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 2013. The practical steps for the preparation and development of the watershed manager of the country in 2012 Monitoring and Assessment Plan are as follows: \ The selection of Hablehroud Project as the pioneering project \ Determine the influencing indicators that can be monitored amongst national macro-projects and receiving the award of under the framework of the ternary work groups the festival and exhibition of water, land and environment \ Prepare and complete the monitoring guidelines under the technologies in 2015 framework of the ternary work groups \ The selection of Hablehroud Basin as the pilot basin for the \ Systematically analyze each of the indicators under the national macro-project regarding the coherence management of framework of the ternary work groups watersheds in 2015 \ Prepare the managerial measures to enhance the monitoring of indicators and determine the most important and effective Land Use Document of Hablehroud Basin measure to upgrade the indicators under the framework of the One of the main documents of Hablehroud Project at the ternary work groups commencement of its phase II is the Watershed Land Use Plan. \ Prepare a time schedule for the implementation of the most It has identified the socio-economic and ecological capacities important and most influential measures for each of the indicators throughout the watershed and has selected the best locations for Thus, the indicators for monitoring and assessment of Hablehroud various land usages. The objectives of this document are as follows: Basin were developed and the pertinent managerial plans and 1. Quick synthesis of the baseline information guidelines were prepared by the ternary work groups. 2. Determine the socio-economic and ecological capacities In 2014, following the above process, the annual comprehensive with the aid of modern methods and conduct the land use monitoring report of Hablehroud project was provided for the first studies of the region within the boundaries of Semnan and time, through the efforts of a team including the representatives Tehran Provinces of the administrative agencies and participation of all beneficiaries 3. Prepare the basic concepts for the selection of the blank in Tehran and Semnan Provinces, according to the necessity of sub-basin to determine and compare the effects of project monitoring and measurement implementation, concerning the activities management action results, natural resources existing situation and In this document, the collected data and information during its changes.

Aquaculture Irrigated Farming Rain-fed Farming Agriculture and Gardening Development Waste Disposal Conservation Range Management Extended Tourisem Concentrated Tourisem Woodland and Tree Plantation Haloxylon Forest Park Aras-Aminabad Reserve Residental Area Industrial Area Military Area Road River Dam Mine National Natural Site Desert Protected Area Desert National Park Reconstration Zone

The Final Map of Suggested Land-Use Categorization in Hablehroud Basin Ettelaat Economy/Sunday, June 29, 2014

In sustainable development of plants and animals are in environmental resources, the resources are developed planning and human is added as a factor and in this process, it is the development of destroying of those five elements. In itself whic h is done sustainably. an environmental process, those five In other words, development cannot be elements balance each other. In other done temporally but permanently. words, if feedbacks cause problems Temporal development leads to for environment, natural system will capital amortization which itself causes balance itself according to the condition, wasting and loss of capital; therefore, the but human as the factor of planning condition for success in development is is the intensifier of environment[al its sustainability. destruction], so if s/he uses improperly As it is known, human needs resources and indiscriminately, s/he will cause to survive, so s/he shouldn’t utilize exacerbate destruction; otherwise, s/he and finish them quickly, but rather the will help the environmental sustainability resources should be managed in order to with proper and futuristic exploitation. be available for next generations. Dr. Jazi adds that soil is the bedding for Sustainable development as a process plant production and plant production is a prerequisite for improvement, per se is the element of continuation of promotion and progression to living other animals’ lives. Thus, the richer condition. the soil resources, the further the plants, Sustainable development provides basic forage production, and eventually the needs of human life, the achievement Sustainable Development: The more thriving the life. But, if the soil is of social justice, cultural variations and Key for Conservation of Resources lost, plants will be lost too and rain water maintaining unity. will find no ground to be absorbed in the It is clear that human has the ability [to doesn’t result in capital reduction. the participation of those communities; earth and the water will become out of reach] sustainable development. thus, the role of people is vital in reach from its consumers namely plants, Sustainable development is a The importance of natural resources planning, decision making, execution, animals and humans and intensify dry development in which human needs are conservation supervision and evaluation in each climate phenomenon. In addition, to met without damaging the ability of the Natural resources are one of the conservation planning. In Hablehroud, destroying the bedding of production, next generation, and utilizing of natural prominent wealth of the present participation has been considered as an it intensifies dangerous and threatening capital is permissible at the level of usage. time and for future generations. At ultimate goal in addition to people’s factors such as flood, landslides and The management of sustainable the moment, it is being destructed livelihood. Therefore, proper system of mudslides. development also attempts to pay for various reasons such as drought management for conservation should He holds that “We build several costly attention to the results of current and soil erosion, land degradation as be on the basis of participation of dams. But since we cannot control the behaviors in a clearer manner. a result of the indiscriminate use of Sustainable development focuses natural areas and improper exploitation. on different areas such as the effect of The destruction is very serious and * The executive manager of Hablehroud project: the richer the greenhouse gases, climate change, the [its speed] is much more than the soil resources, the further the plants, forage production, and ozone layer depletion, land degradation, process of renewal and reviving of eventually more thriving the life. the reduction of non-renewable resources. This problem has caused the * We build several costly dams. But since we cannot control the erosion and sediment, the working lives of dams will be decreased and the predicted level of water will not be available * Sustainable development provides basic needs of human life, the achievement of social justice, cultural variations and maintaining unity. communities, since without peoples’ erosion and sediment, the working lives * Sustainable development is a development in which human cooperation, development will not have of dams will be decreased and the predict- needs are met without damaging the ability of the next ge any meaning. This is because in the ed level of water will not be available”. neration and utilizing of natural capital is permissible at the current period, collective participation Feeling sorry, the executive manager level of usage. and the involvement of all beneficiaries of Hablehroud project explains that in decision makings is an admitted unfortunately the combination of several principle and the necessity of organizing factors such as water, soil, humans, resources, air pollution in the cities and extensive destruction of resources and those participations is a clear fact. plants and animals have been ignored other issues. the vulnerability of vast areas of the According to the variation of resources and the clean air has been also lost. The sustainability of development is environment. Therefore, conservation on the Earth, it is not possible to He emphasizes that “we should know also a condition in which not only the and sustainable use of these resources is discuss about all of them in this brief that there is a meaningful relationship favorableness and available facilities are particularly important. With respect to opportunity. Moreover, the professional amongst these elements. Therefore, if we not decreased, but also the application the significance of the conservation of description of resources developmental want to use water optimally, we should of sciences and suitable means are natural resources, the development of strategies is on the shoulder of the conserve soil first”. Referring to the fact reinforced and their values are increased conservational strategies and sustainable experts in this discipline. Therefore, that the rainfalls in Iran are one third of without leading to the reduction or use of these resources are seen as the the current article provides just a few the world’s average and evaporation is overloading of resources. fundamental necessity especially in Iran. instances of natural resources sustainable treble with respect to the world’s norm; Sustainability is a condition in which It must be noted that in each project, development based on the perspective of the manager of SMLWR of Hablehroud social and natural systems are working the guarantor of constant success is the some experts of the field. national project believes that “the together. In sustainable resource participation of people and government management of water should be in a way management, human is the most officials together. The Sustainable The Necessity of Land and Water that it evaporates less, but we accelerate important pillar; sustainable management Management of Land and Water Conservation evaporation by building several dams, provides system dynamism; sustainable Resources project of Hablehroud in Soil conservation is highly vital in so we should be more thoughtful about development is a plan composed of Garmsar is an instance of such a project the world as well as in Iran, since soil building them”. Jazi holds that traditional collection of theoretical principles by wherein the participation of local people, is considered as the main and the most water management in Iran was great. He which the dynamism is made and the government officials, organizations and important means of food provision in adds that developing aqueduct, which is mechanisms become possible. institutions can be seen clearly and this the first place and as an instrument for originally from Iran is a known method, Sustainable development considers participation has led to the sustainability preventing many natural disasters, green used in the discourse of climate change the long-term goals of human being. It of the project. space development and provision of in the world but we now never use it in indicates the desire of human for having Participation in conservation is of clean air in the next level. practical dimension and we destroy the a good life in the present and for the next great importance, because the issues Houshang Jazi, the executive manager traditional systems gradually. generations. related to the environment and natural of MENARID and Hablehroud He discusses that “Iran has always It is important to know that in resources has been intertwined with the international project, mentions that suffered from drought, so it is not a sustainable development, the capital lives of communities and the success soil is the bed of life and the five main new phenomenon in Iran. In the past, must protect itself and consumption of each plan in this field will require elements including water, soil, air, local knowledge was being adapted Ettelaat Economy/Sunday, June 29, 2014 with climate change and the role of vegetation and it should be controlled The amount of rainfall in Iran is 250 Therefore, water-conservation finds water canal watchmen for timing water and preserved. He argues that “the millimeters and the level of evaporation meaning in agriculture sector and we division was great. Then it is evident elements which threaten soil should is 1700 millimeters per year. By should seek sustainable development by that the ability for optimal water use be identified as soon as possible to stop comparing these amounts, we realize sustainable management of water and and soil resources existed in Iran and the degradation process, since it takes that the available water resources are soil resources”. He further adds that “our water requirement levels of ground 400 years that one centimeter of soil limited and if we do not use it optimally, resources of water and soil are limited was known without writing it on the produces. However, the substrate of some parts of life will be lost. Dr. Parviz and in case of management shortage, it is paper. However, through changing life is being destroyed easily in Iran, Kardovani, geographer and university not clear what would be left for the next the managers and privatizing the area, while through the conservation it can be professor, frankly and frequently generation”. Some experts emphasize the benefits are determined and group preserved for centuries. announces in TV programs and his that in the current conditions, non- cooperation damages. Water usage conventional waters can be used for changes as well, and the local knowledge agriculture and industries in order to does not transfer”. * The Deputy of Watershed Management in Natural Resources meet parts of the needs. He emphasizes that “management in Office in Semnan: The production of 1 centimeter soil takes 400 Wetlands can also be considered as the past could control the development, years. But the substrate of life is being destroyed easily in Iran. spaces for saving rainwater. In many but it has changed these days. Now it * Water conservation must be considered in agricultural use, constructions, gable roofs can be used seems that rainwater should be collected since 90 percent of water is being consumed there, so saving finds instead of bituminous waterproofing and it should be prohibited to use it meaning in agriculture sector. systems so that flowing water can be immediately. Everybody has to use his/ collected from those spaces, or by her water share without damaging the digging water wells, water can be led to resources; thus, a condition should be By chemical fertilizers and pesticides, lectures that “there is no water” and its aquifers for saving. provided for conserving water, soil and the soil is being contaminated severely result can be seen in Urmia Lake and In any case, no one can prevent vegetation, and springs and aqueducts to the extent that in some areas it has other areas. In plains, the decline of peoples’ development or get them to must be revived, natural system has to be reached alarming level, in spite of the groundwater has passed alarming level stop their demands, but we have to think vivified by reviving the soil, water, plant fact that we know any growth takes place and has reached land subsidence. We logically about conserving and preserving and animal resources, cropping pattern in the soil which can be seen in green cannot supply water from other areas, resources in addition to a positive should be changed and cropping must space development. By contaminating so this limited available amount of water response to the needs of people. It is true be matched with the water and soil. In soil and green space, air will be polluted must be managed. that we should also use the resources Iran, low water valuable seeds, such as subsequently. Alternatively, forest and Nocheh says: “from the total of today, but by this usage, the interests medicinal plant exist. We provide crude green space could be our source of life 250 millimeter rainfall, 90 percent of some people would be met which retail and the buyers sell them to us after and conserving soil is the condition of its is used in agriculture, 8 percent in is not collective and the perspective to processes. continuation. industries and 2 percent in homes. If development would be one-sided either. Nocheh, the Deputy of Watershed Nocheh clarifies that water and soil are water-conservation in homes reaches Management in the Natural Resources the basic resources of human being to 50 percent, then small number will Sediqeh Hashemi and Watershed Management Office live; however available water is lost by its be gained. Water-conservation should in Semnan1, also emphasizes that improper usage and unsuitable cropping be led into agricultural sector though, soil is the substrate for all land-based patterns. which has the highest level of usage.

