Journal of Scientific Research and Studies Vol. 3(9), pp. 179-190, September, 2016 ISSN 2375-8791 Copyright © 2016 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.modernrespub.org/jsrs/index.htm MRRRPPP
Full Length Research Paper
Developing Central Zagros Mountains conservation and sustainable development program with an approach to mainstreaming biodiversity
Ali Arvahi 1*, Shirin Abolghasemi 2, Ali Nazaridoust 3, Pooneh Raisdana 4, Masoomeh Hosseininasab 4 and Reza Derakhshandeh 5
1Department of Environment, Deputy National Project Manager of UNDP/ GEF Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros Mountain, Iran. 2Department of Environment, National Project Manager of Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros Mountain, Iran. 3Azad University of Parand, (Iran), Assistant Professor. 4Department of Environment, Technical Expert- Management and Planning of Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros Mountain, Iran. 5Department of Environment, Financial Expert of Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros Mountain, Iran.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 14 September, 2016
In recent decades, Zagros biodiversity have faced serious dangers due to the changes in population, socio-economic systems, lack of proper management methods and the decrease in the traditional land use, impacted by unsustainable and unbalanced development. If the current practices of using natural resources and the environment do not change, many of the species will extinct soon. For years the relevant organizations in the region have conducted the sustainable development studies and activities; however, the outcomes did not have desired results in the environment, because these activities were done separately and did not involve the local communities. Therefore, a need was felt to design and develop the Conservation and Sustainable Development Program of Central Zagros Mountains aimed at mingling conservation of biodiversity and development through the participation of all the relevant stakeholders and its target in balancing and sustainable development management of the region through mainstreaming biodiversity in different parts of the development and utilization of resource. In the following, with coordination for multi sectoral ratification of the program in 6th IR- National development plan and also communicated by the Planning and Development Council of the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Isfahan, Fars and Kohgilouyeh and Boyerahmad provinces, the operational phase of program has begun. It is obvious that this approach is a new approach in Iran and this paper will present the experiments of UNDP/GEF/DoE Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros Mountain Project.
Key words: Catchment management areas, mainstreaming biodiversity, central Zagros Mountains, conservation, sustainable development.
INTRODUCTION
Iran has worthwhile mountainous with unique biodiversity ecosystems. Mountains have the most biodiversity, flora, in the world, and the Middle East. Mountainous fauna and gene diversity in comparison with other ecosystem is one of the most important natural ecosystems, but their role and importance has not been 180 J. Sci. Res. Stud.
Figure 1. CZM and Pilot Management Areas.
considered adequately in Iran Socio and Economic sometimes will result in irreversible destruction and National Development Plan (Pazhoohesh and reducing local community chance for livelihood and IranManesh, 2011). protecting resources for future generations. Therefore, Central Zagros is mostly mountainous with 830-4416 m the most important destruction consequences are as altitude above sea level. The average elevation is 2332 m follows: with 34% of 2100-2400 m and less than 1000 m for less than 1% of the area. The Central Zagros is provided (a) Natural resources deterioration and destruction. settlement and livelihood for around 10% of the (b) Reducing biodiversity. population and the most important point for nomads (c) Decreasing environment quality. whose 50% of them are related to the Zagros. Moreover, (d) Landscape demolition and reducing environmental Central Zagros is the main resource for providing water health. for central Iran plateau, Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. The (e) Missing livelihood opportunities. Central Zagros Mountain (CZM) with an area of (f) Reducing social and economic development. 3.100.000 ha includes almost all of the Charmahal and (g) Decreasing life quality. Bakhtiari province and vast area of the Kohgiluye and Boyer-Ahmad province, a huge part of Marvdasht, Eghlid, According to this fact, the main reasons of Central Zagros Abadeh, Sepidan and Mamassani in Fars province and destruction are destructive and unsustainable Semirom in Isfahan (Figure 1). The most part of the area development activities, not considering nature protection covered by forests and pastures varied topography and and lack of priority in adaptation and indigenous life climate that has resulted in specific ecologic conditions quality. As a result, main solutions for conserving Zagros and high biodiversity in small areas (Aghazamani, 2016). Mountain are identified and introduced as follows: EbrahimiRastaghi (2011), despite of being a unique ecosystem, Zagros Mountain importance has not been (a) Ensuring development activities, and that, projects are considered in sustainable development and promoting green and sustainable. economic situation of the region; also indicators such as (b) Ensuring that local community life quality is prioritized. public life quality has ignored, therefore the ecosystem (c) Ensuring resources conservation, and that, natural and biodiversity is being destructed and threatened by areas are considered in all developed plans. two reasons: Changing land use in areas which has rich biodiversity and unsustainable harvesting from According to the Zagros Mountain importance, special biodiversity. These items act alone or with each other and ecologic characters and conditions, development Ali et al. 181
