Houbareh Bustards in Konar area near Darab in southern Fars Province are under threat in this impoverished area from hunters who make profit by capturing live Bustards to be sold to selected countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. Houbareh Bustard elgant fight with Kites is considered to be a luxurious hobby as well as their rich liver meat is also used as expansive cousins in some neighbourng countries. Financial problems of the local people and high unemployment rate in the area as well as unfamiliarity with the importance of Bustards seriously put the birds in danger during the past years. Despite the fact that supporting livelihood activities, permission to set up a factory to produce dates products was granted by Jihad Agriculture and allocation to dredge and repair the spring and streams for agriculture purposes was approved by authorities, recent drought in the area influenced livestock breeding and palm growing activities.

This project aims to promote participatory conservation through:

-Support local game guards activities and their collaboration with Depatment of Environment and conducting a seminar on conservation of Bustard in Dasht-e-Kenar area
-Lobby for converting hunting prohibited area to Protected Area by relative organizations
-Follow-up to build a check dam to prevent seasonal flooding in the Bustard?s habitat training schedules in order to sensitize local community about soil degradation and erosion
-The local development fund established in the first phase will be supported to introduce alternative livelihoods for the local community to reduce illegal hunting by locals
-Organize and follow-up on the process of building a factory for packaging of date and date products of Nakhl Neshan Darab Co-operative
-Train the local communities and develope strategies to lobby and to prevent disposing chemical waste in Bustard habitat