1. A province in Iran. T Kayhan Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Water Crisis Lies in Wait for Green Areas

The first phase of Sustainable journalists and reporters and it was Entrepreneurs from Banking Facilities and now they also pay 10 thousand Management of Land and Water evident that the officials have lost While rural women have come tomans monthly to the fund. By doing Resources project has started since the way more than anything else. By together without any support, and this, we have empowered the women but 1998, as a joint program of Islamic considering the achievements of this strain to survive their land by creating still we need the help and supports of Republic of Iran and the United Nations project and its implementation in the small but warm and lively cooperatives officials seriously. Development Programme (UNDP) related watershed, the officials may full of the life smell, sometimes the in Hablehroud watershed with an prevent rural depopulation in addition to government officials turn their backs on area of 1.2 million hectares in Tehran fighting for water crisis and soil erosion. and Semnan Provinces as a pilot area. With the revival of the rural areas, dozens * The first phase of Sustainable Management of Land and Water The project is in progress with the of local and traditional occupation will Resources project has started since 1998, as a joint program purpose of achieving proper patterns for be flourished at the least cost. Although of Islamic Republic of Iran and the UNDP in Hablehroud planning, management, implementation, there are [still] some shortcomings in the watershed with an area in Garmsar. exploitation, monitoring and assessment projects, but the projects that have been of land and water resources in implemented in several villages including Hablehroud watershed. It also aims to Behvard should be appreciated. Jazi, the them and behave unkindly. Mina Rameh The Financial Support of Government? extent and develop its results to natural executive manager of the Hablehroud is the director of rural cooperative of HOW? resources conservation national projects international project (SMLWR), says women in Rameh1 region who, along In the presence of journalists and

Behvard is one of the several villages in which Hablehroud has returned life, water and prosperity.

based on the cooperation of people, “UNDP has devoted one million and with other cooperatives, has created reporters, Jazi, the executive manager of particularly villagers, in the watershed two hundred dollars for the first phase a successful and thriving cooperative SMWL of Hablehroud project, confirms management of the country. Before of this project, but Iran has used just with the support and collaboration of that the difficulties that rural women are the implementation of the project first 300 thousand dollars due to the lack of girls and women in Rameh and sells facing and asserts that the government phase, people could barely believe that coordination. Of course, for the second rural products of Semnan province should support rural organizations. Behvard Village could be flourished phase of this project, 700 thousand such as honey, industrial and medicinal What is the reason of supporting large again and its pomegranate gardens and dollars has been devoted”. plants, sweets and traditional bread, workshops while these rural women agriculture become fruitful after 7 years dhurrie rugs and handicrafts in Tehran’s are ready to work with the least wedge of drought which caused the village to be Regarding the reasons for raising water markets. However, the efforts have in small workshops? Why does the depopulated. and soil problems in this region and the faced unfulfilled pledges. Ms. Rameh government always wish to create Fortunately, the dream came true necessity of Hablehroud project, Jazi explains “policymakers promise but they industrial estates while it does not want based on Hablehroud project. Behvard says “incorrect removal of Hablehroud do not fulfill them. For instance, our to support small workshops?! is one of the several villages in which water and land use changes caused cooperative was selected as a premier. Entrepreneur and empowered rural the project has returned life, water and the reduction of underground water Officials including Keshavarzi bank women, and the authorities of SMWL of prosperity. and frequent flooding in the region manager of Semnan province promised Hablehroud project are sorry to say that Because of the project success, Mr. and had faced Hablehroud with crisis to pay 100 million tomans, as a long- while rentiers receive hundred billion Shasti, who has spent 80 years of his in a way that the penetration of salty term bank loans with installments. But tomans loans, without creating jobs life span there, is more hopeful and water from upstream to downstream by now, two years have passed from or having any plan, they face unkindly motivated for working on the farmlands threatened the river. These problems this hollow promise and there is no reactions of banks. Meanwhile, the now by seeing green pomegranate trees, led rural depopulation, but now the news about the loan!” Rameh, whose support of Keshavarzi bank is of prime barley fields and his green ancestral village has been revived, the migrants cooperative has become a center for importance in providing special loans lands. have returned, agriculture and traditional holding other training courses for rural to entrepreneur rural women; thus, Unfortunately, in the current occupations have become flourished women, refers that the main obstacle the government officials should not condition, Iran has confronted water and indigenous communities especially for developing the activities of rural withhold this group of working people crisis as well as soil crisis. Iran has the women are working in the form of women’s organizations is the shortage from supplying loans. first rank of soil erosion in the world cooperatives. Mohammad Hadi Nocheh, of development budget. She adds that Sediqeh Tavana and in some fields the soil erosion has the deputy of watershed management “when we refer to banks for loans, pledge reached more than twenty tons per in natural resources management in is asked and rural women are unable to hectare. Semnan, also believes that the purpose provide it”. Rural women’s organization According to Houshang Jazi, L/W of Hablehroud project in the second of Farvan village in Aradan city is another national project manager, “if the current phase is changing believes regarding rural women’s organization in Semnan situation continues, we will face soil land and water resources utilization. province which fortunately has been crisis in 30 years. In fact, not only we He says “Hablehroud project seeks to settled, thanks to the implementation have water crisis [now] but also we will provide a development pattern based on of Hablehroud project. However, this soon confront soil crisis by losing fertile our culture and religion in which the organization is not free from problems soil”. participation of people has the main role”. in spite of having 200 members and Water and soil threats may be inhibited Nocheh who is the provincial project various products such as noodle, if government officials, especially local manager of Hablehroud in Semnan medicinal plants and handcrafts. Shirin authorities devote all their concerns to indicates that “with the implementation Saadat, managing director of this rural conserve water and soil. of this project, some crisis centers of cooperative, says “after introducing dust has been stabilized by creating Hablehroud project to us, a number A Project to Save Iran’s Soil windbreakers created by planting of rural women have become the fund With the effort of Forest Range and trees around farms which prevent members by paying 50 thousand tomans Watershed Management Organization, development of desertification”. Hablehroud project was visited by The Exclusion of Women 1. Name if a village. T Jomhourieslami Report/ Sunday, June 29, 2014

