The first issue of Iran SGP E-Newsletter coincided with the Persian New Year, Norouz.

Programme Brief : GEF SGP I.R. Iran was launched in June 2001 in the middle of GEF Operational Phase II (OP2) when the public policy opened up to public participation. The Third Five-year National Development Plan of Iran (2000-2004) provided a window for the government to open the arena for participation of civil society in development work. This era provided a unique opportunity for civil society to participate more actively in sustainable development and environmental protection, to become empowered and to form some of its institutions. Focus of the GEF SGP Programme in I.R. Iran is to assist in local environmental protection through stakeholder participation and capacity building. In October of 2003 at the request of the Secretary General, his special envoy visited I.R. Iran for assessment of UN and civil society relationship in the country. SGP was cited in the official report as a working model between the government and the civil society. In accordance with the Country Programme Strategy I (CPS1) during OP2, SGP could work in three regions of the country with both national and global significance: Caspian, Zagros and the Persian Gulf in addition to where GEF or UNDP had participatory projects and large cities for air pollution (Tehran) which are still valid operational sections. GEF SGP I.R. Iran has approved a total of 121 projects so far, consisting of 101 Full Grants and 20 Planning Grants. So far 30% of the projects have been satisfactorily completed or are nearly completed, about 55% are ongoing, and 15% have been newly approved by the NSC. During OP2, GEF/SGP in Iran has focused its efforts mainly on Biodiversity and Multiple Focal Area and with few projects International Waters in the Persian Gulf area.

Resource Allocation in OP2 in each Focal Area Resource Allocation in OP3 in each Focal Area Biodiversity

Climate Change

International Waters Land Degradation Multifocal Area

During OP3 the Programme was diversified more with approval of projects in new focal areas, Land Degradation and POPs. The CPS amendment for Operational Phase III, was based on strengthening both the thematic and regional clusters for impact. Therefore, in OP3 it was allowed for accommodating up to 30% random projects for capturing new ideas. Land Degradation and POPs were allowed outside of the three regions to allow for demonstration sites considering the capacity in the country. The remaining 70% were allocated for targeted projects to support pilots for 2001 to 2004 projects, which had policy impact as well as further developing the clusters including further linkage to GEF projects. In accordance to resource allocation frame work RAF, In OP4, SGP funding allocation is now focused on Biodiversity and Climate Change. Based on results of seven years of expanded work across Iran, SGP has developed Geographic and Thematic Clusters. Geographical clusters are Caspian, Zagros and the Persian Gulf.. Thematic Clusters are Link to selected GEF or UNDP projects, Integrated Pest Management, Integrated/Traditional Forest Management, Community based Ecotourism, Participatory Capacity Building, Marine Resources, Wetlands and Climate Change.

SGP motto is: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) at UNDP operates on the premise that people will be empowered to protect their environment when they are organized to take action, have access to natural resources, have the necessary information and knowledge, and believe that their social and economic well-being is dependent on sound long-term management of natural resources. Zagros Cluster/ Link to GEF/UNDP Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project Wetland’s Champion Selected from an SGP Funded Project

Conservation of Iranian Wetland Project, a GEF‟s Large Scale project in Iran, with collaboration of the Biodiversity and Natural Environment Division of the Department of Environment and Ramsar Convention Representatives in Iran nominated Mr. Entekhabi for the Wetland‟s Champion Award. SGP funded this project for rehabilitation of SiranGoli Wetland. As the most successful experiences relating to optimized preservation of Wetland Ecosystems and promotion of wetlands preservation culture across the country Mr. Entekhabi received the award on the World Wetlands Day on Feb 2nd 2008. The picture below shows Mr. Entekhabi. After receiving the award he said: “Besides from the funding, GEF Small Grants Programs empowered us and helped us believe in ourselves. SGP help us to participate actively in Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction through our own local societies."

Parow Support Letter from Zagros/Ecotourism Tourism Organization cluster

Women Mountain Environment Protection Society (Parow) a Non Governmental - Non Profit Organization from Kermanshah, has succeeded to promote its SGP funded project as a solution and a potential provincial example for Ecotourism Committee. Project aimed to develop an experience to restore the high demand mountainous (cultural heritage) pathways neighboring the cities and document them. The National Ecotourism Committee offered the Parow Organization an 11,000 USD financial support to implement the same idea in a second historical pathway as a sustainable way for Mountain Ecotourism in Iran, and to prepare appropriate guidelines on making this idea executable for other mountainous regions with high visitors demands. Replicability is a criteria of success for local communities participation and incorporating indigenous knowledge in sustainable management of the Natural and Cultural Heritages. Parow Support Letter from Tourism Organization