stakeholders’ organizations studied about sustainable convention in June of 1996 (GEF, 2007). Dalal-Clayton development and respect to the related standards in and Bass (2011) said biodiversity and poverty reduction implementation, although it hasn’t been resulted in are intrinsically linked and demand an integrated desirable results in nature. This is because of approach. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) unorganized and point activities, without local community has long emphasized the need for integrating, or participation, that hasn’t been resulted in significant ‘mainstreaming’, biodiversity into national and local impact on Zagros Mountain biodiversity conservation and development and poverty reduction strategies, most ecologic balance. Therefore, composing a recently in its new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011- comprehensive program for conservation and sustainable 2020). Examples of nascent and successful development of Zagros Mountain is needed if a cross- mainstreaming interventions are provided by Daily and sectoral and applied structure and management system Ellison (2002), Pierce et al. (2002), Rosenzweig (2003), was established to support biodiversity and promote local and Nazaridoust et al. (2012). community livelihood in national and provincial bodies (Mehrabi, 2011). In this regard, Department of Environment (DoE) with METHODOLOGY cooperation with United Nation Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environment Fund (GEF) Petersen and Huntley (2005) said the desired outcomes experimented “Biodiversity mainstreaming” approach in of mainstreaming, borrowing from the gray literature; Conservation and Sustainable Development Program of published mainly by the World Bank, Pierce et al. (2002) Central Zagros Mountains (C+SD P of CZM) for identified the following list: comprehensive management of Central Zagros Mountain to be achieved resources conservation and sustainable (a) The incorporation of biodiversity considerations into development targets with considering main stakeholders policies governing sectoral activities. roles and participation in Zagros Mountain (b) The simultaneous achievement of gains in biodiversity comprehensive management (CBCZP, 2015). and gains in an economic sector (the “win-win” scenario). With focus on biodiversity mainstreaming approach, the (c) The recognition of sectoral activity as being based on, C+SD P of CZM has been composed. The process longs or dependent on, the sustainable use of biodiversity. for 5 years that includes study and field operations. (d) Sectoral activities in certain situations result in overall Moreover, principles and concepts of biodiversity gains for biodiversity, exceeding biodiversity losses. mainstreaming approach as a new approach in biological resources conservation are as follows (Ferdowsi, 2011): According to above outcomes, Conservation and Sustainable Development Program of Central Zagros (a) Mainstreaming means integration or settling Mountain has been developed by participation of all biodiversity conservation and sustainable use activities in governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders, production strategies such as agriculture, fishery, especially local communities. Table 1 shows the forestry, tourism, mining, etc. implementation process of composing the program. To (b) Mainstreaming means settlement of biodiversity compose C+SD P of CZM, several consultation and considerations in poverty reduction and national discussion workshops were held in national, provincial programs of sustainable development programs. and management pilot areas levels, draft of each steps (c) Ideally, biodiversity policies as sectoral policies should have been sent to take stakeholders opinions and then be a tool for settling national biodiversity goals instead of the new version of program has been prepared. working independently as a significant sectoral policy. Simultaneously, lesson learned and results of evaluation (d) According to the mainstreaming, biodiversity pilot program were compiled and used in designing C+SD considerations will be settled and implemented in P of CZM that will be presented and discussed in current economic sections, development models, policies and manuscript. programs, environment quality and status will be improved and sustainable development will be achieved in long term. Designing pilot program
Therefore, the biodiversity mainstreaming approach is a To checking possibility of settling C+SD model and also progressive conservation approach with logical economic experimenting varied suggested methods, a smaller exploitation that strengthen participatory planning system, model was designed and implemented as an experiment bottom-up, to operate comprehensive management of in Pilot Management Areas (PMAs) and in continuation, Zagros Mountain in higher level of ecosystems level and the pilot program of conservation and sustainability of mostly in Catchment Areas (CA) to achieve biological resources use in PMAs were implemented in 2010 to resources conservation by sustainable development. This remove, control and decrease the main challenges of the approach has been approved in 6th global biodiversity C+SD P of CZM. Hence four PMAs in CZM provinces 182 J. Sci. Res. Stud.
Table 1. Process of developing the C+SD P of CZM.
Year Action steps - Designing pilot management areas 2010 - Implementing pilot program
- Completing and evaluation of pilot program 2014 - Composing C+SD P of CZM and its management system (Long term and in large scale)
- Facilitation for settling Central Zagros Mountain management system and implementing the program in large scale 2015 - Hand over the responsibilities of project to permanent secretariat management of CZM
- Capacity Development for CZM management system 2016 - Exiting Zagros project
Table 2. Pilot Management Areas characters.
Row Region Area (ha) Political area 132197 Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province-includes some parts of Borojen, Kiar and 1 Boldaji-Naghan small regions of Lordegan and Ardal
70147 Kohgiloye and Boyerahmad province-includes Pataveh and parts of Central 2 West Dena Dena in Dena and Boyerahmad
3 Kor-Kamfiroz 87551 Fars province-includes parts of Kor, Kamfiroz in Marvdasht 4 Dena-Vanak 103570 Isfahan province-includes parts of Padena and central Semirom
have been designed and established according to below and Boyerahmad in 2010; then implementation of pilot principles and with the total area of 393465 ha (Figure 1) conservation and sustainability of resources use program as follows: were ratified by 4 provinces Planning and Development Councils and designate to relevant governors. Results (a) Smaller areas in CZM landscape will be selected to and achievements of the pilot conservation and test and establish C+SD integrated management. sustainability of CZM resources use program during 3 (b) Pilot Management Areas space shouldn’t be years implementation are as follows: separated from surrounded landscape and indicate CZM natural landscape. (a) Baseline studies: identifying socio-economic (c) Pilot Management Areas should be selected to characters, biodiversity statues, conditions resources and indicate combination of unprotected and protected areas beneficiaries and other related studies are the first step in and communities such as nomads and beneficiaries to management planning. Therefore, Zagros project has test the most important impacts on Zagros Mountain studied the mentioned subjects in two CZM and biodiversity such as making balance between Management Areas levels. conservation and nomads’ livelihood. (b) Public awareness raising: attracting stakeholders (d) Pilot Management Areas should be determined based attention accompanied by education toolkits, holding on hydrologic sub-catchment and also county political training courses for developing ecofriendly livelihood and borders to have potential for scale up in the future (Table sustainable use of tourism, ecotourism, sustainable 2). agriculture, pastoralism, aquaculture and forestry in Pilot Management Areas for target groups such as governmental and local stakeholders and beneficiaries, Implementation of pilot program Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). (c) Management planning: After stakeholders and To facilitate, increase and encourage participation of all threats analysis, main problems were identified and Zagros Mountain key stakeholders for implementing pilot sectoral use management plan was composed by program, a memorandum of understanding was signed consultant and participatory workshops for each PMAs. among previous head of DoE and provincial governors of The achievements were led to determine implementation Isfahan, Fars, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Kohgiloye priorities for resources conservation and sustainability of Ali et al. 183
Table 3. Framework of pilot program evaluation.
Evaluating tools effectiveness and supporting mechanisms of Evaluating pilot program management pilot areas Row Main subjects Row Management tools 1 CZM border and area 1 Baseline studies 2 PMA border 2 Management Information System and Resource Center 3 Scale up program 3 Piloting conservation activities 4 Institutional arrangement at the local level 4 Piloting sustainable/ alternative livelihood 5 Institutional arrangement at the provincial level 5 Piloting GGS Organizational connection among different 6 6 Piloting social institutions participation levels in Zagros management 7 Participatory and integrated management 7 Piloting public awareness raising
sectoral use system and then implementing prioritized modified and reviewed if it is necessary. Pilot program actions. evaluation was done by main stakeholders and (d) Establishing and activating PMA Local Planning beneficiaries groups of CZM provinces and PMAs Committees: Local planning committee is a cross- participation (Table 3). Furthermore, pilot program lesson sectoral structure which is limited to a city with learned were applied to prepare long term C+SD program membership of varied mountain management and designing CZM management system. Also, pilot stakeholders and beneficiaries and leading of county program evaluation lesson learned was led to governor. The mentioned committees acted after pilot determining criteria for designing and selecting program ratification by Planning and Development Catchment Management Areas (CMA) in the CZM Council in four provinces of Central Zagros in 2010. Local (CBCZP, 2014). Planning Committees have prepared and implemented annual work plan of conservation and resources sustainable use. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (e) Establishing Mountain Biodiversity Resource Centers: to public awareness raising, facilitate exchange C+SD Program of CZM was developed in a participatory and publishing knowledge in four Zagros provinces for all process to get opinions in the local, provincial and CZM stakeholders and beneficiaries. national levels. The main activities during this process (f) Implementing Green Grant Scheme (GGS): The aim are as follows and the main findings will be presented is supporting local beneficiary communities’ initiatives consequently: and NGOs for biodiversity conservation and ecofriendly livelihood. In this regard, GGS implementation process (1) Collecting data and studying about hydrology, socio- was completed in PMAs that were led to different projects economic conditions, climate and biodiversity, land use with NGOs and local community participation. To and ecological capability evaluation. implement the project, budget was prepared by PMA (2) Stakeholder analysis, institutional and organizational Local Planning Committees and Zagros Project joint. arrangement studies and analyzing unsustainable (g) Implementing sustainable livelihood and development and use threats. conservation of resources model activities: This (3) Planning and implementing effective programs to activity was considered to introduce successful cases for inform, public awareness raising and capacity building of local planners and evaluating the effectiveness to scale target groups. up in throughout PMAs. Meanwhile, successful models of (4) Preparing CZM management tools. biological resources and sustainable livelihood (5) Strategic planning including development, ratification conservation were identified and implemented in PMAs in and designation of the C+SD of CZM. the next step. (6) Developing, ratifying, implementing and monitoring CMAs C+SD Sub- programs, 5 years and annual work plan of C+SD is implementing after the C+SD of CZM ratification. Evaluating pilot program and identifying lesson learned Strategies framework and action plan The pilot program achievements and results were evaluated to identify strengths and weakness points of The C+SD of CZM strategies framework is presented in CZM integrated resources management model and Table 4 and designed by identifying, analyzing 184 J. Sci. Res. Stud.
Table 4. C+SD of CZM strategies framework (CBCZP, 2016).
30-year Vision of CZM: Zagros Mountains, the unique area that benefits from sustainable and balanced development, in a way that all stakeholders cooperate in its management based on considering the carrying capacity, nature tolerance, life cycle and water also they will benefit from mountain endowment fairly, dynamic and sustainable and the structure of Zagros Mountains' ecosystem will be preserved for the future generations. Main Goal: Sustainable development and conservation of natural and biodiversity resources in CZM Strategic goals: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Conservation of the Restoration and Managing and controlling Sustainable Conservation and environment and rehabilitation ecosystems the impacts of the development in the rehabilitation of the biodiversity values in degraded areas unsustainable activities process of resource cultural values and vision and uses use of the CZM Executive goals: 1- Conservation of 7- Developing 10-Establishment and 14- Conservation and 4- Conservation, current biodiversity and sustainable agriculture improvement of restoration of the values restoration, ecosystems health for controlling or reducing regional planning and and native culture and reconstruction of the threats in agricultural developing Eco-friendly traditions rangelands' ecosystems activities management tools of in CZM CZM 2- Awareness raising and 5- Conservation, 8- Sustainable 11- Adjusting policies, 15- Conservation, participation of decision- restoration, development of laws, regulations and restoration and makers, civil society reconstruction of aquaculture and policy advocacy to rehabilitation of the CZM organizations and woodlands' ecosystems sustainable use of conserve the CZM landscapes and vision people, for the in CZM fisheries resources biodiversity conservation values 3- Promoting the 6- Conservation of the 9- Sustainable tourism 12- Developing conservation and wildlife quantitative and development through the strategic restoration in the region, qualitative characteristics control or reducing the environmental development of the of water resources in threats of tourism assessment qualitative and water ecosystems (rivers activities quantitative wildlife and wetlands) management plans 13- Improving and strengthening the Major Green Initiatives Main actions and quantitative and qualitative goals
conditions, problems and predicted solutions in PMAs management system is introducing stakeholders’ role and based on field surveys, basic studies and CZM achieving facilitator, smart, small and non-intensive stakeholders and beneficiaries opinions and in adaption structure to obtain goals and much more C+SD of CZM with Sustainable Development Goals (Javaherian et al., better implementation. In this regard, considered 2016). In continuation, achievements were analyzed and characters to choose inter-sectoral structure in Zagros integrated to propose the outcome as a strategic program Mountain management are as follows: for conservation of biological resources and sustainable development in CZM. (1) Possibility of getting participation and settling comprehensive and integrated management system to provide essential condition for integrating biodiversity Designing CZM Management System conservation in the C+SD of CZM. (2) Having knowledge about development goals and Individuals, groups or institutions are affected by the ability to do sustainable development missions and C+SD of CZM, or affect activities and challenges. getting supports of programs and budgets. Therefore, the aim of designing Zagros Mountain (3) Most Zagros Mountain management key stakeholders Ali et al. 185
National Management Committee of Zagros Mountains (Under National Committee of Sustainable Development) National Executive Secretariat
Director General of Water Development Affairs, Agriculture and Environment (Management and Planning Organization)
Provincial Planning and Development Council (Land use WG as a CZM Provincial MC)
ZMRC Catchment Management Area MC
Chair
County Governors (Periodic/Fixed-Term) Provincial Executive Secretariat Deputy of Planning and Budget coordination NRo DoE Water Tourism Co unty MoAJ (Province Management Affair Organizati Governors Offices) on
Rep. Rural/Fishery/Housing Nomads Ministry of NGOs CBOs Foundation/Universities Organization mine, (2 reps.) (2 reps.) industry and /Education
Figure 2. CZM Management System.
have membership. by choosing Land use planning, Environment and (4) It is according to decentralization approach based on Sustainable Development Working Group. In fact, this article 178 in 5 th IR- National Development Plan, and committee play effective role in setting in place of CMA avoids new and parallel structures. integrated resources management mechanism, ratification and allocation required budget, facilitating According to the above characters and based on implementation of CMAs annual C+SD work plans. This stakeholders analysis results and pilot program committee has cross-sectoral nature in addition to evaluation, CZM management system was designed in technical and professional role that consists of Zagros national, provincial and local (CMAs) levels. The first Mountain key stakeholders representative. Furthermore, organizational structure is the highest level that has main provincial executive secretariat of Zagros Mountain guidance, decision making and institutional role in CZM. management will be settled in management and planning Thus, to achieve the goal, CZM national management organizations of provinces with coordination deputy of committee was determined with deputy of civil and urban planning and budget as secretary to strengthen and rural development affairs in Ministry of Interior as comprehensive planning according to sustainable chairman and membership of all CZM key stakeholders development framework. as the best top management structure in national level. Finally, third management level was predicted in local Also, Zagros Mountain national executive secretariat was ones. CMA management committee was introduced as a settled in Department of Environment (DoE) with head of cross-sectoral and cross-county (catchment) structure to sustainable development office as secretary. manage CZM in local level. This committee consists of The second management structure is Zagros Mountain governors and representatives of related key provincial management committee that is located in organizations in each main county, located in the CMA, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Isfahan, Kohgiloye and and its head is determined by the provincial governor; it Boyerahmad and Fars provinces. In this regard, ten can be whether one of the governors periodic with professional working groups are formed and activated coordination deputy of planning and budget in under Provincial Planning and Development Council, management and planning organization as secretary which the most related and adapt one as a CZM (Figure 2). In this level, all implementation and local Provincial Management Committee has been identified management details of Zagros Mountain were organized, 186 J. Sci. Res. Stud.
Table 5. The summary of CMAs characteristics in CZM.
Area Main districts located in Subsidiary districts S/N Name of CMA Province (Hectares) CMAs in CMAs 1 Kor 469075.57 Fars Eghlid, Marvdasht, Sepidan Abadeh 2 Abadeh- eghlid 276605.54 Fars Eghlid, Abadeh - 3 Lordegan 276266.03 Charmahal- Bakhtiari Lordegan - 4 Vanak- khersan 533651.38 Isfahan Semirom Shahreza 5 Boyerahmad 221595.24 Kohgiloyeh- Boyerahmad Boyerahmad Dena and Sepidan 6 Dena 205398.97 Kohgiloyeh- Boyerahmad Boyerahmad, Dena Kohgiluyeh 7 Broojen 139632.40 Charmahal- Bakhtiari Boroojen - 8 Koohrang 127790.11 Charmahal- Bakhtiari Koohrang Ardal 9 Bazoft 420581.27 Charmahal- Bakhtiari Ardal, Koohrang, Kiar Broojen and Lordegan 10 Beheshtabad 396471.68 Charmahal- Bakhtiari Shahrekord, Broojen, kiar Farsan and Ardal
followed up and implemented. Role of local communities (1) All of the CZM conservation landscape, at the first and NGOs are much more important, and all step, is divided into catchment areas. Then CMAs should governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders who be designed and selected in a way that it doesn’t exceed communicate with Zagros Mountain management in local catchment basin and it should be tried that there would level will be present. be no common area between two provinces unless in exceptional cases that it is about a small part of sub basin. Designing integrated resource management units in (2) At the second step, each catchment basin was CZM landscape divided into a logical number of Catchment Management Areas. Each CMA in CZM should be large enough to According to the results of pilot program evaluation, manage the majority of the conservation and lesson learned about designing PMAs was reviewed and development control issues in catchment areas and in permanent integrated resources management units was addition to that, the sum of the number of the catchment defined and designed as “Catchment Management management areas in CZM conservation landscape Areas” in CZM landscape that can operate the main should be small enough, that the establishment of follow functions: management system in it would be possible. (3) The area of each CMA may include political (1) Legal supports are provided to introduce and boundaries in some districts. Therefore, it is required that recognize CMAs in national and provincial levels. the management system should be designed and (2) They are guided and managed by CMAs implemented in a way that requires coordination, and management committees (Consist of governors, cooperation between districts should be provided. In executive institutions, local NGOs and local communities’ order to do that, districts located in each catchment representatives). management areas, is divided into two main districts (3) Tools and instructions are provided for CMAs (with vast area) and subsidiary (with smaller area) and planning and management. the way of their cooperation in catchment management (4) CMAs C+SD Sub- programs should be prepared and areas will be defined on this basis. then CMAs management committee prepares and implement annual C+SD work plan. (5) Provincial executive secretariat is facilitating the Land use planning based on ecological capability allocation of required budget timely for implementing evaluation CMA C+SD annual work plan. (6) Preparing annual report of CMAs management Ecological land use plan would be one of the main tools committee and annual monitoring report of CMAs and which is applicable and too effective for achieving the presenting to ZM provincial management committees. long-term vision and goals of CZM C+SD Program. In this regard, and by implementing management planning On this basis, ten Catchment Management Areas in CZM process in CZM, ecological zoning of land-uses were conservation landscape was designed by considering done in two levels for CZM and 10 CMAs (Figure 4; below principles. Table 5 and Figure 3 define the Bahmanpour, 2015). characteristics of the 10 catchment areas in CZM as Regarding to this fact that applying land-use planning follows: won’t provide C+SD P of CZM lonely, due to the fact that Ali et al. 187
Figure 3. CMAs in CZM landscape.
Figure 4 . Map of CZM ecological land Use plan.
development and use activities might be defined impacts could be controlled and managed by composing according to ecologic capability of the area without and implementing sustainable use guidelines and considering ecologic criteria in design and instructions to make gradually development activities implementation. Therefore, development activities sustainable. In this regard, “Sustainable Aquaculture”, 188 J. Sci. Res. Stud.
Table 6. Indicators of CZM Monitoring Plan.
Socio-economic resources Soil and water resources indicators Environmental resources indicators Indicators Public awareness and capacity The adaptation rate of dominant cultivation Wild life species building compliance with cropping pattern
Tourism The adaptation rate of land use with land use plans Vegetation Immigration rate Water use efficiency in agriculture Aquatic diversity and It’s usage status Nomads condition Underground water resources balance and its uses Weather and climate
The pattern of surface and underground water Industries and mines Surface and underground water quality resources consumption
Employment rate Sedimentation rate Consumed Input rate in agriculture
“Sustainable exploitation of forest”, “Sustainable use of (1) The C+SD P of CZM was reviewed in cross-sectoral water resources”, “Sustainable exploitation of rangeland”, policy making councils meetings of 6 th IR- National “Environmental Impact Assessment”, “Sustainable Development Plan and its overall was ratified by policy Agriculture”, “Sustainable Tourism” and “Waste and making council’s cross-sectoral committees of 6th wastewater management in rural communities” guidelines development plan in DoE in form of article 27 note (B). and instructions is prepared and applied in planning and implementation of development/exploitation activities Article 27:B- Government has to ratify and implement ecosystem management plan and conservation of biological process. resources and sustainable development with emphasis on sensitive and fragile ecosystems such as lakes, wetlands, the endangered mountainous ecosystem, unique natural phenomenon and biosphere reserves especially in priority CZM monitoring plan areas like: Central Zagros and Hyrcanian forests and important registered wetlands in the Ramsar International Composing and preparing monitoring plan is to regulative convention, with emphasis on the empowerment of the local check and evaluate current statues regarding to update and native managements; it will be ratified and implemented according to the implementation regulation in this section. information and establish CZM resource center with aim of presenting accurate information to all stakeholders, (2) Signing and agreements to cooperation for strengthening process of CZM managers and institution implementing the C+SD P of CZM among deputies of experts decision making. Therefore, CZM Monitoring Ministry of Interior, Management and Planning Plan and Protocols were composed and recognized in Organization, Department of Environment and provincial participatory and consultant workshops with all governors of Fras, Isfahan, Kohgiloye and Boyerahmad stakeholders’ contribution (Table 6). In the next step, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces in 2015. CZM Monitoring Plan will be localized in each CMA (3) Ratification of the C+SD P of CZM by Fars, Isfahan, based on ecologic conditions, biodiversity values, Kohgiloye and Boyerahmad and Chaharmahal and unsustainable use and CMAs problems and challenges, Bakhtiariby provinces Planning and Development and therefore, these plans won’t be similar in different Councils. CMAs. It is necessary to mention that CMAs (4) Settling integrated management mechanism in four management committees prepare CMAs annual CMAs with background in pilot program implementation monitoring report with facilitation of provincial executive include: Kor (Fars), Bazoft (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari), secretariat (CBCZP, 2015). VanakKhersan (Isfahan) and Dena (Kohgiloye and Boyerahmad). (5) To implement the C+SD P of CZM, cross-sectoral Ratifying C+SD P of CZM management structures and executive secretariats were established in provincial and national levels (For the first Ratifying the C+SD P of CZM was considered after four CMAs) and activation ZM management national composing with participation of governmental and committee and national executive secretariat are being nongovernmental relevant organizations and local organized simultaneously. Furthermore, empowering communities, then was ratified in top national and management system and stakeholders of CZM program provincial levels with continuation as follows: has been composed to technical support of management Ali et al. 189
structures and will be implemented with coordination and and it is expected to minimize county and sectoral cooperation of four CZM provincial secretariats from planning impacts on adjacent counties. 2016. In conclusion, we can point out the most important challenges in settling integrated management mechanism Conclusion in Central Zagros CMAs which includes mainstreaming sectoral activities; budget allocation for implementation of As it was mentioned earlier, biodiversity mainstreaming C+SD P; time consuming process for management approach is considered as an effective way to integrate planning and community participation; and also official biological resources conservation in development obstacles and sectoral benefits against planning, programs, so the achieved model of Central Zagros budgeting and implementing of CMA C+SD Sub-program vision can be scaled up in overall Zagros Mountain and and Annual Work plans. also can be applied as a model in all mountainous On the other hand, the most important achievements of ecosystems, if basic studies and field surveys are done this model could be considering the most important systematically. values and threats in CMAs for planning and The achievements from composing the C+SD P of implementation of activities; preventing parallel activities, CZM illustrate the necessity of all CZM stakeholders and resources and capitals waste; involving all stakeholders/ beneficiaries participation in composing program and beneficiaries in conservation and management of Zagros implementation that will make sense of ownership among Mountain and also increasing reliability of sustainable different section and enough knowledge about necessity development achievement and strengthen inter-sectoral of resources conservation and sustainable development contributions. and as a result, cooperation of relevant different sections has been increased to considerable extent in managing Zagros Mountain. This point has been reported before by Acknowledgement Nazaridoust et al. (2012). C+SD P of CZM is a high level program and policy We are grateful to others including project director, framework. Therefore beside that, CMAs C+SD Sub- consultants and experts; Dr. Farhad Dabiri, Mr. Jamshid programs should be developed and implemented Aghazamani, Dr. Saieed Malmasi, Dr. Houman according to the problems, values and threats of each Bahmanpour, Ms. Farzaneh Basiri, Ms. Farnaz CMA. As a result, CMAs C+SD Sub-programs aren’t Bozorgnia, Ms. Pardis Valavi, Ms. Fatima Shirkavand, unique and there would be some differences based on Ms. Kobra Ayaseh, Mr. Ali Zandmoghaddam, Mr. Mehdi each CMA natural, socio-economic, biological and Mojtahedi and Mr. Parsa Arameshinia, for their support, physical characters and also conflicts, challenges and technical inputs, coordination and managing project problems in other CMAs. 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