These years, whenever I go to a village It is interesting that, due to cultural is crowded. I have had this position water and soil resources consumption which is devoid of inhabitants and in activities, people in neighboring villages from a long time ago, that is, from the pattern. He adds: “improvement in life, its entrance is a large but ruined four has been attracted to issues such as years that there were headmen in the sustenance and welfare of the inhabitants shower bathhouse I recall the first years creating coherent organizations as well village. This village has become devoid who rely on the natural resources of of Jihad of Construction activities in as creating jobs and generating incomes of inhabitants due to drought and people Hablehroud watershed are related to villages. The bathhouse shows that for villagers and farmers of the region went to neighboring villages and cities. soil and water resources sustainable the village has used to have more than including constructing fish farming But both in the period of drought, and exploitation, achieving a proper pattern 300 populations, because one of the pools, breeding sheep, development of now when the orchards have become for integrative and participation-based main privileges for building hygienic pomegranate orchards and even special green and fruitful, they come here for water and soil resources management bathhouses in villages was their abundant participation of women for creating working and visiting the orchards and and the social-economic development population. handicraft production workshops, farmlands and they come back in the with required changes in other parts of Iran has more than 60 thousands medicinal plants, food packing, and evening. According to my calculation the the country”. villages, but in the last 40-50 years, the production of honey in particular which population of the village was 200 people. He claims that “six years ago the number of cities has increased while the is unique in its kind and becomes a And I hope a day will come [in the near project started officially. The first actions number of villages has decreased. Of pattern for reviving generative villages in future] when those people come back to were holding meetings, consultation Hablehroud: The Symbol of Active Participation of Women in the Production of Rural Products course some large villages have turned and capacity building workshops for into cities, but there has been no effort the villagers because we believed that for building villages which shows that without their cooperation no project the factors of income generation in would achieve any results despite of villages have been reduced severely and abundant investments. Thus, after these valuable regions for continuing holding 8 workshops in Behvard and life and food provisions for cities have Karim Abad villages of Varamin, we become devoid of inhabitants despite of reviewed the history of raising problems having hygienic bathhouses, roads and in the village. Based on our investigation telephones. people introduced shortage of water Behvard is one of these villages which and devastating flooding as their main has become devoid of inhabitants due to problems. drought, and the deficiency still exists Mr. Nocheh adds that “with the there. It is a village located about 16 the country. the village”. supports of the government and people kilometers to north of Eyvanekey and 64 In addition to fresh water springs and He continues “plant species of for removing the aforementioned kilometers to the center of Garmsar city; the embankment dam of the region, grasslands are very diverse including problems, first, a soil dam with more in other words, after Varamin, the border stone mountains which have been annual plants, perennial grasses, spider than 3000 cubic meters capacity was between Tehran and Semnan. If two eroded due to wind and rain, and have plants, semi-shrub plants and rangeland constructed and a mortar stone dam houses with few people are seen, they are made a beautiful shape have produced shrubs. Artemisia, different kinds of operation for preserving more than 3000 the accommodation of a guard and one dramatic effect of nature which alongside milkvetch, ephedra sinica, pteropyrum, cubic meters of water was done. In or two workers. with pomegranate orchards can attract black vengeance, peganum, growing addition, bucketing in 25 hectares, But an event happened or a decision mountaineers from neighbor provinces. wheel, atraphaxis, are considered as the planting trees in 10 hectares, canal and was made in this region by the effort According to available statistics, the most important vegetation of the region. pipe-laying operations for transferring of government and villagers, and of average annual rainfall in the region is Furthermore, barberry shrub can be seen water with the length of 7500 meters, course the financial support of United low and is limited to 120 to 170 in some mountainous areas of the region. rock fall placement, [constructing] Nations. As the result, water, prosperity millimeters; however, by activating Thyme and tragacanth are also the gabion light dam [and] check dams and has been provided and then the gradually modern irrigation systems like drip important medicinal and industrial plants repairing Khartizak dam for completion return of the villagers have happened. irrigation, it has been shown that of the grasslands in the region which are of this task were also done”. This was done in the form of a national agriculture may become prosperous with used more and less by the villagers and project of “sustainable management of a little water either, and fundamentally nomads. Wild and coma mushrooms are * Iran has more than 60 thousands land and water resources (SMLWR)” affect the permanent residence of of edible plants whose growing season villages, but in the recent 40-50 and based on the joint project between younger generation in the village. is Farvardin [begins on March 21 and years, the number of cities has Iran and United Nations Development increased while the number of Programme within an area of 1.2 million villages has decreased. hectare as a pilot region. Several activities * In the whole country, stabilization practices, promotion such as watershed and particularly of sustenance, water and soil efficiency and controlling the construction of a small dam for of land degradation be implemented in water and soil He says: our aim is decentralization conserving and saving surface water for management of each village; furthermore, migration while we support the inter-organizational irrigation of farmlands were done. They and abandoned villages may be prevented through the cooperation and coordination of caused the development of agriculture activation of younger generation and even women in rural governmental organizations and in downstream regions as well as the productive activities. involved people in the development enhancement of the efficiency of the of Hablehroud watershed. Therefore discharge of the aqueducts in Behvard A few days ago, we went to Garmsar ends on April 20] and many enthusiasts the social condition of the villages Village. with journalists and reporters to visit from Garmsar, Varamin and even Tehran will develop based on creation and Eight villages were selected in Tehran the implementation process of SMLWR [are attracted] to come to this village and reinforcement of financial and in two sub-basins of Delichaee and of Hablehroud project. In addition surrounding mountains”. administrative organizations as well as Namrud in Damavand and Firuzkuh to visiting executive projects Behvard Mr. Shasti explains “it is true that the employment increase and economic cities, including Hesarbon, Aru, Havir, Village, we talked with the villagers. condition is better than the past, but development in the water and soil Dehnar, Lazur, Najafdar, Vazna and Haj Shamsuddin Shasti is the spirited this village is like a large orchard. Many resources plus the increase of production Zarman villages as the pioneering old man from Behvard who is a member things have remained and should be and income. villages. Furthermore, 9 villages and of the so-called Village Council. But, he done through government support. If the The executive manager of Hablehroud three grasslands in Semnan province in describes the membership in a council of condition of living is provided, I am sure project in Semnan adds that through two sub-basins of Rameh, Qalibaf, Ich, a village in which there is inhabitants. He that people will return. the implementation of this project, Abdol Abad, Dehnamak, Emamzadeh says “it is true that people are not living Mohammad Hadi Nocheh, deputy of by creating windbreakers which were Abdollah, Jovin, Lasjerd, and grasslands in the village, but their hearts are here watershed management and provincial created by planting trees around the of Sutehzar, Lazoreh, Khonar and and they care about their farms. Their project manager of Semnan province, farmlands, some centers of dust crisis Behvard village were selected as pomegranate orchards exist and they are tells the journalists and reporters that has been established and desertification pioneering villages. fruitful now. In harvest season the village the project purpose is changing the is prevented. The enhancement of Jomhourieslami Report/ Sunday, June 29, 2014 agricultural products in difficult With an emphasis on the existing of cooperative associations, so labor Our journey ended by eating a rural conditions in desert, reducing the of problems in marketing section of division and performance of the duties lunch and participating in a meeting in evaporation of ground moisture produced products especially in the are being done well. Now, everybody has the presence of officials, administrators and reviving local knowledge, job section of rural women activities, understood that first, something should and beneficiaries of the project in the creation, thriving of handicrafts and national executive manager of SMLWR be done for the village so that people Hussainiya of Farvan which was built traditional jobs are of other purposes of Hablehroud says “if people did do not abandon it and stay there. For by the participation of these productive which have been achieved thanks to not participate, the project in such women, some jobs should be created cooperatives. In this meeting several the implementation of SMLWR of a large extend would not be done; through which subsistence is provided executive suggestions by representatives Hablehroud project. nevertheless, government should for families and the youth should be of local communities were discussed. About the areas and the necessities support rural associations through banks. encouraged to do the work so that the Some of the suggestions are: restoration of the project formation as the sample Unfortunately, in Iran, production is village gains benefits”. and improvement of saline springs, and pilot for reviving the villages in still seen in the form of large factories. About the formation of honey creation of markets for the whole Iran, Dr. Houshang Jazi, the executive area in order to eliminate the dealers, manager of Hablehroud also says “before solving water shortage problems in the implementation of Land reform in several villages, the participation of local 1963 and changing the structure of rural community in Hablehroud project, societies, the management of water and completion of unfinished projects land resources was done by local agents. and their restoration, increasing the As a result of land reform, new agents knowledge of villagers and people of the entered to social and economic structure area through more communications with of villages. The main of which was the them, training operations of the project presence of government and government at city and school levels, and etc levels, institutions. Gradual weakening of assistance to get small-scale facilities, traditional systems in villages was the equipment of offices, the necessity of result of extrinsic changes in villages. holding consultation by participating in He adds that “gradually, to the large classes and workshops. extent, lords and local power were Anyway, in all over Iran, in watershed replaced by the government and of every village, such a project can be government agents. This process led done by enduring initial sufferings to the drowning of the government and difficulties. By concentrating in a big maelstrom of increasing costs While, in addition to preventing from production cooperative, she adds that on the execution of sustainable and weakening of the development migration, small workshops and small “after the training sessions, it was practices of watershed, promotion of program which caused problems such activities done in villages will cause decided that members purchase hives water productivity, promotion of soil as increasing the costs of conserving thriving of production in all over of the based on the supports of government. productivity and the control of land land and water resources and preserving country and the pressure of population 57 women of this village gathered degradation, assisting the formation the current conditions which, to a large in the center of the country and centers together to start the work. They selected of marketing cooperatives and also extent, prevented the government from of provinces will decrease. 5 persons as representatives and held monitoring and assessing operations its more important task which was As far as we have seen, with the election in a plenary meeting and in the based on the provided guidelines, investing in development of resources implementation of Hablehroud project, presence of Natural Resources experts SMLWR can be assisted. Also by and infrastructure projects”. to some extent, exhilaration and life of the province and city which was per activation of younger generation and even He continues “unfortunately, after has come back to the villages devoid of se a new stage in their progression. An women in rural productive works, not land reform, Iranian farmers have inhabitants, and not only has agriculture amount of money was paid by women as only migration and abandoning villages accustomed to ask governments all their prospered but also a number of rural self-help and also by Hablehroud project. will be prevented but also conditions requirements and considered government women entered to labor market created In this way, sum of money was collected for returning the villagers and more to be responsive to their shortcomings. by themselves. The main activity of these and the elected representatives along importantly reverse migration of city Additionally, by increasing the population, women has been entrepreneurship. with one expert from Natural Resources, dwellers into villages will be provided. extension of the task and technical Mina Rameh, director of rural women one from Animal Science and one elder sophistication caused by the application cooperatives of Rameh region, talks local went to north of Iran to purchase Majid Zandi of modern technologies, the needed about southern part of Hablehroud bees for women. opportunities for gradual reforming in project implementation in Bameh village After visiting a few apiaries, this group traditional systems propitious with time in Aradan city and says “we started our bought good bees with suitable cost. At and modern requirements have been project under a condition in which girls this stage, 200 hives were purchased. lost and the villagers drawn to cities for and women did not used to go out from In all stages of purchasing and even finding jobs and accommodation on the their homes. After various negotiations, freighting, women were working edge of the cities. these women have participated in and embedding the bees in trucks Dr. Jazi continues “although in first different productive projects such as enthusiastically. After purchasing and years of the Islamic revolution, Jihad beekeeping and I dare say that we have transferring the bees to Garmsar, 57 had a fundamental role in productive the best productive honey which has women were invited to go to take the movements and attempted to change gained popularity and fame in various bees. 4 hives were given to each woman relying on government with self- inter-provincial and even country fairs, and they were asked to keep on their sufficiency and self-reliance and took and has found its specific customers. attempts continuously so that they positive steps like creation of associations and Islamic Councils, new beds for * Mina Rameh, director of rural women cooperatives of Rameh building and strengthening social system region, talks about southern part of Hablehroud project were lost due to lack of methodology implementation in Bameh village in Aradan city and says and not having been in an identified and “we started our project under a condition in which girls and systematized form. women did not used to go out from their homes. After various He believes that the main purposes negotiations, these women have participated in different of this project are achieving proper productive projects such as beekeeping and I dare say that we patterns of planning, management, have the best productive honey which has gained popularity implementation, exploitation, and fame in various inter-provincial and even country fairs, monitoring and assessment of water and has found its specific customers. and soil resources in some sub-basins of Hablehroud watershed and the extension and development of the project’s results She continues “with the self- could achieve their purposes more in to the national plan of natural resources confidence that the rural women the future. After this stage, workshops conservation through the participation have gained in doing the activities, and other various classes were held for of rural people in the management of good cooperation have been created women so that they learn from each watersheds of the country. between groups and the representatives other”. Hamshahri Ecosystem/ Wednesday, June 25, 2014

