Study of the Persian Gulf Marine Ecology & the Local Community (Corals and Their Relationship with the Indigenous) (IRA-G52-2001-003(IRA98G52))
Project Details & Results
Project location:Qeshm (Lat./Long. : 26.631419;55.568848)
The project is a production of two environmental documentaries (26 minutes each) on the Persian Gulf with a focus on the species of coral, the community traditions and their interaction with the coastal areas.
Abie-e-Bidar will visit 14 Iranian islands and communicate with the indigenous. However, some villages will be chosen as case studies and indicators. The shooting will take place in these villages.
The first documentary, Rendez-vous, depicts the perspective of the local community regarding the corals. It also documents the existing species of corals along a 1200 km strip of the northern coastline of the Persian Gulf.
For the second documentary, The Blue Awakening, different sections of the first film will be shown to the communities in at least 4 of the 14 islands, 5 fishing cooperatives of the regions and if possible public screening for councils, selected schools, etc. It will be attempted to film the effects (positive or negative) of screening the relationship between the film unit (Abie-e-Bidar) and the indigenous on their behavior.
To aim for awareness raising among a younger audience (age group of 10-14) the NGO has produced a book "Our Blue Sea" on the significance of marine ecosystems.
Notable Community Participation
A group of local fishermen guided the film unit through the islands of the region. Their anecdotes, experiences, knowledge about the valuable marine ecosystems of the region and the effect of local livelihood practices on this ecosystem will be integrated to form the basis of contents for the films. During the shooting of both films Abie-e-Bidar NGO interviewed the fishermen, children and the elderly of the villages to document their insights about the Persian Gulf marine ecology and the importance of coral reserves.
Capacity - Building Component
The first film wasl screened for the local communities to gain a better perception about marine life and their relationship with it. The two documentaries and the book "Our Blue Sea" has been used as an educational tool.
Gender Focus
The project team also had awareness raising sessions with the girls' school teachers. The films were screened for both girls and boys' schools equally.
The project team feels that the presence of women in their group was instrutmental in gaining the trust of the locals and relationship building.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The project also attempts to film and document the indigenous customs, and culture as it relates to the coral ecosystem with global significance before it is lost in the passage of time. Throughout the shooting of the documentaries the indigenous are engaged in informal sessions to highlight the pollution, damages, resultant loss of life due to human activities in that area.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project aims for awareness raising of the locals about the damage of their livelihood practices on the global environment as well as the natural erosion of the corals.
Policy Impact
Last year the High Council of Environment (headed by the President and representatives of government ministries and agencies) passed a new law which places confinement and monetary fine on breaking/destroying corals in the Persian Gulf. Many of the members had either seen or heard about the two films (through the wide distribution of these films) and they were an important point of reference in the session.
Project Results
The films produced in the project were very widely distributed and screened. It was screened more than 15 times in 5 islands and three villages and two major ports for the villagers, schools, fishery cooperatives and diving schools.
More 100 copies of each film was distributed among local government, national government agencies as well as village schools, fishery cooperatives and diving schools. The project has also produced a book "Our Blue Sea" as an encylopedia for schoolchildren on the marine ecosystem. 500 copies have been distributed to schools through the Bureau for Education of Bushehr and Hormuzgan Provinces.
The wide screening and distribution of both films has had an important policy influence. Last year the High Council of Environment headed by the President with representatives from every govt. agency and ministry has passed law to penalize the destruction of coral reefs in the Persian Gulf. The films produced in this project had a significant impact on this process as they were a point of reference to significance and the threats to this valuable ecosystem (as stated by the Deputy of Department of Environment).
Media (film and booklet) is a very sustainable tool for capacity building and awareness raising. During the project implementation some of the locals become so interested in the project that an informal local network was initiated to update the NGO on the environmental news of Qeshm Island. This network is still active and the NGO gets its important news (sighting of dolphins, unusal number of deaths in a specific species, etc).
The films were entered in Roshd Film Festival and Green Film Festival in 2003. For even a wider screening purposed the films have been entered for the GreenFilm Festival in 2005 once again.
Project Photo Gallery
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Documentation by a marine geologist cooperating with project
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Corals of the Persian Gulf
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An Example of the Ecosystem of the Corals, Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf, IRAN
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