The Reflection of SMLWR Project News in Press and Websites

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The Reflection of SMLWR Project News in Press and Websites Introduction economy as an appropriate tool for the integrated management of Today, the key role of mass media is culture-building, education, natural resources along with the inter-sectorial cooperation, control informing and establishment of social participation. One of the key of land degradation and improvement of living standards for the factors of success in any project is the extent that managers attach local residents. significance to finding the accurate methods of communication with various audiences in different levels. In the current era, called Project Document for the Phase II the age of communication, the establishment and development Towards the attainment of the above-mentioned objectives, of communication shall be in a form that supports and assists Hablehroud Project has chosen an integrated approach and has authorities and managers in order to attain their objectives, defined two outcomes as stated below: otherwise they would never succeed. So, in case a project is similar Outcome #1: Development of a model for the integrated to Hablehroud project, based on participatory objectives, the lack of planning and management of the land and water resources in the communication between public, authorities, other organizations and watershed in line with the sustainable development of the basin institutions brings about an ignorance regarding the responsibilities Outcome #2: Enhance the management status of land and water and objectives of the project and any participation opportunity in resources and control land degradation through the participatory terms of support provision and assistance would be lost. Therefore, approach at the Basin understanding the effects of mass media on provision of information regarding the objectives and (implemented) targets is a necessity for Strategies adopted in phase II attaining sustainable development. To achieve the mentioned outputs and outcomes, Hablehroud Hablehroud Project to attain its objectives implements a set of Project has adopted the following approaches, where each of the actions and activities. The reflection of these actions through mass outcomes requires a wide spectrum of measures. media not only describes the existing situation, the difficulties \ The adopted approaches for the achievement of a related to natural resources management and local communities’ project’s outcomes: develop a model for integrated planning livelihood, but also provides the project’s used solutions and and management of land and water resources of the watershed processes. for the realization of sustainable development Since documentation is the key component for knowledge \ Establishing managerial structures management, Hablehroud Project considers the collection of news \ Strengthening inter-sect oral coordination about the project in the press and websites. In this collection, the \ Conducting studies and planning analytical articles concerning the impacts of Hablehroud Project on \ Training and capacity building natural resources and local communities’ livelihood are provided, \ Disseminating information and conducting public followed by 150 News (2012 - 2015) on Hablehroud Project, awareness campaigns published in different websites. \ The adopted approaches in attainment of outcomes for two plans: enhancement of land and water resources Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of management and control of land degradation through Hablehroud Project participatory processes across the watershed Development experts believe that the stakeholders’ participation \ Sustainable land management (control land degradation/ guarantees the success of any plan or program and in fact the improve soil quality/ameliorate vegetation coverage) primary objective of development is the attainment of participatory \ Sustainable water management (equitable distribution of management. Although various endeavors are taken place to water/improve water quality) institutionalize public participation in watershed management, \ Enhancement of local residents’ living standards (increase a specific practical mechanism is yet to be developed in Iran. income/employment/address socio-cultural issues) The Sustainable Development of Land & Water Resources of Hablehroud Project envisions defining and developing a model for Outstanding Actions institutionalized public participation in the management of land and \ Building inter-sectorial management structures in so water resources projects throughout the country. that building institutional coherence based on organizing The phase I of the Sustainable Management of Land and Water monitoring, planning, technical, watershed integrated Resources (SMLWR) Project commenced in 1997 based on a joint management, and local committees as well as setting up natural initiative by the Islamic Republic and Iran and the United Nations resources integrated management think tanks and a water Development Programme (UNDP) at Hablehroud Basin with an resources management team for Hablehroud Basin area of 1.2 million hectares as its pilot region. \ Strengthening the inter-sectorial coordination through After the conclusion of Phase I, in a joint meeting of conclusion of memorandum of understanding with other representatives from the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture, Planning and ministries, organizations and private sector Management Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP, \ Provision of land-use document of Hablehroud Basin it was decided to commence the Phase II of Hablehroud Project as a \ Preparation of monitoring and assessment plan of high priority national project. Hablehroud Basin The integrated management strategy of Hablehroud Basin is \ Implementation of 90 activities in water management included in the agenda of Phase II. The preparation of such strategy (transferring water, repair and rehabilitation of spring, coupled with the well documented past experiences paves the way construction of water storage pool and watering place, for the development of a model applicable in the other regions of the construction of underground dams, wastewater treatment, country. The envisioned model could enable the project to implement irrigation) the detailed concepts and schemes to utilize the participatory \ Implementation of 100 activities in land management approach in sustainable management of land and water resources ((non) fruit-bearing tree planting, growing fodder, grazing inside the watershed as well as the other development projects. management, reduction of stocking rate, rangeland Since, preservation of natural resources has a high priority in preservation, seeding, planting, agricultural land amendment, the 5th National Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of soiled, gabion and concerted broken rock dams) Iran, the Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources \ Implementation of 60 socio-economic activities (setting (SMLWR) project was extended for another 5 years until the end of up cooperative, fruit-garden development, construction 2016 by the seventh meeting of the Project Board comprised of the of water place, bee-keeping development, holding Deputy Minister and Head of the Forests, Rangeland and Watershed empowerment workshops, vermicomposting development, Organization (FRWO), the United Nations Resident Representative medicinal plants and herb production, rangeland byproducts in Iran, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other use, empowering women) members of the Project Board. They emphasized on the sustainable \ Documentation of local knowledge in Hablehroud Basin \ Training and capacity-building through international and the last 17 years by Hablehroud Project are reviewed, modified national visits, as well as holding training workshops and compiled in order to establish a suitable database. Finally, a \ Improving awareness and public informing through film comprehensive table indicating the specifications of the sub-basins production from the project’s outcomes, creating a website, and the land use trends are prepared. An analysis on the table participating in exhibitions related to project’s objectives, provided the final map of suggested land-use categorization as well publication of books, quarterly newsletter and brochure as the management plans in Hablehroud Basin. \ The selection of Rameh rural women cooperative in Hablehroud Basin as the pioneering rural women cooperative Monitoring and Assessment Plan of Hablehroud Basin in 2014 in the country by the Selection of Pioneer Producers in Monitoring and Assessment Plan of Hablehroud Basin is the Agriculture Sector headquarter result of diligent planning and efforts of Sustainable Development \ The selection of Mr. Kalaaee, the executer of Amid Abad region of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud Project with the aqueduct repair and dredging project, in Hablehroud Basin participation of all stakeholders in the provinces of Tehran and as the pioneering watershed manager of Semnan Province in Semnan. For this purpose, the framework for the monitoring and addition to pioneering executer of Sustainable Management of assessment of Hablehroud Basin was discussed in the Technical Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud Project in Sorkheh Committee and the expert work groups and after the initial County in Natural Resources Week in 2014 coordination; its development was commenced via the trinity of \ The selection of Mr. Ebrahimi, the fellow of Hablehroud expert-groups on socio-economics, land and water in September Project in Havir village, in Tehran Province, as the pioneering
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