The Lack of Infertile Soil Will Surround Iran in 30 Years

With the implementation of a new project in Semnan province, in addition to reviving villages devoid of people, the land and water resources of this region have been conserved and for several women, sustainable jobs have been created. Asadollah Afalaki, Secretary of the Ecology on the joint project of Islamic Republic creation of watershed management a number of rural women have entered Department of Iran and the UNDP has been placed committees headed by district governor into labor markets; markets created by In 1376 (1997), before the on the agenda in two phases the first and activating technical committees in their own efforts. implementation of the first phase of which was implemented in 1378 in all departments related to Hablehroud You take your hat off to women who of SMLWR Hablehroud which was Hablehroud watershed within an area of project were other practices done in the have gathered together with empty hands executed on the basis of joint program of 1 million and 200 hectares in Tehran and second phase. A model was prepared, and small savings of 10 thousand tomans Iran and United Nations Development Semnan provinces. The UNDP allocated showing the way different organizations and have formed a cooperative and are Programme (UNDP) in Hablehroud one million and 200 thousand dollars involved in a watershed can cooperate now entrepreneur organization. They watershed, nobody would think Behvard [for the program]; however, due to the with each other. deserve reverence and gratitude. But village - which was devoid of inhabitants lack of coordination, just 300 thousand Mohammad Hadi Nocheh, deputy of when they start talking, one is ashamed for 7 years - its orchards and agriculture dollars were allocated to Iran for the watershed management and provincial of unkindness and neglect of a number become prosperous again. But this project”. project manager, believes that the of officials who are ungrateful. Instead unexpected and elusive dream came true. of bowing down to their benefactors, the Behvard is one of the dozens of villages officials just promise which is a pie in the wherein life has returned with the sky and they do not commit themselves implementation of this project. to keep their promise; [and of course] For the time being, Iran is not the there is no interpellation. only country which has confronted water shortage crisis. Iran has first rank Rural Women Entrepreneurs Are of land degradation in the world and in Deprived of Banking Facilities some areas soil erosion has reached to 20 Mina Rameh is the director of rural tons per hectare. As Houshang Jazi the cooperative of women in Rameh region Manager of SMLWR of Hablehroud says whose cooperative has shined in a stature “if the condition continues like this, we of a successful cooperative with the will face soil crisis in 30 years”. empathy and cooperation of a number In fact, not only we have problem in of rural women. The products of this water section, but also soon we will face cooperative and other rural cooperatives, soil crisis by losing fertile soil. Now, including honey, industrial and medicinal the giant of drought has come out of plants, traditional bread and sweets, the bottle and once in a while disputes noodle and handicrafts have entered over water are heard from around the to markets beyond Semnan province country. Disputes which have afflicted Jazi explains that the participation of purpose of implementing this project is and found a place in capital’s markets. the officials for a long time and each of people in the project implementation changing the consumption patterns of She says “policymakers promise, but them tries to solve the water shortage is one of the main purposes of the exploiting water and soil resources and they don’t keep their promises. For of the area under his/her responsibility project and by this approach the first says: Hablehroud project seeks to instance, our cooperative was selected as at any cost, and because of this view, phase started in 1999 and finished provide a development process based on a premier cooperative, and then the head all concerns of local authorities are in2004. With the implementation of the our religion and culture in which the of Keshavarzi bank of Semnan province conserving water in the area under their first phase, the villages located in the participation of people has the main role. promised to help our cooperative by responsibilities which has fueled the upstream of Hablehroud which were He - who is responsible for executive paying 100 million tomans of bank difficulties and problems threatening devoid of inhabitants for 7 years were management of Hablehroud project in facilities with a long term installments water and soil of Iran. revived. For instance, for the time being, Semnan province – says: with the and low interest. Two years have passed Behvard village is one of the exporters of implementation of this project, some but no loan has been paid yet”. A Project for Saving Iran pomegranate. centers of dust crisis have been Rameh says: another time when our Visiting of Hablehroud project has Improper exploitation of water in established by creating windbreakers cooperative was selected as a premier demonstrated that the officials have lost Hablehroud and land use change had created by planting trees around the one in the week of Agriculture Jihad, the way more than anything else. By decreased the amount of water in farmlands, and stops the development of governor of Semnan promised to give the investigation of the achievements aquifers and frequent flooding in the oasification. Enhancing agricultural 10 million tomans loan to each member of this project and the implementation region and confronted Hablehroud products in difficult conditions of desert, of the cooperative, but there is no news of it in their area, officials can prevent basin with crisis in a way that the reducing the evaporation of ground about these loans yet. Nonetheless, depopulation of villages in addition to saltwater intrusion from downstream moisture, reviving indigenous Mrs. Rameh expresses her gratitude to fighting with water shortage and land into upstream threatened this basin knowledge, creating job and thriving director of natural resources of Semnan degradation. seriously. These problems caused the handicrafts and traditional jobs are of province for allocation of 11 hectares of If villages are revived, dozens of local depopulation of the region’s villages, but other purposes which have been agricultural lands to this cooperative in and traditional jobs will be thrived at the now, the villages have revived and the achieved by implementing SMLWR of order to cultivate and exploit industrial least cost. These are the achievements migrants have returned. Agriculture, Hablehroud project. and medicinal plants. Rameh, whose that each authority can see by visiting traditional and local jobs have prospered Hablehroud project. But it seems and indigenous communities especially * A Pattern for conserving water and soil resources that the most important problem is women are working in the form of The executive manager of SMLWR of Hablehroud believes that the convincing the officials and changing cooperatives. With such activities, the project could be implemented as a pattern and model for conserving their views. The officials see themselves condition for conserving soil and water and sustaining water and soil resources in all watersheds in Iran. at the top and the executives of the resources has been provided with the [Hablehroud project] is a project which surprised the Washington Post‘s project at the bottom. For this end1, participation of indigenous people. journalist in visiting Behvard village and the other covered regions. visiting of Hablehroud by a number of What is mentioned here is just a part of Hence that journalist published a report, titled by “Environmental journalists and reporters was made so Hablehroud project achievements. Democracy in Iran” which is read by few officials. that the reflection of these achievements He says: the second phase of the becomes a fillip for officials who see project started in 2012 by concentrating everything from the top. on the participation of people, the With the implementation of cooperative has become a center for Houshang Jazi, the executive manager coherence of institutions and relevant Hablehroud project, happiness and holding training courses for other rural of SMLWR of Hablehroud says “the departments in Hablehroud watershed life have returned to the villages women, believes that the main obstacle implementation of this project based with the purpose of achieving proper devoid of inhabitants and thanks to for developing the activities of rural patterns of cropping. Preparing spatial the implementation of this project, not women cooperatives is the lack of funds 1. Visiting Hablehroud project. T planning for the whole area, the only agriculture has prospered but also and says: when we go to banks for loans, Hamshahri Ecosystem/ Wednesday, June 25, 2014 we are asked for pledge. Providing pledge introduced to us, we formed a fund Government Should Support is impossible for rural women. In spite and each member became a member by Houshang Jazi, the executive manager of these problems, the rural cooperative paying 50 thousand tomans, and now of SMLWR of Hablehroud, confirms of Rameh [village] has participated in each of them monthly pays 10 thousand the difficulties of rural women and 50 fairs since 15 years ago when it has tomans to the fund. By doing this, we declares that the government should started its activities. could strengthen women and then support rural organizations. Why does One of the members of the cooperative decided what things to do in order to government always think about large says: there are no facilities for us, even reduce the pressure from water, soil and factories? Why does it always want to when we are invited to participate in natural resources. In this project, rural create industrial estates? Why does not a fair in Tehran or the center of the women welcomed the training classes it support small workshops and small province, no accommodation is provided and for the time being, many women works? In addition to criticizing the for us. who are the member of this organization banks, he mentions that banks should recognize small investors because small investors create sustainable jobs. But for the time being, for employment, loans less than 100 million tomans are not allocated. Entrepreneur rural women and the involved people in sustainable management of Hablehroud project talk about the unkind reactions of banks while various economic rents and rentiers receive hundred billion tomans loans without creating any jobs and having a role in production. They neither have paid the installments, nor the original money itself. Meanwhile, Keshavarzi bank, one of the banks which must support farmers and rural entrepreneurs, similar to the other banks, 7KH'LVRUJDQL]DWLRQRI2I¿FLDOV earn a living in this way. Ms. Saadat withholds bank facilities from rural Rural women cooperative of Farvan continues, “I, as a small person, ask the entrepreneur associations. in Aradan city is the other rural women officials of governmental organizations cooperatives in Semnan province which that if you aim to do an appropriate has prospered by the implementation activity in a village, think about its future of Hablehroud project. Now, it has as well. For instance, noodle cutting 200 members and sells its products workshops have not had wheat for 3 including handicrafts, noodle, industrial months. We look for wheat, but different and medicinal plants in different stores. institutions just pass us to each other. Shirin Saadat, director of this rural Our handicrafts also do not have sale cooperative explains: one year and a markets”. half ago when Hablehroud project was Vatanemrooz Wednesday, June 25, 2014

When Non-Governmental Organizations of Semnan Complain about Officials Performance The Necessity of Endeavor for Reverse Migration of Villagers

