Conservation of the Endangered Medicinal and Rangeland Species in Lazoor Village Through Community Participation and Creating Alternative Livelihoods (Link to UNDP Land & Water Project) (IRA-G52-2002-009(IRA98G52))

>> click here to see more detailed map 
download KML file (Google Earth) 

Project Details & Results

Project location:Lazoor, Damavand(Lat/Long:35.6767840-52.0642090)
This project aims to raise awareness about the environmental threats, educate the locals on the conservation of rangeland and encourage alternative livelihoods (improve the rural ability to cultivate medicinal plants), grazing management, seeding the endangered range plant species, etc. A film, a presentation (in Power Point) and educational brochures on the best practices will be prepared in Farsi and English. To share the lessons learned two workshops will be held in Tehran and Lazoor at the end of the program.

Notable Community Participation
The project will be managed by the appointed representatives of the villagers with the assistance of EDA. The villagers are involved in designing the proposal, securing and seeding the rangelands, designing and implementing grazing management plan, propagation of the endangered plants and marketing the medicinal plants.

Capacity - Building Component
EDA will conduct sixteen workshops to train the women and members of the community organization about different medicinal species and the correct method of cultivation and harvesting.
EDA will also hold twelve workshops in Lazoor to improve the abilities of the cattlemen of the village and members of the Lazoor Central Core CO to conserve the environment through participatory programmes. The locals will establish a rural management system to control the existing threats to the rangelands of the region.
A film, a presentation (in Power Point) and educational brochures on the best practices will be prepared in Farsi and English. To share the lessons learned two workshops will be held in Tehran and Lazoor at the end of the program.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
An alternative livelihood will be ensured through the propagation of endangered medicinal species such as peppermint, hyssop, chamomile and caraway which have market value. Therefore, the cattlemen will feel secured to implement the rural management grazing plan.

Gender Focus
The sustainability of the project will be ensured by involving a group of local women from the first stages of planning to the marketing of the product. This group, known as the 'Active Group', has been chosen by the villagers. It is responsible for implementing and adovocating the project for the next two years. The Active Group will hold on site workshops to convey the progress of the project for the villagers and encourage the involvement of more women.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The indigenous cattlemen will be empowered and mobilized to prepare a programme for soil and water conservation in participation with other organizations such as the Forests and Rangeland Org.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project also includes on site workshops for awareness raising for the locals regarding the conservation of the environment and endangered rangeland species.

Lazoor Village, Tehran Province, IRAN	Medicinal Herb Coverage of Mountains of Lazoor Village(Before Project), Tehran Province, IRAN
	Mountains of Lazoor Village, Tehran Province, IRAN	Seedling Medicinal Plants in Villagers yard, Lazoor Village, Tehran Province, IRAN	Medicinal Herbs Nursery, Lazoor Village, Tehran Province, IRAN
Local Women Planting Medicinal Herbs, Lazoor Village, Tehran Province, IRAN	Planting Medicinal Herbs in Mountains of Lazoor Village, Tehran Province, IRAN