introduction: Statistics show that occupational accidents in the construction industry are relatively high. Also, a significant percentage of these accidents in this industry leads to death. Therefore, in this study, the parameters affecting the causes of occupational accidents in the construction industry were evaluated using the combined method of Fuzzy logic-AHP and Pareto's theory in Kurdistan province, and management and engineering mitigation measures were determined.
 Methods and Materials: In this study, the effective parameters in the occurrence of accidents in the construction industry were identified and a questionnaire based on fuzzy hierarchical analysis was designed and distributed, which was completed by 83 occupational health and safety specialists in the Kurdistan province of Iran. The data analysis was done based on Fuzzy logic-AHP and Pareto theory.
 Results: In the evaluation of this study, out of the set of eight factors, unsafe conditions were found to be the most influential factor. Also, among the sub-factors of this index, the two parameters of lack of scaffolding and safety equipment for working at height and lack of protective fences in existing cliffs were the most important.
 Conclusion: Based on these results, it is suggested that to reduce the occurrence of accidents in this industry, control measures to create safe working conditions at height should be prioritized. Also, paying attention to the parameters determined by the Pareto theory in each factor can easily reduce more than 80% of the causes of occupational accidents in this industry.

Heavy metal concentrations in Caspian pond turtle (Mauremys caspica) in Zarivar International Wetland, Kurdistan Province of Iran.

In the present study, the cadmium, lead, and zinc levels in the blood and shell of Caspian pond turtles (Mauremys caspica) were investigated at five stations in Zarivar International Wetland in Kurdistan Province. All specimens were released at their capture locations within 2h of capture. Water samples were collected at each station. Heavy metal concentrations were determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean cadmium, lead, and zinc concentrations were 0.04, 32.10, and 11.45mg/l in blood samples; 1.82, 16.91, and 89.22mg/l in shell samples; 0.005, 1.30, and 0.07mg/l in water samples, respectively. In this study, the highest metal adsorption was zinc and was observed in shell. According to the results of this study, the shell of the Caspian Pond Turtle can be used to estimate the concentration of heavy metals. Our results suggest that Caspian pond turtle can be used as a biological indicator to estimate heavy metals.

Genotyping of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from People with Nosocomial Infections

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa nosocomial infections are among major problems associated with increased mortality and mobility among patients. Objectives: The aim of this research was to determine the molecular epidemiology of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing P. aeruginosa genotypes isolated from patients with nosocomial infections. Methods: One hundred forty-six clinical isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were obtained from a tertiary referral hospital. Phenotypic identification and PCR detection of gyrB were used to characterize P. aeruginosa. Extended spectrum beta-lactamases in samples were identified using the disk approximation test and the combination disk test (CDT). The blaSHV and blaTEM genes were detected by PCR. The strains were typed by the pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), repetitive element sequence (Rep)-PCR, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)–PCR methods. Results: A total of 134 (91.78%) P. aeruginosa isolates were separated, 41.79% of whom were related to nosocomial infections. The extended spectrum beta-lactamase analysis test revealed that 5.97% and 66.41% of the isolates harbored the blaSHV and blaTEM genes, respectively. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR, Rep-PCR, and PFGE each showed 56, 55, and 55 different patterns, respectively. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis indicated that pulso types C3 were dominant. Conclusions: The associations between ESBL production, blaSHV and blaTEM positivity, and ERIC, Rep-PCR, and PFGE patterns were not significant (P ≥ 0.05). Among nosocomial infections, a relatively high prevalence of ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa isolates was observed in the Kurdistan province of Iran. Periodic review of antibiotic resistance and molecular characterization of P. aeruginosa isolates is recommended to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections in hospitals.