Asadollah Khosravi: Conserving Mohammad Hadi Nocheh, deputy of water and land ecosystems, preserving watershed management and provincial grasslands and natural resources and project manager of Semnan province, creating systematic strategies to conserve tells the journalists and reporters “this and revive nature with scientific project looks for a pattern and specific and experiential procedures as well climate condition and follows special as preventing from wasting natural expert methods such as oasification, resources in line with prevention from conserving water and soil resources migration of villagers are now inevitable and preventing land degradation”. He necessities for which public participation mentions positive effects of this project and especial attention of officials are and adds “the effects such as creating demanded seriously more than anything non-governmental associations and else, because Iran is confronting conserving the environment in this with severe reduction of rainfalls and project may be generalized to other evaporation of water resources due regions. Nocheh clarifies that “in this to locating in improper geopolitical project, some practices in line with climate condition. This inauspicious arboriculture and fencing farms were phenomenon as a dilemma has always done by planting trees which can afflicted Iran, especially its rural reduce the effects of dust and stop the population. If bad weather condition development of desertification”. He and climate change are considered in refers to the enhancement of agricultural recent years, we will see that global The Products of Women’s Unregistered Organizations in Hablehroud products in dessert areas and the warming has led into undesirable and Region in the Stalls for Sale reduction of evaporation as the other unpleasant effects of exacerbation water The director of rural women cooperative of Rameh region tells the journalists benefits of Hablehroud project and adds and aqueducts shortages and eventually and reporters “this cooperative has created several job opportunities for women “utilizing indigenous knowledge whose frequent droughts. This undesirable and the number of members increases every day”. Mina Rameh complains application created fewer problems for process caused various limitations and about the unfulfilled promises of bank officials regarding the provision of small people in the past is another feature of difficulties for farmers and stockbreeders facilities to this cooperative and says “for the development of rural women this project. Because in the past, with so that this dynamic and productive cooperatives of the region, a number of bank officials promise unfaithfully, the usage of indigenous knowledge working class has enforced to leave though this cooperative could win first place among rural entrepreneur women flooding was controlled and by annually their dwelling place unintentionally in Iran with the least resources and investments”. This entrepreneur mentions dividing agricultural land into patches and migrate to borders of the cities. that “now, the products of our rural association have numerous clients both in a product was planted without wasting However, in such a condition, it is [Semnan] province and all over the country”. She adds “beekeeping - for the any water. In this visit, Shirin Saadat, possible to move toward the path of crisis production of natural honey, handicrafts, cultivating and packaging medicinal director of rural women association of management and change the current plants and mountain herbs are some products of the members of rural Farvan village, expressed her gratitude condition with the implementation of cooperative of Rameh region. to the officials for providing [suitable] practical and systematic projects as well conditions for this association and says as expert strategies to use the maximum “at the beginning, the activities of the potentials of minimum resources. conserving natural resources of Iran that the purpose of this project was association was done by a few individuals That is, the methods for controlling has a more difficult responsibility. solving the water shortage fundamentally in the form of a cooperative fund, but surface water, the procedures for proper The aforementioned organization has and encouraging public participation, now, with respect to the enhancement irrigation of farms (mechanized) and spared no effort in this regard, but preventing land degradation as well of group members, products such as saving water, conserving and supplying now, with respect to the Iran’s climate as reviving farmlands and preventing noodles, handicrafts and medicinal plants water resources may be influential condition, the office of SMLWR of migration of villagers. are produced by [the use of] public in prevention of wasting water and Hablehroud project (UNDP) has also He explains that “since Garmsar funds”. She adds that this association evaporation. Of course paying attention come to assist this organization for region and its surrounding villages is still new and has not reached to a to this important issue and moving conserving natural resources of Iran so in Hablehroud project have faced considerable profitability and mentions toward this path have other positive that with cooperation and collaboration reduction of rainfalls and a sharp drop “I hope that officials especially bank results such as prevention of land of each other and by scientific and in water level, with the implementation managers support non-governmental degradation, soil erosion and etc. The systematic methods and attracting public of this project and applying different associations and protect them by activities of deputy of Forest, Range and participation, they apply their practices strategies like constructing embankment providing small loans”. Watershed Management Organization in line with conserving water and soil dam, supplying water resources and (FRWMO) may have an influential role resources, reviving nature and supporting generating jobs with non-governmental in this field. In fact giving priority to the villagers by creating conditions for associations, some practices done in line issue of conserving nature, especially generating jobs besides farming and with reviving the region and preventing water and soil resources has gained stockbreeding. In such a condition, the migration of villagers. He believes significance in international community the first international project of the that conserving water and soil resources so that the United Nations Development UNDP under the title of Hablehroud need a coherent and scientific planning Programme (UNDP), with the purpose project for reviving one million and in addition to public participation. He of reaching to Sustainable Management 200 thousand hectares has taken the adds: interactions with officials and of Land and Water Resources (SMLWR), practical form in two phases in1999. integrity instead of discrimination supports countries, vulnerable to the loss The first phase was supposed to allocate along with consolidated programs and of soil and water resources financially one billion and 200 million tomans cooperation and collaboration have and saves those countries with expert to this project but just 300 million caused, we see the dynamism of some projects - of course with the cooperation tomans were received; however, in the villages in the area of Hablehroud of related organizations such as ministry second phase of Hablehroud project project like Mehvar village. Jazi of agriculture (FRWMO). Now that Iran which has been started since 2012, 700 continues: before the implementation is struggling with drought for years due million tomans were received from of Hablehroud project, the inhabitants to reduction of rainfalls (the average of UNDP, and the officials involved in this of many villages had migrated to annual rainfall and evaporation are 45 project with the assistance of FRWMO cities due to water shortage and other and 55 percent respectively) and climate could create a specific development in problems, but now, with reviving the and ecosystem changes which is regarded this region. Houshang Jazi, executive nature, supplying water and creating as a serious threat to the destruction manager of Hablehroud project tells job opportunities for villagers of this of nature, the deputy of FRWMO for the journalists and reporters in Garmsar region, reverse migration is taking place”. Quds Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Journalists Report on a Successful Project “Hablehroud”; A Way for Escaping from Water and Soil Resources Behvard village has been revived made by a number of reporters and Complaints against Banks government mainly thinks about and its agriculture has been prospered. journalists, the executive manager of Media team visit from rural women creating large workshops. It means Now, Behvard’s pomegranates and figs international project of Hablehroud says: cooperative of Rameh, a district of that government attempts to create have entered to Tehran[’s markets] and the project implementation based on the Aradan city, is also interesting. It is a large industrial estates while, it must fairs of organic products. However, joint program of Islamic Republic of Iran cooperative that sends its products, acknowledge small investors too, because before 1377 (1998) and beginning of and UNDP was put on the agenda in specially honey, ferula and medicinal these people create sustainable jobs. “Sustainable Management of Land two phases, first of which started in 1999 plants to Semnan and Tehran. Thus, we recommend that paying loans and Water Resources (SMLWR) of in Hablehroud watershed within an area Mina Rameh, director of rural women less than 100 million tomans to small Hablehroud” due to outbreak of drought of 1 million and 300 thousand hectares cooperative of Rameh says: Hablehroud plans be resumed once again. phenomenon, water shortage crisis in Tehran and Semnan provinces project has changed our lives and In sum, Hablehroud shows the way and land degradation, Behvard village and finished in 2003. The reviving of provided job opportunities and income for fighting against water shortage crisis experienced the true meaning of death Behvard village and upstream villages for rural women. and soil erosion and revives dead villages and nothingness for a decade and became of Hablehroud indicate the success of She mentions that ferula plant has again. Therefore, it is the duty of the devoid of inhabitants. Hablehroud project. always been in danger of extinction in officials of the country to support this Behvard is just one of the several Houshang Jazi claims that the executor this region and adds: but, now, by the project which has clear achievements. villages which has been revived with the of the plan in Iran is Forest Range and implementation of this project, ferula is implementation of the aforementioned Watershed Management Organization planted in 300 hectares of the rangelands project, done jointly between Iran and adds: UNDP allocated one million of the region and the products are and United Nations Development and 200 thousand dollars for the exported. Programme (UNDP)- and showed it is implementation of the first phase of the Mina Rameh who used to live in possible to fight against water shortage project, but due to the lack of planning Tehran and returned to her birth place crisis, land degradation and depopulation and needed coordination, Iran made use with her family 5 years ago believes that of villages through a correct planning of just 300 thousand dollars of it. one of the most important obstacles and management at the time of climate He clarifies that now, with the to developing the activities of rural change and drought continuity. implementation of this project, the women cooperatives is the shortage villages have revived and some of the of fund and explains that “receiving A Project for Escaping from Drought migrated inhabitants have returned to bank facilities is very hard and even On the other hand water scarcity is just the village and are working on their sometimes impossible. It means that one of the challenges that the country farms. In addition, working in the form either banks do not pay loans or they has confronted, because Iran’s soil does of cooperatives has been prospered and offer difficult conditions so that women not have a better condition than its a part of financial problems of these and cooperatives cannot cover them. water. According to the reports, Iran is organizations have solved by forming For instance, once when rural women ranked as the first country in the world credit funds. He then discusses about cooperative of Rameh was selected as regarding soil erosion in a way that in the allocations of the second phase of a premier cooperative among other some regions soil erosion has reached SMLWR and says “the annual portion cooperatives, the governor of Semnan to more than twenty tons per hectare in of this allocation to Iran’s government promised to pay 10 million tomans loan one year which is a worrying statistic. for the implementation of this project is to this cooperative through Keshavarzi So if this process continues in such an one billion and 500 million rials [and] bank, but two years have passed and intensity, perhaps Iran will confront with the main portion of which has been there is no news about that loan. In the shortage of fertile soil in the next allocated. In addition, in this phase, 700 addition, the head of Keshavarzi bank three or four decades. thousand dollars has been predicted has not kept his promise in paying 100 A solution is implemented regarding by the UNDP which will be allocated million tomans loan to our cooperative”. the problem which is multi-sectorial and in the next four years. Mohammad covers all related requirements. SMLWR Hadi Nocheh, deputy of watershed * Cut project known as national project of management and provincial project “Hablehroud” is one of the solutions. manager of Semnan province also says: Water scarcity is just one of the challenges that the country has Based on the original document, the with the implementation of the project confronted, because Iran’s soil does not have a better condition purpose of the project is national and creation of live windbreakers than its water. According to the reports, Iran is ranked as the first participation in accordance with the - planting trees in two longitudinal country in the world regarding soil erosion in a way that in some convention of the United Nations for rows - some centers of dust have been regions soil erosion has reached to more than twenty tons per fighting against desertification in order established. He refers to generating job hectare in one year which is a worrying statistic. to improve the fertility of soil and to opportunities for rural women and their revive, conserve and manage water and entrance to labor markets as one of the soil sustainably in Iran which leads to most important achievements of the Seeking for Less than 100 Million improve living conditions, specially in international project of Hablehroud. Tomans Loans rural societies. According to him, with small savings, Following her talk in Zeynebiye of some of the rural women of the region Farvan, Houshang Jazi, the executive The First Phase of Hablehroud Project have formed cooperatives and funds, and manager of SMLWR of Hablehroud In a recent visit from Behvard village, a have become entrepreneurs. project also criticizes the government district of Garmsar -the project location), and says: for the time being, the Farheekhtegan Thursday, July 3, 2014

An overview of Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud Project The Participation of People for Conserving Natural Resources