Date: 10 Jan 2008 Kermanshah Municipality Parks and Green Areas Organization Has Declared that Parow Organization activities has been very inspiring for the Municipality and they mentioned their remarkable effects on the society as follows: 1-Parow Organization efforts has lead to serious restoration of the Mountain Natural Environment in the mentioned trekking roots 2-Local Peoples and trekkers higher preferation in using the Parow Organization designed roots due to its very high reliability and for nature protection 3-Expansion and restoration of the endemic vegetation because of Parow organization efforts in planting Endemic Plant Species and indirect increase of the species because of Parow protection efforts 4-Nature Protection is becoming the culture in the areas that Parow have worked 5-Less waist and garbage in the Mountains of the regions that Parow Organization have worked 6-Protection of the important vegetation of Mazar Shohada Mountainous area by designing trekking roots, in the Northern slopes of the mountain 7-Expanding and encouraging of the Local communities, and Local Organization and Other Zagros/Ecotourism NGOs to participate more actively in the protection of the Environment cluster 8-Successful Example of effectiveness of Nongovernmental and local organizations in protection of nature and in building the fundamentals of participation for Nature protection and Municipality Urban Nature Protection activities

SGP’s activities reflection at Kermanshah Newspapers

Women Mountain Environment protection Society (Parow) celebrated the visit of Ms. Laleh Daraie (National Coordinator of the GEF/SGP Programme in Iran , and Ms Elzira Sagynbaeva (Deputy Resident Representative). During this visit the role of Parow successful projects, as a model of community base ecotourism emphasized and a two days workshop held in the Kermanshah Province, Natural Resources Head Office.

SGP Financial Report Workshop, 24th of January 2008 On January 24th, the occasional training workshop on the guidelines to a legitimate, transparent and precise Financial Reporting Package held for the new grantees by SGP team, with SPG team members, Mr. Javadi, Ms. Mirniam and Ms. Zahedi as Monitoring and facilitators. Evaluation, SGP Project 51 Zagros/Qeshm Clusters Shiraz and Qeshm Site Visit

N.C.‟s visit to Shiraz Capital of Fars Province, on 18 to 20 of February, to explore new horizons of communities involvement on biodiversity conservation in Zagross range, as well as expanding possibilities of supporting substitute livelihoods such as making Handicrafts with Mr. & Mrs. Dareshoori.

Persian Gulf, Qeshm New Ideas for Handicrafts, Cluster, Tailor Made and Local Products Capacity Building, Handicrafts, Conservation Marketing Art and Marketing Clusters

A meeting hold on SGP Office, to discuss the new ideas for Handicraft design, way of ordering product from local communities, marketing and developing new community based ideas for development of incredible indigenous artworks. Currently several SGP Projects are working with communities to help woman, turn their ideas into art forms and ease their access to markets through well planned marketing activities.

IPM Cluster, Integrated Pest Final Workshop of IPM in Management/Farmer-Field Caspian rice fields and other School (Linked to UNEP GEF, IPM/FFS projects Caspian Environment Programme and UNDP)

The “ Farmers Empowerment on Agro-ecosystem Management in Paddy Fields of Caspian Area & other IPM/FFS Projects” final workshop held in Iran Research Institute of Plant Protection, located in Tehran, and farmers from different part of Iran with SGP funded projects on IPM( IPM in Garmsar, Bam Dates,…) attended the meeting and shared Ideas and discussed the shortages and the landscape. In this session Mr. Khalaghani Deputy Minister of Research from the Ministry of Agriculture and Jihad, thanked the hard works of farmers and SGP in promoting the Idea of Healthy agricultural products in the society and he mentioned that turning research into action and use it on the ground is what useful and can help the farmers and the country for better food products and self sufficiency. BAM Community Development Fund, Link to UNDP-ABD Project, bringing poverty alleviation and Tailor Made Capacity environment restoration: Bam date Building and IPM Clusters Gardens in upper Baravat The maintenance and Revival of Bam Garden City through Community Empowerment and Creating Alternative Livelihoods, an UNDP ABD (Area Based Development) and GEF/SGP funded Project, with focus on poverty reduction and creating alternative livelihoods and local people‟s participation on revolving the date gardens. Hold the Second Anniversary of the Upper Baravat (Bam) Community Development fund. In this year event Mr. Knut Ostby (UNDP Resident Representative in Iran), Ms Laleh Daraie( GEF/SGP National Coordinator), Mr. Farzin (Program Specialist, UNDP), Bam governor, local fund representatives, Hamyaran National NGO representatives and local donors and financial supporters participated and a selected panel of the locals, donors and other representatives with the help of other attendants reviewed the past year activities of the community revolving fund. In the closing ceremony Bam Governor and the Parliament Representative from Bam mentioned that this project has brought hope and solidarity to the area and it is a good example of participation and rebuilding. The Projects goals have been: Livelihoods generation best suited for the region, promoting and enhancing existing capacities, capacity building and providing structure to community dynamics, Revival of Bam garden city based on local knowledge, Local development by facilitating interaction and cooperation between local community, local authority and non- governmental organizations. And the projects achievements have been: Establishing upper Baravat community based organization, Upper Baravat community development fund, Micro credit fund track record, Woman Empowerment (Confectionary Cooperative), Tracking date dryness, Mechanized plaguing in palm groves for pest control and Compost making by using the palm tree pruning,