A new species of the genus Hydropsyche Pictet, 1834 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from Kurdistan Province, Iran

The caddisfly fauna of the Kurdistan Province in Iran is poorly known, with only a few reported species until now. In this paper, we describe a new species, Hydropsyche kurdistanica Ibrahimi and Mohammadi sp. n. from the Zagros Mountains in Kurdistan. Males of the new species are most close to H. delamarei (Jacquemart, 1965) and H. lundaki Chvojka, 2006, but differ mainly in exhibiting a combination of the following characteristics: (1) dorsal keel of segment IX moderately wide with tapering apex in dorsal view, (2) digitiform appendages moderately long, almost equally wide, with rounded apex, and directed downwards in lateral view, (3) apical part of phallus short and broad, with short, somehow triangularly rounded lateral projections, (4) phallus strongly curved after basal third in lateral view, ventroapically rounded, (5) habitus and wings dark brown to blackish. Hydropsyche kurdistanica Ibrahimi and Mohammadi sp. n. is the twenty-fourth known species of the genus Hydropsyche Pictet, 1834 known from Iran and the second one from Kurdistan Province. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:992D271C-3327-4706-8625-7662CA4E2EF4

Sequences Comparison of Cytochrome Oxidase I Gene of Certain Species of Insects in Kurdistan with Other Locations in The World

In the present study, sequences of COI gene of insects belong to five orders collected from seven cities in the Kurdistan province of Iran with other locations in the word was studied.

Chironomidae (Diptera: Insecta) of Qeshlagh River, Kurdistan: DNA and morphology reveal new genus, species, and faunistic records for Iran

We assessed the Chironomidae fauna of Qeshlagh River, the second largest running water in the Kurdistan Province of Iran, and a major tributary of Sirwan River, using molecular and morphological methods. We identified a total of 35 Chironomidae species from the Qeshlagh River. Of these, Eraniella kurdistanensis gen. n., sp. n. (Orthocladiinae), Cricotopus (Cricotopus) hedayati sp. n., and Tanytarsus ronaki sp. n. are new to science. We combined DNA barcodes of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene obtained from the three new species with available sequences in GenBank and BOLD. The maximum likelihood (ML) tree placed Eraniella as a likely sister group of Parakiefferiella group of genera. The ML tree placed C. hedayati in Cricotopus festivellus group and a sister group of Cricotopus albiforceps (Kieffer, 1916). The ML tree placed T. ronaki as a sister group of Tanytarsus tamagotoi Sasa, 1983. This study also identified 11 new faunistic records for Iran and range extensions for the Palearctic. The importance of these local faunistic studies reflects broadly on the whole country, as the baseline information on the taxonomy and biogeography of the Iranian Chironomidae is scarce.

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus in Iran

BACKGROUND: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a significant viral disease of cattle sometimes found in Iran. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was the molecular detection of LSD virus (LSDV) and the determination of their relationship with other Iranian isolates. Moreover, the origin and spread of these viruses were evaluated. METHODS: The lymph node samples taken from clinically affected cattle from the Kurdistan province of Iran were tested for LSDV using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The partial P32 gene of LSDV was detected by PCR, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. The LSDVs detected in the present study were 42.98%-100% similar to other LSDVs of Iran. CONCLUSIONS: Iranian LSDV isolates in this research had the highest similarity to the isolates found in the Indian regions. However, they showed the lowest nucleotide identity with the countries located in the west and southwest of Iran, namely Turkey and Saudi Arabia LSDVs. It could be concluded that these viruses have entered Iran from the eastern borders. It seems that the monitoring of the country borders should be taken into consideration. Further studies should be carried out on LSDV pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology.

Contamination of Bovine Milk With Brucella spp.: A Current Public Health Menace in Kurdistan Province of Iran