Farhikhtegan: Sustainable Management prevent the waste of alluvial waters in of Land and Water Resources (SMLWR) Behvard village in Semnan caused the of Hablehroud Project is the first village- which was devoid of inhabitants international environmental project due to drought- become prosperous and in which the participation of local life flows there again. Now, not only communities, as well as integrated the inhabitants of this village are living management with the participation of there, but also they are one of the main people has had a main role in its success. producers of pomegranate in Semnan Any project, especially environmental province and 22 hectares of this village projects and the projects which seek are under the pomegranate cultivation sustainable management receive success which has encircled the economy of just through one way which is the people in this village, though Semnan participation of project beneficiaries province has the first rank among low and local communities. One of the rainfall provinces of Iran. most important purposes of SMLWR of Hablehroud project in two provinces Preparing Spatial Planning Documents of Tehran and Semnan is to reach Another activity of SMLWR of determination and identification Hablehroud project is preparing spatial of a pattern for attracting public planning documents. Jazi explains: the participation and creating participant- preparation of this document has started based management in the water and land What is Water and Land Management Project of Hablehroud? since 2012 and we are going to introduce conserving programs of the country. The first phase of SMLWR of Hablehroud project started in 1997 by Forest, the current and desirable condition of About this issue, Houshang Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization based on the joint program Hablehroud watershed in it. We will also Jazi, national executive manager between Iran and UNDP in Hablehroud watershed in two provinces of Tehran explain the activities that should be done of Hablehroud and MENARID and Semnan within an area of 2/1 million hectares as a pilot region. After finishing for reaching the desired condition of international projects says: in the past, the first phase (five years), due to the importance and necessity of the Hablehroud water and soil. local knowledge helped people manage project and also its priority in national plans, it has entered into the second phase. their agricultural and animal husbandry Integrated management strategy of Hablehroud watershed has been placed on without damaging the environmental the agenda in the second phase. The creation of cooperation among departments resources. The local knowledge was in water and land management area as well as the creation of empathy and compatible with climate changes and cooperation among people are of the purposes of this project in the second phase justice was [also] served. But, through for conserving and preserving natural resources and generating jobs. the passage of time and forgetting traditional and local knowledge as well as climate change, water and soil resources cultivating ornamental plants. Jazi says: several workshops such as vermicompost gradually degraded severely”. following the initiation of beekeeping production handicrafts like kilim, He reminds the lack of agricultural activities and the visit of experts from production of cherry plum and dairies systems for geographical areas and the farms, rural women should also as well as packing medicinal plants like explains that “for instance, at the deal with the issues related to the mint, thyme, nettle, dill, coriander moment, there is no agriculture based management of their village territories. and esfand are some of the cooperative on climate changes. There is no plan for Thus, in the form of a project under activities. However, she complains about agriculture. Even there is no planning the title of Rural Pasture Management the sale markets and says: in spite of all for climate change. Measuring and Policy, their work was formed in Semnan the attempts made by rural women who monitoring systems also do not exist”. Province which led to obtaining the are the member of this cooperative, sale Jazi refers to coordination among approval from the fund to support small markets are not good. Jazi explains: we people for conserving water and soil environmental projects stationed in the teach the skills, but quality does not resources as one of the most important village. Mina Rameh, director of rural create any job. Private sector should get events in SMLWR of Hablehroud woman cooperative in Rameh village, involved in marketing for selling these project. He explains that “in Hablehroud explains, before the implementation products. For instance, a manufacturer watershed, 22 people were selected of this project, rural women stayed at of handmade carpets buys the produced as local intermediaries to manage home and men supported the families, handmade carpets of Razin village in communications with each other. We are but after the implementation of the Kermanshah province and finds their going to establish a guild for them within project within the past 15 years, women sale markets so that the rural woman next two years so that they learn how to have entered into labor markets so that have had 50 million tomans revenue manage the whole area and communicate even some of them supply all costs in one month. One of the stores of with the officials to take their rights”. of their living”. She is one the people Tehran located in Tajrish purchases food who has started her beekeeping with products of the village which helps the Women Entered to the Society four hives and now she has more than economy of villagers, so we must find Participation of women in issues related 280 hives. She says: from each hive, buyers for other cooperatives in private to sustainable development is another five to six kilos of honey is obtained sector”. purpose of Hablehroud [project]. For purely and without nourishing the bees instance, employment of rural women with sugar. The hives are extracted Other Parts of the Projects is one of the projects of the program twice a year. The formation of rural Windbreaker project in Qiasabad which is under process. In this project women cooperative in Farvan village in village in Semnan is also one of the 57 of rural women of Rameh sub-basin Semnan province is another project of projects of this program. Planting including Chahar Taaq, downstream women empowerment. Shirin Saadat, trees like pine, eucalyptus and ash as Rameh and upstream Rameh villages director of Farvan village cooperative windbreakers around the farms has have had high participation and have says: this cooperative is composed of 40 an influential role in preventing land implemented several projects such individuals of rural women who work degradation and dust. In addition, their as handicrafts, beekeeping, silkworm together in order to cooperate with and wood can be harvested in the future. breeding, exploiting medicinal and strengthen each other. Participation in Constructing embankment dam to News about Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud Project (2012-2013)

Media News Title Date 1 Mehr News Agency Mirakhorli: The New Phase of Sustainable Management of Land and Water July 23, 2012 (Website) Resources of Hablehroud Project Started

2 Iran Newspaper Holding the Training Workshop of Hablehroud National Project August 05, 2012 3 IRNA (Website) Land and Water Integrated Management Project Will Be Implemented in 5 September 26, 2012 Providences of the Country

4 Mehr News Agency Hablehroud Project Will Cause Sustainable Improvement and Job Creation in the September 26, 2012 (Website) Region

5 Mehr News Agency Mohammadi Emphasized: the Realization of Economic Development through September 26, 2012 (Website) Implementation of Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources

6 Young Journalists’ Optimization in Natural Resources Is the Basis of Hablehroud Sustainable October 20, 2012 Club Management Project 7 ISNA (Website) The Director of Tehran Province Natural Resources and Watershed Management: October 21, 2012 Hablehroud Sustainable Management Project Seeks Participatory Management for Land and Water in the Country

8 ISNA (Website) The Director of Semnan Province Natural Resources and Watershed Management: October 21, 2012 The First Phase of Sustainable Management of Land and Water Reach Fair Outputs

9 Iran Newspaper Holding the Management Committee of Hablehroud Watershed October 24, 2012 10 Mehr News Agency Mirakhori: The Implementation of Hablehroud Project Brought About the Increase October 27, 2012 (Website) of Pomegranate Cultivation in Garmsar and Aradan

11 ISNA (Website) Existence of More than 1550 ha Pomegranate Gardens in Garmsar October 28, 2012 12 Resalat Newspaper The Implementation of Hablehroud Project with Cooperation of United Nations in November 20, 2012 (Website) Semnan Province

13 Mehr News Agency Alireza Owrangi, as the Head of a Board, Attended in Behvard Region of Garmsar December 04, 2012 (Website) on Tuesday Morning He First Visited the Watershed Project of Catch Basin Region and then the Experimental and Research-Based Rainwater Tree Planting Project in Sustainable Management of Land and Water of Hablehroud Project

14 ISNA (Website) Deputy Minister of Jihad Agriculture and the Director of FRWO Expressed December 05, 2012 Satisfaction About the Experimental and Research-Based Rainwater Tree Planting Project in Sustainable Management of Land and Water of Hablehroud Project in Garmsar 15 IRNA (Website) Land And Water Management of Hablehroud International Project is Successful December 05, 2012 16 Mehr News Agency Owrangi Discussed: Semnan Province Is A Pioneer in Hablehroud International December 05, 2012 (Website) Project 17 ISNA (Website) Garshasbi Considered the First Phase of Hablehroud Project in Semnan Province As December 16, 2012 The Sample for Empowering People and 18 IRNA (Website) UN Resident Representative Visited Hablehroud Project January 07, 2013 19 Mehr News Agency Sustainable Management of Land and Water Project in Hablehroud Will Be January 07, 2013 (Website) Implemented in Garmsar 20 ISNA (Website) Allocation of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars for Sustainable Management of Land January 08, 2013 and Water of Hablehroud Project by UN in 2013

21 ISNA (Website) The Visit of UNDP Representative of the Hablehroud Project in Garmsar January 09, 2013 22 Javan Online The Visit of UN Representative of Hablehroud Project January 14, 2013 (Website)

23 Fars News Agency Deputy Director of Watershed Management in FRWO Announced the Cooperation January 16, 2013 (Website) of Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud and UNDP Media News Title Date 24 ISNA (Website) Parviz Garshasbi, While Visiting Hablehroud Project: the Aim of the Project Is January 18, 2013 Achieving An Appropriate Sample for Planning, Execution, Use, Monitoring and Assessment of Land and Water Resources as Well as Extension of the Results to the Natural Resources Conservation National Program through the Participation of People in the Watershed Management of the Country 25 ISNA (Website) Hablehroud Facing Desert February 25, 2013 26 Mehr News Agency The Special Briefing Workshop of Hablehroud Sustainable Agriculture March 11, 2013 (Website) Development Was Held News about Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud Project (2013-2014)

Media News Title Date 1 ISNA (Website) The Chief of FRWO Added: Other Projects Such As MENARID, Hablehroud and June 17, 2013 Restoration of Natural Resources, Aiming To Empowering Local Communities and Achieving Participatory Samples, In Addition to Carbon Sequestration Project Are Implementing

2 ISNA (Website) Presentation of Hablehroud Outputs in ‘Fair Food for All’ Exhibition August 15, 2013 3 Mehr News Agency The Fist Training Workshop for Introducing Environmental Economics and August 28, 2013 (Website) Valuation Methods for Environmental Services Was Held in Mehdishahr

4 Tnews (Website) The Presence of Hablehroud Project’s Local Communities in the First Medicinal September 04, 2013 Plants Festival 5 Javan Online Deputy Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in Semnan September 04, 2013 (Website) Province Said: Medicinal Plants Exhibition of Three Local Communities of the Province Participate as the Sustainable Management of Land and Water of Hablehroud Project

6 Mehr News Agency Nocheh Announced: The Main Key of the Region in Water Scarcity and Increasing September 10, 2013 (Website) Process of Evaporation in the Country/Hablehroud

7 Mehr News Agency Miremaad Requested: Semnan Province’s Treasury Conservation Council Stops September 23, 2013 (Website) Illegal Occupancies of National Lands in Hablehroud Basin

8 Mehr News Agency The Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in Semnan Province September 25, 2013 (Website) Gave Notice On the Announcement of FRWO Director regarding the Prevention of New Lands Allocation in Hablehroud Upstream Watershed and Requested Treasury Conservation Council To Stop Illegal Occupancies of National Lands in Hablehroud Basin

9 Mehr News Agency Mohammad Hadi Nocheh, While Visiting Beneficiaries of Sustainable Management October 14, 2013 (Website) of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud on Monday Morning, Declared to Journalists: Two-Days Visit Was Planned alongside with the Project’s Plans In Order To Introduce the Northern and Southern Parts of the Watershed to the Local Communities

