Project Detail

Traditional Forest Management in Haverh-Khol Village (Kurdistan Province)

Project location:Havarekhol, Baneh, Kordestan(Lat/Long:35.9488100-46.0107420)

This project aims to compile and introduce the traditional forest management as a method for Sustainable Forest Management and modify it according to national and international goals and forest sustainability criteria. Hence, a kind of "participatory forestry plan " based on the local knowledge will be prepared with the involvement of the local NGO and community. Then it will be legally registered as "Modified Traditional Forest Co-Management System" with the High Council of Forest, Rangeland and Soil. To this end the team will survey and categorize the forest stands, compile the local knowledge on traditional forestry, appraise income generating avenues from the Modified Traditional Forest Co-Management System. Other activities include awareness raising, capacity building and documentation of the project process. Finally, CDs, booklets and videos on the lessons learned will be prepared to disseminate the best practices which will be shared through two workshops in Tehran and the project site.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Association of Young Conservationists (Daumoon)

Country:

Iran

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 25,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 22,700.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 5,000.00

Project Number:

IRA-G52-2002-018(IRA98G52)

Start Date:

4/2003

End Date:

3/2007

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Forest management in a Traditional Way, Kurdistan Province, IRAN

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Project Characteristics and Results

Policy Influence

1. Changed the status of coppice activities from an illegal activity (Land reforms 1963) to a viable alternative for mid-term forestry management. 2. Modified traditional coppice based practices were legislated.

Replication of project activities

1. Increased awareness and sensitivity among villagers toward forests and their importance to local livelihoods. 2. Generated interest in alternative livelihood activities such as beekeeping. 3. Improved status of Havareh-Khol among neighboring villagers. 4. Established a small local library (first in project office then in local mosque). 5. Facilitated dialogue among local about different forestry and socio-economic issues. 6. Established a local village Development fund. 7. Changed local perception of woman?s social status.

Project sustainability

1.Establishment of the northern Zagros Forestry Research and Development Center. 2.Approval of implementation of modified traditional forestry and approval by the High commission of forests and rangelands in the specified regions. 3.Collaboration of the local community. 4.The involvement of local community in all stages of project execution 5.Local recognition that traditional forestry management practices are critical to continued involvement in similar activities. 6.Formation of a committee within FRO responsible for analysis of traditional forestry activities. 7.Social capital built by participatory methods.

Policy Impact

In 1963 following to nationalization of forests, government decided to restrict exploitation of forests. As a result of new regulations, any form of cutting wood (to be used as fuel or fodder) was banned and there were strict penalties against breaking the rules. Since then Galazani (Coppicing) was officially prohibited. Although governmental authorities tried to introduce alternative plans for forest management, those plans were not accepted by indigenous people and consequently not successful. ?Fighting against Galazani (Coppicing)? was a common policy during all those years. Successful implementation of this project led forest and rangeland organization (the main legal authority of forest management in Iran) to justify their policy. In 2003, high council of forest decided to change the name of previous long term plan from ?fighting against Galazani (Coppicing)? into ?Organizing Galazani (Coppicing)?. A year later, project received the award of best national project on natural resources and an article about project achievements were published in Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. Recognizing project achievements, North Zagros Research and Development center was formed in Kurdistan province to facilitate effective communication between education and development sector and executive agencies active in forest management. There has been several discussion sessions and at least 5 master?s degree dissertations have been proposed since the center established.

Capacity - Building Component

Supporting local sustainable livelihoods, a bee keeping project proposed by local community was approved by SGP national steering committee. Upon implementation of bee keeping project, 10 families started managing 70 bee houses upon agreements with village Islamic council. Each family, owning 7 bee houses, committed to annually return $200 to invest on more bee hives for other families in the area. By the end of first year, local people of Vashtromel, who had never practiced bee keeping, succeeded to produce 600 ? 750 kg of Gazou (a local plant) honey.

Gender Focus

Traditionally women had very limited participation in social activities in Kurdish areas in Iran. While activities of female members of project team was treated as kind of unusual in the beginning stages, local community later accepted participation of females and also started accepting social activities of female members of their own families.

Project Results

During the project implementation a comparatively comprehensive information dissemination on the condition of forests in Baneh region and different forms of forestry was accomplished.This invoked the interest of Kurdestan University, to the extent that a center entitled Center of Research and Development of North Zagros Forests was established in Baneh Town. The goal of this center is to:

1. Implement research projects about North Zagros Forests

2.Promote relations between academia and the executing agencies.

3.Create the suitable opportunities for the participation of all stakeholders in planning strategies and forestry programmes.

The modified traditional forestry prepared in this project was applied in Havareh Village and is now being used as a replicatation model fora similar project for Armardeh Forests by Kurdestan University and the Center for Research and Development of North Zagros Forests.

Recognizing the accomplishments and capacity of Damoon Association in this project, the NGO was appointed as the consultative NGO by the High Council of Forests and Rangelands to assist in preparing a program for the 20 year prospects of the forests in Caucasia and Middle East Region for FAO.

Presently Damoon Association is one of the main active members of National Youth Organization. Also the representative of Damoon has been appointed as the Head of the National Commission for Enviornment in the National Youth Organization.

Acknowlegements:

- An article was printed in Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research in 2004 based on project achievements.
- A presentation of project activities and results won the best award in the Third National Conference of Forests and Sustainable Development in Iran
- In 2004, Project received the award of best National Project on Natural Resources
- 5 university theses and dissertations have been proposed and implemented regarding the project objectives.

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