Background: Brucellosis, a deteriorating zoonotic disease, is very common in most parts of Iran. Consumption of contaminated milk and dairy products is one of the most significant ways for transmission of the infections to human. Since the close rearing of cattle and sheep is practiced in Kurdistan province of Iran, the infection of cow with non-specific species is not out of mind. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of bovine milk contamination with zoonotic Brucella spp. Methods: A total of 240 milk samples, equally from traditional and industrialized dairy farms, were collected aseptically. Conventional microbiological method was used for isolation of the bacterium, followed by the genotypic identification of the isolates. Moreover, direct molecular processing of the samples was carried out for detection of the bacterial genome. The positive samples were further genotypically assessed to identify the contamination as Brucella abortus or Brucella melitensis. Results: In general, 16 (6.66%) and 15 (6.25%) of the samples were contaminated with Brucella spp. in phenotypic and genotypic methods, respectively. The proportion of contamination with B. abortus and B. melitensis in phenotypic and genotypic methods were 5% and 1.66%, and 5% and 1.25%, respectively. The overall rate of contamination in traditional milk samples was more than industrialized samples. Conclusions: Contamination of bovine milk with Brucella spp. is a serious threat to public health in the studied region. Continuous vaccination, application of test and slaughter policy, and presumption of pasteurized milk and dairy products are highly recommended.

Disaster safety assessment of primary healthcare facilities: a cross-sectional study in Kurdistan province of Iran

BackgroundKurdistan province of Iran is among disaster prone areas of the country. The Primary Health Care facilities in Iran deliver health services at all levels nationwide. Resiliency and flexibility of such facilities is important when a disaster occurs. Thus, evaluating functional, structural, and non-structural aspects of safety of such facilities is essential.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, the instrument used to evaluate four sections of functional, structural, non-structural, and total safety of 805 healthcare facilities in Kurdistan Province was the safety evaluation checklist of primary healthcare centers, provided by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Each section scored from 0 to 100 points, and each section of the safety was classified to three safety classes according to their total score: low (≤34.0), average (34.01–66.0) and high (> 66.0).ResultsThe levels of functional, structural, non-structural and total safety were equal to 23.8, 20.2, 42.3 and 28.7, out of 100, respectively. Regarding the functional safety, rapid response team scored the highest, while financial affairs scored the lowest. Nevertheless, in structural and non-structural sections, the scores of different items were almost similar.ConclusionsThe results of the study revealed that safety score of primary healthcare facilities in general was unsatisfactory. Thus, promoting preparedness, resilience and continuity of service delivery of these facilities are essential to response to disasters and emergencies. The finding of this study could be beneficial for national and provincial decision-makers and policymakers in this regard.

A serological and hematological study on Rift valley fever and associated risk factors in aborted sheep at Kurdistan province in west of Iran

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a disease caused by RVF virus (RVFV) which can cause infections in a range of wild and domestic ruminants as well as in humans and characterized by an increased incidence of abortion in ruminants. This study aims to survey the seroprevalence and risk factors of this zoonose among aborted sheep in Kurdistan province, the west of Iran. 182 blood samples were collected from aborted sheep during the past one month under age groups <1, ≥1−3, >3−5 year in four seasons in two groups of border and non-border cities of Kurdistan province. The presence of RVFV-specific Antibodies was investigated by using competitive ELISA. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) was used to confirm positive samples, after separation of serum, as well as blood samples were analyzed for description of hematological parameters. Of a total sheep sampled 1.65 % (n = 3) were positive for RVFV antibodies in both test. The results of IIFA were correlated with the ELISA results. All of the positive samples showed leucopenia and had significant relation with seroprevalence of RVF (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence of RVF in the border cities were significantly higher than other group (P < 0.05) Age of sheep and season had no significant effect on prevalence of RVF (P > 0.05). Results obtained in this study indicated the presence of low-level RVFV circulation among the sheep of Kurdistan Province in Iran, so it is necessary to carry out further studies in other areas of Iran. Doing an epidemiologically study aimed at isolating RVFV in the ruminants of Kurdistan province is recommended. The risk factor of bordering with Iran's western neighbor (Iraq) requires seriously control of the exchange of animals and the relevant products between the two countries.

Bovine subclinical mastitis-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, selective genotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates in Kurdistan province of Iran.