10 Mehr News Agency Hablehroud National Project Is An Appropriate Sample for Watershed Integrated October 26, 2013 (Website) Management / Occupation of National Lands in Upstream Hablehroud 11 IRNA (Website) Hablehroud Project in Semnan Province is 1 Million and 2 Hundred Ha October 29, 2013

12 Damavand Land and Water Resources Project Meeting Was Held in Damavand November 07, 2013 Governorship (Website)

13 Javan Online Identification of Hablehroud Project’s Critical Points November 18, 2013 14 ISNA (Website) Semnan province’s Treasury Conservation Council Stops Illegal Occupancies of November 30, 2013 National Lands in Hablehroud Basin 15 Fars News Agency Hablehroud Project Is A National and International Project Which Is A Sample for November 30, 2013 (Website) the Other Regions of the Country

16 Mehr News Agency The Apparatus Intercommunication Was Weak in the First Phase of Hablehroud November 30, 2013 (Website) Project / Preparation of the 2nd Phase of Hablehroud Project

17 ISNA (Website) Water Resources of Hablehroud Basin Are Encountering with Various Dangers November 30, 2013 18 Salamatnews Hablehroud International Project, Aiming to Sustainable Management of Land December 03, 2013 (Website) and Water Resources as Well as Sustainable Production of Rural Products, Is Implementing with the Support of FRWO and UNDP in Tehran and Semnan Provinces

19 Mehr News Agency The Development Project of Rural Entrepreneurship House Was Implemented in December 07, 2013 (Website) Hablehroud

20 Kayhan Newspaper The 1st Phase of Hablehroud Project Was a Great Exercise for Working and Moving December 18, 2013 with People

21 Bibaknews Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud is Executed by January 23, 2014 Students Media News Title Date 22 Mehr News Agency Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources is Executed by Students January 22, 2014 (Website) 23 Tasnim News Enhancing Knowledge and Local Communities Participation Project Was January 23, 2014 Agency (Website) Implemented in Sustainable Management of Water and Land Resources of Hablehroud by Students

24 Mehr News Agency Jalali Emphasized: Endeavour of FRWO for Inviting People’s Participation/ January 28, 2014 (Website) Conservation of Land and Water Resources Requires a Comprehensive Approach

25 Mehr News Agency The Agreement for Sustainable Conservation and Management of Hablehroud Basin January 28, 2014 (Website) Was Signed in Garmsar

26 IRNA (Website) Deputy of UNDP Resident Representative in Iran: Hablehroud Integrated January 28, 2014 Management Project in Garmsar, Semnan Province Is a Successful Experience whish Should be Expanded in Iran, and for Urmia Lake Restoration in Particular

27 IRNA (Website) While Visiting Sustainable Management of Hablehroud Project in Garmsar, January 28, 2014 Morally Answered to the Question of a Journalist from IRNA: These Projects Are Implementing in Various Sections of Environment, Health and Hygiene

28 IRNA (Website) UNDP Annually Pays 18 Million Dollars to Iran January 29, 2014

29 Islamic Republic Signing the Agreement of Sustainable Conservation and Management of Hablehroud January 29, 2014 News Agency Basin (Website)

30 Kayhan Newspaper Morally Considered the Participation of People and Communities in Hablehroud January 29, 2014 Project As Precious 31 IRNA (Website) Deputy Minister of Jihad Agriculture, While Appreciating People and Organizations February 01, 2014 Involved with Education In Terms of Developing Necessary Trainings for Students Declared: Hablehroud Project and Land Conservation Culture Has Taken To People’s Houses through the Implementation of the Project

32 ISNA (Website) Hablehroud Project Took Land Conservation Culture to People’s Houses February 01, 2014 33 TABNAK (Website) The Director of FRWO Warned About the 10 Cubic Meter Negative Balance of February 02, 2014 Water Harvesting from Underground Water Reservoirs of the Country

34 Mehr News Agency The Execution Phase of Sustainable Agriculture Project, Using IPCM Strategy, Based February 06, 2014 (Website) on MENARID and Hablehroud International Projects Opened in Mashad Village, in Damavand County, Aiming to Develop Healthy Village, Healthy Agriculture and Healthy Products

35 Department of The Third Meeting of Department of Environment International Projects Was Held February 24, 2014 Environment (Website) News about Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud Project (2014-2015)

Media News Title Date 1 Hamshahri National Executive Director of MENARID and Hablehroud Announced the April 20, 2014 Newspaper Allocation of 150 Thousand Dollars to Hablehroud Project by UNDP 2 Javan Online Houshang Jazi: Hablehroud Project Aims to Enhance Efficiency Indexes of the Basin April 21, 2014 (Website) in Social, Economic and Cultural Dimensions; The Project Benefits from National and UN Credits

3 Mehr News Agency Counsellor of Semnan’s Governor in the Field of Economics and Territorial June 11, 2014 (Website) Planning: Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud National Project, which Is Partly Implemented as the First Territorial Project of the Country, Training Workshop and Professional Exhibition Related to the Project Will Be Held with the Cooperation of FRWO (with the Support of UNDP) 4 ISNA (Website) National Executive Director of MENARID and Hablehroud Said: 150 Thousand June 23, 2014 Dollars is Estimated for Hablehroud Project by UNDP

5 ISNA (Website) Implementation Details of Hablehroud International Project June 24, 2014 6 Tasnim News Allocation 7 Hundred Thousand Dollars for Hablehroud Project by UN June 24, 2014 Agency (Website)

7 Vatan-e-Emrooz The Products of Women Organizations of Hablehroud Region in Selling Stalls June 25, 2014 Newspaper 8 Hamshahri Through the Implantation of a New Project in Semnan Province, Land and Water June 25, 2014 Newspaper Resources of the Watershed Are Conserved While haunted Villages Are Revived Also Several Sustainable Jobs Are Created for Women Hablehroud; A Project for Conservation of this Land

9 Aryanews (Website) Cooperation of FRWO with Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources June 28, 2014 Boosted the Life of Villagers in Garmsar 10 Forest, Rangeland, Sustainable Management of Land and Water Project Boosted the Life of People in June 28, 2014 Watershed Garmsar Management Organization (Website) 11 Ettelaat Newspaper Sustainable Development, the Key for Conservation of Production Resources / The June 29, 2014 Director of Hablehroud International Project: The Richer the Land Resources Are, The More Affluent Plants and Fodder Production Would Be

12 Islamic Republic Hablehroud; the Symbol of Active Participation of Women in Producing Rural June 30, 2014 News Agency Products

13 Quds Newspaper Hablehroud; A Way for Avoiding Land and Water Crisis July 01, 2014 14 Kayhan Newspaper Behvard Is One of the Villages In Which Life and Prosperity Are Back through July 02, 2014 Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources. Hablehroud; A Project for Land Conservation in Iran 15 Farhikhtegan A Glimpse to Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud July 03, 2014 Newspaper – People’s Participation to Conserve Natural Resources 16 IRNA (Website) Hablehroud Project Reaches Its Goals through Land and Water Development July 15, 2014 17 IRNA (Website) The Director of UNDP in Iran: hablehroud National Project Seeks Preparing a July 29, 2014 Proper Regulation and Instruction So that Planning for Employment, Investment, Economic Development of the Region and Counties in Terms of Developing the Whole Country

18 Dana Information “Mohammad Ali Farzin”, Who Travelled to Firouzkouh In Order to Visit the July 31, 2014 Network (Website) Progress of Hablehroud National Project, Said: The Project, Aiming to Connecting the Rural Development Plans to Urban and Regional Development Plans

19 Mehr News Agency Garmsar Municipality: Integrated Management of Hablehroud Sustainable August 10, 2014 (Website) Development Project Significantly Decreased the Harm

20 IRNA (Website) The Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in Tehran Province: September 02, 2014 Continuity of Hablehroud Project Requires An Economic Approach Regarding Its Activities Media News Title Date 21 Young Journalists’ Hablehroud Project Causes People’s Participation in Land and Water Resources September 05, 2014 Club Conservation 22 IRNA (Website) The Implementation of Hablehroud International Management Project with the 7 September 29, 2014 Hundred Thousand Dollars Support of UNDP 23 Semnan The Beginning of Hablehroud’s Second Phase September 29, 2014 Broadcasting

24 Arsh News As Reported by Arsh News, Regarding the Visit of a Number of Iranian International September 29, 2014 (Website) Project Managers from Hablehroud Project in Garmsar City, ‘Hooshang Jazi’ Stated: This Year, the Office Has Allocated 150 Thousand Dollars to the Implementation of the Project

25 IRNA (Website) The Executive Manager of Hablehroud and MENARID International Projects November 01, 2014 Informed Regarding the Establishment of More than 20 public Formations as well as Creating Opportunities for Occupation in the Implementation of the Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud in Tehran and Semnan Provinces 26 Mehr News Agency Hablehroud Project Seeks Development / The Necessity of Considering Sustainable November 08, 2014 (Website) Management of Resources 27 Conversation of Land and Water through Implementation of Hablehroud in Firouzkouh

28 Mehr Website Executive manager of the Rameh rural women cooperative company was selected as January 01, 2015 premier manager in the country

29 IRNA website Executive manager of the rural women cooperative company of Rameh, Aradan (in January 01, 2015 Hablehroud Basin) was selected as the national premier. 30 Fars website Executive manager of the rural women cooperative company of Rameh, Aradan (in January 01, 2015 Hablehroud Basin) was selected as the national premier.

31 IRNA website Holistic view and public participation in natural resources is a pivotal policy. February 14, 2015 Khodakaram Jalali in a meeting on the status of the Hablehroud International Project in Garmsar added that, the Hablehroud Project is a successful role model that should be extended in the whole country

32 Tasnim Website In the presence of the head of the Forest Organization, a meeting on the status of the February 14, 2015 Hablehroud International Project was held in Garmsar 33 Mehr Website A meeting on the status and progress of the Hablehroud International Project was February 14, 2015 held with the presence of the head of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed management Organization and provincial and local authorities.

34 Mehr Website Representative of Garmsar and Aradan Counties in the Islamic Parliament: the lands February 14, 2015 around Hablehroud are suffering from opportunism. 35 Tasnim Website Deputy Minister and head of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed management February 14, 2015 Organization said: the Hablehroud Project, as a successful role model, should be extended throughout the country.

36 Dana Website In the presence of the head of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed management February 14, 2015 Organization, a meeting on the status and progress of the Hablehroud International Project was held in Garmsar. The meeting on the status of the Hablehroud International Project was held in the Professor Kardavani Park in Garmsar.

