Natural Geography Studies, a Constructive Basis for Rural Development Plans

The aim of natural geographic or environmental studies is to achieve a basic knowledge of environment or land which is the context of all human activities and natural phenomena; these phenomena do not follow the same rules (Rahnama’ei, 1992). Consequently, the current state is the result of interactions over years. Identification of new state in ideal temporal conditions is of extraordinary importance, because social environment is indeed the economic environment caused by nature, and geographic environment includes natural, social and economic environment. Since studies concerning rural development plans have concentrated on three natural, social and economic or spatial, demographic and occupational (employment) sections, the part concerning natural or spatial studies seems less prominent and does not receive emphasis, and this is a bitter experience which should not be repeated. This paper tries to present the importance of a part of rural developmental plans regarding natural geographic or environmental studies (physiography).