Background and Objectives:Staphylococcus aureus is frequently involved in bovine subclinical mastitis worldwide. Besides, the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carrier state of animals is a matter of worrisome. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of MRSA, discriminatory geno-analysis and antibiotic resistance scheme of the strains isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis in Kurdistan province of Iran.Materials and Methods:A total of 283 samples were collected and analyzed for S. aureus phenotypically and molecularly. SCCmec and coa types, and pvl gene were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of coa types and the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates were assessed.Results:Among the 95 isolates of S. aureus, 11 (11.57%) strains were recognized as MRSA. Six, one, and four SCCmec types represented for IVa, IVc, and V were determined, respectively, among which an individual IVa and V determinant harboured pvl gene. Restriction digestion products of 490 bp, 680 bp, and 730 bp of coa bands were generated. Tobramycin, mupirocin, fusidic acid, clindamycin, and chloramphenicol were the most effective drugs against the MRSA isolates.Conclusion:The detrimental involvement of S. aureus in bovine subclinical mastitis is proved herein. Besides, the contribution of MRSA and potential contamination of milk and dairy products with the bacterium may impose a serious public health risk. This demands serious and long-lasting efforts to control the infection. The results may be effective in the implementation of accurate controlling strategies.

Three new taxa of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Kurdistan province, west of Iran

Three new taxa of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are described from Marivan and Sarvabad counties in the western Kurdistan Province of Iran: Purpuricenus interscapillatus marivanensis ssp. n. which is closely related to the nominative subspecies and it is compared with Purpuricenus sasanus Kadlec, 2006, stat. rest.; Dorcadion (Cribridorcadion) sarvabadensis sp. n. which is closely related to Dorcadion janatai Kadlec, 2006 and it is compared with Dorcadion infernale Mulsant & Rey, 1863; and Dorcadion (C.) eustriolatum sp. n. which is closely related to Dorcadion holosericeum Krynicki, 1832 and to Dorcadion striolatum Kraatz, 1873. Distinguishing morphological characters are discussed and supplied with figures of the type specimens. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2937F557-0AD8-4B9B-A6FC-7E3C807F544A

Chironomidae (Diptera: Insecta) from Sirwan River watershed of Kurdistan (Iran) with new faunistic records for Iran and range extensions for the Palearctic region

We present the description of Chironomidae (Diptera) collected from Sirwan River watershed in Kurdistan province of Iran. This study is part of a larger monitoring program conducted from 2017 to 2018, surveying the freshwater flora and fauna of this watershed. Over half of the benthic invertebrates collected in this monitoring were Chironomidae, presenting the most diverse group. A total of 35 species of Chironomidae were found in Sirwan River Watershed of which 18 representing new faunistic records for Iran, range extensions for the Palearctic, and three being likely new species. Sirwan River is the largest running water habitat in the province of Kurdistan and an important resource for the local and regional economy. These studies help identify the organisms of freshwater ecosystems and provide useful tools for investigators, making better assessments of water conditions and improving their management.

Social dynamics of values, taboos and perceived threats around sacred groves in Kurdistan, Iran

Abstract Sacred groves are important for the conservation of biodiversity in the Middle East, as more formal approaches to protected areas have often failed in this global biodiversity hotspot. This study aims to identify the most important social values, taboos and perceived threats around sacred groves in the Kurdistan province of Iran. We test whether values, taboos and perceived threats are lost in transmission across generations, with increased urbanisation, and with modernising livelihoods. Our survey of 205 local residents revealed that spiritual values, biodiversity and cultural heritage values are key motivations for local people to preserve sacred groves. Taboos restricting natural resource use were widely shared by local people and thus appeared as powerful pillars for conserving sacred groves. Local people expressed a strong perception that sacred groves are threatened, both by deliberate and accidental actions, and from both extractive and non‐extractive uses. Social values and taboos around sacred groves in Kurdistan seemed relatively stable, but we found clear differences. The key holders of values and taboos were elderly people, women, rural people and people with traditional lifestyles. We conclude that eliciting the traditional knowledge and management practices of these groups and empowering them to maintain and revitalise their customs, values and taboos through socioeconomic modernisation is crucial for any conservation strategy. Local residents who are young, male, more urban and follow a modern lifestyle may need targeting by awareness‐raising conservation programs. Maintaining and fostering informal conservation traditions such as those around sacred groves is particularly important in areas of conflict where other conservation approaches are lacking and where pressures on natural resources are high. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.