International Environment Exhibition, Tehran

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iran participated in the seventh international environment exhibition at Tehran from 12-15 February 2008, alongside of Non-Governmental Organizations, municipalities, private sector, universities and governmental organizations. Several of GEF/UNDP‟s Full and small size projects such as “Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros”, “Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah” and “Conservation of Iranian Wetlands”, (which SGP has a major role in all of them by having small grants projects in the areas that the GEF full size Projects runs, and is helping the local communities and stakeholders to gain more measurable benefits from the big Projects), presented their efforts. UNDP and the Small Grants Programme (SGP) stand attracted a large number of enthusiasts which among them was Dr. Javadi, Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment of Iran.

The exhibition constituted a good opportunity to introduce the public and the exhibitioners to UNDP and SGP support to the Government in promoting sustainable environmental development within such fields as biodiversity conservation, natural resources management, mitigation of ozone layer depleting substances and reduction of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The SGP took the opportunity to present products from some of its projects, among these fresh tomatoes and cucumbers produced in greenhouses without the use of any form for pesticides, and local handicrafts produced by the Indigenous women of Qeshm Island.

All fours days of the exhibition included seminars on the issues of “Religion, The Judicial System and Environment”, “Waste and Environment”, “Industry, Mine and Environment”, “Petroleum, Energy and Environment”, “Media and Environment” and “Ecotourism and Environment”.

Iran, a World within a Boundary, final workshop

Iran a World within a Boundary (Khar touran, Khoshyelagh and Myankaleh Protected areas and Golestan National Park), SGP Project number 25, was executed by Nature Institute & Women's Society Against Environemnt Pollution and Tehran University Faculty of Environment. The final workshop was held in the Tehran House of Art, with Mr. Koosha (Head of National Ecotourism Commitee) , Mr. Delavar Najafi (Natural Environment Deputy of the DOE) and Mr. Daraie (GEF/SGP National Coordinator ). They all thanked Mr. Inanloo, the most prominent independent nature film maker in Iran) and his colleagues‟ efforts. Then Mr. Esfandiari (filmmaker and photographer of the Department of the Environment Head Office in Semnan), spoke on project results from the provinces point of view. He said: “when the DOE guards saw that a group from Tehran, so dedicated and so committed are spending their time in a hiding place in the field just to capture a single shot, they became motivated to work harder and become the source of change themselves. A great number of the DOE guards bought recording cameras out of their own pocket money and started filming the wildlife in their areas„‟. Then Mr. Inanloo explained the project activities and outcome, obstacles and thanked his hard workings team members. Ms. Dr. Jamali, explained the activities of the project in term of working with local communities and the DOE‟s protection guards. The results of the project was recognized as very important by everyone i.e. Touran, khoshyelagh and Golestan National Parks Documentaries, picture Album of Touran, khoshyelagh, Miyankaleh and Golestan National Parks, 1000 educational booklets, from, results of working with the local people around the Golestan National Park for protection and conservation, results of working with DOE guards and…

Workshops on Local Communities and key Stakeholders Participation in Link to GEF/UNDP Cheetah Conservation Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project The UNDP/GEF Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project, is a Project with high emphasis on local people participation, education and awareness. To fulfill the project overall goal, GEF/SGP has entered actively by funding 4 national NGO, with co-funding from the department of the Environment of Iran to work with local communities in the habitats of the Asiatic cheetah, for education and alternative livelihoods. Out of the 5 target habitat of the Asiatic cheetah mentioned in the GEF/UNDP CACAP project, which are Kavir national park and Touran complex protected areas in Semnan, Naybandan, Bafgh and Daranjir in Yazd, educating and public awareness are running in 4 of these areas, in Touran by Plan for the Land Society and Boompazohan NGO, in Bafq Protected area by Iranian cheetah society and in Naybandan Wildlife Refuge by Mohitban Society. Series of participatory workshops has been held in each of the areas in this year's first quarter, with Mr. Neshat's facilitation. Photo Story of the Season: Community Based Turtle Conservation in Qeshm

The background of the GEF/SGP logo is a star fish. Please read the story that has inspired the logo:

The Starfish Story

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore, As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer, as he got closer, he saw that it was a young man And the young man wasn‟t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, “ Good morning! What are you doing?” The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean ?” “The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don‟t throw them in they will die.” “But, young man, don‟t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it, you can‟t possibly make a difference!” The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said:“It made a difference for that one.” There is something very special in each and everyone of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference, and if we can become aware of that gift. We gain through the strength of our visions, The power to shape the future. We must each find our starfish . And if we throw our stars wisely and well. The world will be blessed.

For further information on SGP projects and activities please go to this Address: www.undp.org/sgp Chose Asia-Pacific and see Iran activities