Assessing the impact of medicinal plant (Ferula assa-foetida L.) habitat restoration on sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem health: Implications for sustainable development goals in semi-arid pastoral systems of Iran

In the context of the arid region rangelands, the community's livelihood is highly dependent on the ecosystem's services, including the proper management and use of natural resources. This research evaluates the effects of community-based restoration project and harvesting of Ferula assa-foetida L. on the livelihoods of pastoral families and ecosystem health in Iran. Through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, five capitals (natural, financial, physical, human, and social) were collected, analyzed through surveys and interviews with three groups: participating pastoralists, non-participants, and experts. Ecosystem health analyzed through four indices (soil infiltration, aggregate stability, soil nutrient cycling, and vegetation cover). Results demonstrated that Participating pastoralists had a high satisfaction with income, social cooperation, and access to natural resources compared to non-participants. Also, ecological evaluations in the restoration plots showed higher vegetation cover, and soil organic carbon. The research emphasizes the importance of restoration of medicinal plants in rural development strategies directly supports the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) 1, 8, and 15. Additionally, the community helped to secure the ecological resilience and socio-economic advantages of the model, which indicates the possibility of expanding its use to other semi-arid pastoral areas. • Participating pastoralists reported substantially stronger livelihood outcomes than non-participants across all five livelihood capitals. • Social and physical capital showed the most pronounced differences between participating and non-participating households. • Community participation strengthened collective action, trust, and engagement with rangeland governance institutions. • Ecological restoration plots exhibited higher vegetation cover and improved soil infiltration compared to non-restored areas. • Findings highlight the potential of community-based medicinal plant restoration as a context-specific livelihood and ecosystem intervention