Social/Cultural Impact (Empowerment, Changes in Attitude):

It is apparent that the project to empower the local community to protect mangrove forests in Guatr gulf has impacted the socio-cultural structure of the local community. The impact cannot be overlooked even though its scope and extent has been different in various groups.

Impact on Local Community:

The local community is recognized as one of the main beneficiaries with impact on the trend in project implementation as well as the group responsible for its implementation. Indications of this impact can be noted in the following areas:

1. Increase in the number of elementary school students in Kolani village from 52 during the first year to 130 in the third year.
2. Increase in the number of girls previously not in the school system from 3 in the first year to 67 during the third year.
3. Organization of literacy classes for men for the first time in the Kolani village based on demand (23 students during the first year)
4. Organization of literacy classes for women for the first time in the Kolani village based on demand (54 students during the first year)
5. Active administrative communication with local authorities by local community members and representatives of local community (Head of health network, district office, governor?s office etc...)
6. Dissemination of information on elements threatening mangrove forests in the area to the project implementation team
7. Active presence of women in decision making and planning for the village.
8. Request by the local population for additional teachers for the village school and subsequent allocation of eight additional men and women teachers for Kolani School.

Impact on members of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs):

The project was considered an exemplary and pioneering undertaking in rural development activities among NGOs on the national level and provided fresh opportunities for voluntary involvement of NGOs.
Presentation of periodical reports to NGO members including members of Iran Green Front familiarized individuals with project definitions and administrative framework and encouraged their involvement and application of their knowledge during the project implementation while collaborating with the project team.

Impact on Governmental Organizations:

Continuous reporting to local and national authorities introduced them to the concepts of participative processes on one hand while it drew their attention to deprived areas such as Dashtiari district on the other.

Impact on Project Implementation Team:

Implementation of this project was considered as a valuable and beneficial first experience for the team. This impact can be evaluated from different dimensions including approach, learning, performance, team work etc...

The impact on the approach towards participatory activities with emphasis on local community empowerment as well as approaches toward the local communities should be considered as the most important dimensions.

Meanwhile the long-term impacts of this process on the above groups should also be noted as most impacts are considered non-tangible.

Environmental Impact:

Sensitization of the local community about the importance of the mangrove habitat:

Kolani village is the closest human habitation to the mangrove forests. As stated in field studies and forest field studies, the linkage of the community with mangrove forests dates back a long time. The forests play a significant and importance role in the daily life of the local community. Unfortunately, in recent years, occurrences such as long droughts, and shrimp operations leading to changes in livestock grazing routes have weakened the linkages between the people and the forest to the extent where most children and women in Kolani have only heard about the forest.

Visits to the forest by the project team with locals, organization of student camps to familiarize them with mangrove forests, undertaking field studies unique to the forests as well as discussions with the elderly and other groups to revive memories of the forest have increased overall awareness toward the local habitat to the extent where the local community acted upon the identification of the elements threatening the forest. The local community also prepared a resource map to indicate the situation of the forests and access roads along with existing obstacles.

Drawing the attention of various groups including Government Organizations to the importance of this habitat through various reports

Economic Impact:

Even though the project to empower the local community to protect mangrove forests does not directly address income generating activities, activities such as issuance of village insurance cards, birth certificates, construction of health house and school have considerably reduced some of the associated costs for villagers. Reduction of health expenditure by using insurance card or the use of the services provided by the health house, enjoying the benefits with the possession of a valid national birth certificate can be considered as economic impacts of the project while other future impacts may also become evident.

NGO empowerment:

The project is the first experience for Iran Green front. Implementation of the project generated significant capacities among the members. Training and education of a professional group to undertake similar activities by the instructors and experts in this area can be considered as the most important impact of the project on the process of member empowerment.

Familiarization with the terminology of rural development and working with local communities as well as areas of collaboration among members are considered among the first steps for empowerment in Iran Green front with long term implications and great impact on future activities.