37 Kar & Kargar Khodakaram Jalali added: the Hablehroud Project is a successful role model that February 16, 2015 Newspaper should be extended throughout the country.

38 Tasnim Website Director of the Hablehroud International Project, five special working groups of the February 17, 2015 Hablehroud Project were established in Semnan and Tehran.

39 Tasnim Website Garmsar Governor: the goals of the Hablehroud Project are global. February 17, 2015 40 Mehr Website Gary Louis during a site visit of the Sustainable Management of Land and Water February 17, 2015 Project (Hablehroud) in Garmsar said that, land, water and vegetation condition in Iran is sensitive. He added: unfortunately, vegetation cover and diversity in Iran are deteriorating rapidly so more efforts should be made to achieve sustainable management of land and water through participation in implementing projects like the Hablehroud Project. Media News Title Date 41 Mehr Website “Implementation of the Hablehroud pilot project in Semnan with the aim of creating February 17, 2015 a national role model” Executive Manager of the Hablehroud International Project and Watershed Management Deputy of the Semnan Province Natural Resources and Watershed Management office pointed out that, sustainable employment and achieving a sustainable model for arid and semi-arid climates through implementation of sustainable management of land and water resources are the main goals of the Hablehroud Project in Rameh and Farvan areas. He added that, we are trying our best to avoid damaging other sectors while implementing the project. 42 Tasnim Website On the sideline of the site visit of the UN Resident Representative in Iran from February 17, 2015 the Hablehroud International Project, Houshang Jazi, the executive manager of the project, said: this is a joint project between the Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed management Organization and the United Nations Organization.

43 IRNA Website During a visit from Lazoor village, the UN Resident Representative in Iran said: the February 18, 2015 4000-year history of Lazoor village shows the ancient culture and history of the area and Iran. 44 ISNA Website Hablehroud seeking to achieve a sustainable role model for arid and semi-arid areas February 18, 2015 45 Environment On the sideline of a site visit from the Hablehroud Project in Semnan Gary Louis February 22, 2015 Website said: the whole country will suffer from desertification and global warming so all of us are responsible.

46 ISNA Website On the sideline of a site visit from the Hablehroud Project in Semnan Gary Louis February 22, 2015 said: Job creation in villages in arid regions reduces damages to natural resources.

47 The UN Website Masoud Kalaii, one of the coworkers of the Hablehroud Project who has helped rehabilitating several qanats in his place of residence 48 Meraat Website Hablehroud Project sparked production activities of women in Rameh village March 08, 2015 News about Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources of Hablehroud Project (2015-2016)

Media News Title Date 1 IRNA Vice-president visited the Hablehroud National Project activities in Lazoor village, March 30, 2015 Firouzkooh County. 2 Vapasin News Vice-president’s visit of an afforestation project and herbal extracts production March 30, 2015 workshop in Firouzkooh

3 Agriculture Ministry Dr. Jahangiri’s visit of the Hablehroud National Project in Firouzkooh March 30, 2015 Website

4 Wiki-Negar A delegation of national and provincial authorities headed by Eshaq Jahangiri, the March 30, 2015 vice-president, visited Riz Barge Alborz Company one of the Hablehroud Project’s companies in Firouzkooh County

5 Pana Vice-president visited the Hablehroud National Watershed Management Project March 30, 2015 activities in Lazoor village, Firouzkooh County.

6 Young Journalists Eshaq Jahangiri accompanied by the Agriculture Minister visited the Hablehroud March 30, 2015 Club National Project in Firouzkooh County.

7 Government’s Vice-president visited the Hablehroud National Project, the herbal extracts March 30, 2015 Official Website production workshop in Firouzkooh County.

8 ISNA On a one-day trip to Firouzkooh County, Eshaq Jahangiri visited the Hablehroud March 30, 2015 National Project and a herbal extract production workshop. 9 Tasnim Jahangiri visited the Hablehroud National Project, herbal extracts production project March 30, 2015 in Firouzkooh.

10 Fars Vice-president visited the Hablehroud National Project, herbal extracts production March 30, 2015 project in Firouzkooh. The president’s official website reported that, Eshaq Jahangiri accompanied by the Agriculture Minister went to Lazoor village in Arjmand District, Firouzkooh County, to visit the Hablehroud National project and an herbal extract production workshop.

12 Shabnam Website The president’s official website reported that, Eshaq Jahangiri accompanied by the March 30, 2015 Agriculture Minister went to Lazoor village in Arjmand District, Firouzkooh County, to visit the Hablehroud National project and an herbal extract production workshop.

13 Jam-e-Jam Website Hablehroud Project produces 120000 liters of different types of liquid herbal extracts March 30, 2015 annually. It has created 12 direct employment opportunities and 250 indirect ones.

14 Alborz-e-ma A delegation of national and provincial authorities headed by Eshaq Jahangiri, the March 30, 2015 Website vice-president, visited Riz Barge Alborz Company one of the Hablehroud Project’s companies in Firouzkooh County

15 IRNA Website Director of Hablehroud Project of the Forest and Rangeland Organization said: the April 12, 2015 two important subjects of institutional coherence and inter-sectoral management are neglected in the Hablehroud Project and it is one of the major weaknesses of the project. 16 IRNA Website Director of the Hablehroud International Project said: the Sustainable Management June 02, 2015 of Land and Water Resources Project is being implemented in the 1.2 million hectare Hablehroud Basin which is located in Tehran and Semnan Provinces.

17 Mehr Website The second phase of the Hablehroud Project aims at developing an integrated June 02, 2015 management model. 18 Fars Website Agreement of cooperation on Hablehroud management between Tehran and Semnan June 06, 2015 Provinces. Damavand Governor announced the agreement of cooperation between Tehran and Semnan Provinces on the management of the Hablehroud Basin.

19 Damavand County Meeting on the management of Hablehroud Basin. The Hablehroud Basin June 06, 2015 Government management meeting was held this morning in Garmsar County Government with Website presence of five governors.

20 Zist-Boom Website Selection of the Hablehroud Project as the premier project in the National Festival June 24, 2015 and Exhibition on Soil, Water, and Environment Technologies.

21 UNDP Website Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources Project selected as the best June 29, 2015 national project Media News Title Date 22 ISNA Website Sustainable Land and Water Resources Management model of the Hablehroud will June 30, 2015 be developed with cooperation of the United Nations Development Program 23 Tasnim Website Garmsar Governor: the permanent secretariat of the Hablehroud Project will be July 19, 2015 established in Garmsar 24 Tasnim Website In a meeting with Garmsar representative in the Islamic Parliament, the status and July 20, 2015 progress of the Hablehroud International Project was discussed.

25 Mehr Website Political and security deputy governor of Semnan Province: Implementation August 01, 2015 of Hablehroud and MENARID Projects will help development of the Semnan Province. 26 Khabar Online In the Semnan Province Natural Resources Assessment and Monitoring Committee August 02, 2015 Website meeting which was held in the Semnan Province General Government with presence of governors and authorities of Yazd and Semnan Provinces, political and security deputy governor of Semnan Province, Mr. Mirzaii, expressed his satisfaction with the Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources Project (Hablehroud) and said: in the light of Hablehroud Project, good participatory activities have been implemented. 27 IRNA Website Provincial executive manager of the Hablehroud Project announced the extension of September 06, 2015 the project to more than 12 new provinces in the current year. 28 Mehr Website Executive manager of Hablehroud and MENARID International Projects said that, September 15, 2015 inter-organizational coordination is prerequisite for achieving the Hablehroud Project land-use planning goals. The project is implemented in a 1.5 million hectare area.

29 IRNA Website Executive manager of Hablehroud and MENARID International Projects in the September 20, 2015 Forest Organization announced the implementation of the Hablehroud land use plan in 1.5 hectares of Tehran and Semnan Provinces.

30 Young Journalists Implementation of the Hablehroud land use plan in a 1.5 hectares area September 20, 2015 Club Website

31 Website of Iranian Cooperation of the Hablehroud and MENARID International Projects with the September 20, 2015 Land-use Planning Iranian Land-use Planning Scientific Association Association

32 Mehr Website Hablehroud Project is one of the largest watershed management projects in Semnan October 21, 2015 and Tehran Provinces that is also faced with some obstacles one of which is the River water right conflicts.

33 Tasnim News The Joint Statement on Integrated Management Cooperation Was Signed in Zanjan December 31, 2015 Agency (Website) According to the statement, directors, people and organizations involved with MENARID, Hablehroud and the country’s major project of integrated watershed management are responsible to provide full technical, scientific and credit support for integrated watershed management project of Qezel Tappeh in order to share international experiences in the field of integrated watershed management 34 IRNA (Website) The Executive Director of Hablehroud International Project Said: Based on the January 23, 2016 Counsels, Environmental Crisis in Hablehroud Basin Are Predicted in Semnan and Tehran Provinces

35 IRNA (Website) The Executive Director of Hablehroud International Project Said: Hablehroud January 23, 2016 Project Is Implemented with the Support of UNDP in Iran, Focusing on the Management of Land and Water Resources in Semnan and Tehran Provinces The execution responsibility of the project is on the government and FRWO

36 ISNA (Website) The Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in Semnan Province January 24, 2016 Gave Notice about the Implementation of Projects Similar to Hablehroud in the Other Regions of the Country He said: sustainable management of land and water resources national project is going to be implemented in 6 other watersheds of the other provinces, so that all of the eight counties of the province benefit from the project 37 IRNA (Website) The Executive Director of Hablehroud International Project Said: More than 250 March 08, 2016 Participatory Projects Are Implemented in This International Project Based on Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources 38 IRNA (Website) The Scientific Professional Meeting on Integrated Management of the Basin in March 08, 2016 Semnan Province Was Held Introducing the outputs of national major projects regarding integrated management of watershed; MENARID international project in a few provinces; Hablehroud international project; sharing knowledge and experience in the field of integrated management of country’s watersheds; and finally notifying and preparing above projects in national level are some of the main goals of the meeting. Media News Title Date 39 IRNA (Website) The Executive Director of Hablehroud International Project Said: Hablehroud March 08, 2016 Project Is Implemented with the Support of UNDP in Iran, Focusing on the Management of Land and Water Resources in Semnan and Tehran Provinces The execution responsibility of the project is on the government and FRWO

40 TABNAK (Website) The Executive Director of Hablehroud International Project Said: More than 250 March 08, 2016 Participatory Projects Are Implemented in This International Project Based on Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources