National Report of Islamic Republic of for Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme to the ICC meeting, July 2012, UNESCO, Paris

IranianU MAB National Committee: The MAB programme in Islamic Republic of Iran was launched in 1976 and is coordinated by the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO. The programme activities are guided by the MAB National Committee. The MAB national committee which established in 1976, includes 15 members consist of representatives of government organizations, Academia and NGOs, who are decision makers and expertise related to the MAB Programme.

In according to the committee bylaw, the chair of the committee is a representative of Department of the Environment. Since 1976, MAB National Committee has been working actively with regular meetings, either in the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, Department of Environment or within one of the Biosphere Reserves in field.

BiosphereU Reserves of Iran The first group of Iranian Biosphere Reserves nominated in 1976. Currently, there are 10 Biosphere Reserves in Iran: Miankale, Golestan, Uromie, Kavir, Turan, Arjan-Parishan, Geno, Harra and Dena All BRs are administered by the Department of Environment (DoE).

MajorU national activities:

1. Conducting a training and consultation workshop in 2009, which leads to preparation of a guideline for implementing of some MAP in the individual and national level, such as: • Establishment of a local management committee of BR, by involving all stakeholders. • Periodic Review of Biosphere Reserves • Awareness raising through some incentive programme

2. Translating and publishing of the MAP in Persian, Translating and publishing of the WNBRs and Iranian BRs leaflet, Bookkelt, Publication of BRs Brochures, Posters,…

3. Restructuring the MAB National Committees rules of procedures.

4. Training workshop on periodic review of BR and the main challenges, Oct 2011, Arasbaran BR. The committee decided to do reviewing of all 9 Biosphere Reserves till end of 2012. In | Page1

this regard, a comprehensive study has been conducted and draft report has been submitted to the National MAB Committee Members as well as the UNESCO office at Tehran for consideration.

5. Recording Dena as the 10th Iranian BR in the list of WNBR, 2010 and holding the Dena Ceremony within the Reserve.

6. Establishing an institutional BR coordinating Committee in the Department of the Environment (2 representative from each Biosphere Reserve) with the aim of knowledge exchanging and sharing of experiences.

7. Preparing the Management Plan for 8 BRs including:

Feasibility study (phase I): • Preparation and development of basic studies for each site • Data Analysis in GIS • Assessment of ecologicalcapabilities/ potentials • Development of Zoning system for each site

Detailed study (Phase 2) • Development of a plan for each zone: research activities, protection, rehabilitation, eco- tourism, cultural values, livelihood and local community involvement • Development of detailed short, medium and long-term action plans

Implementation (Phase 3) • Implementation of action plans and management suggestions according to work plans timetables (based on the outcomes of phase 2). It is not finished yet.

8. Iran was successful in collaboration with local people as well as the private sector. As an example the latest BR of Iran has been established in a mountainous area with several challenges but it was very successful to absorb the attention of the local governors as well as the local communities

9. After an agreement with IRIB , Iran access to 18 National and 30 provincial TV stations free of charge for conservation and cultural messages and since then we have been success to broadcast hours of footages on BRs values in more than 20 channels.

10. Regarding the Network we have been hosted two meetings of the South and Central Asian MAB Meeting (SACAM), the last one from 14 to17 November 2011under the theme of

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“Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in Development under Emerging Global Changes ”. meeting was held at the Iranian Qeshm Island located in the heart of the Persian Gulf, which is especially important in terms of ecosystem values. The Island holds unique features that have resulted in one registered Biosphere Reserve site (as the Harra Mangrove Forests), and also the first Geo-park in Middle East, benefits from rich indigenous culture.

11. Few month later in March 2012 Iran hosted another regional meeting for SACAM member with 14 participants including delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan as well as UNESCO staff members from Tehran and New Delhi.

12. To increase the regional collaborations Iran already initiated to establish some trans-boundary BRs and made following progress: - in November 2011 two Environmental Ministers of Iran and Turkmenistan met in the border Province of Khorasan; - in January 2012 two Environmental Ministers of Iran and Armenia have met first in Tehran and next week for the second time they will have a joint visit to the border area.

13. In late 2011 Iran hosted a 6 weeks postgraduate training course on Environmental Management (including BRs) and several participants from SACAM network have been received the scholarship to this course. Iran submitted the application to have access to this grant for 2013.

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