Protection of Char Tang-e Kushk-e Zar Wetland towards a Community Conserved Area with the participation of Kuhi Sub-tribe in Eghlid Township, Fars Province (Zagros Region).
Location: Tange-e Kushk-e zar, Eghlid, Fars
UNDP / GEF Small Grants Programme project page
Char Tang-e Kushk-e Zar is a wetland in the summering grounds of the Kuhi Sub-tribe of the Qashqai Nomadic Pastoralist Confederation of Iran. Their wintering and summering grounds of Kuhi Sub-tribe are located in south of the city of Farrashband and Aas-e Paas Plain near Eghlid Township, respectively. The Kuhi Sub-tribe have moved a long distance between Farashband and Aas-e Paas each year and have protected the area for centuries.
This wetland and its surrounding rangeland – rich in plant and bird diversity – are now under severe threat. The land use alteration, water pollution and drainage are among the most important factors threatening the Wetland.
In the recent years, the Organization of the Nomadic Peoples of Iran (ONPI) have allocated the main part of the Wetland to agricultural fields, therefore the Wetland is divided into three parts and the upper part of the Wetland is owned by Latifpour clan, the middle part is completely converted to agricultural fields, and the owners drain water from the Wetland for irrigation of their fields. The lower part belongs to another Sub-tribe called Kolahloo Sub-tribe.
On the other hand, in the absence of Kuhi in the autumn and winter, poachers from nearby surroundings shoot migratory bird populations in the Wetland, which threatens its biodiversity. Due to such problems, the attractiveness and biodiversity of the Wetland is deteriorating rapidly.
The research will be conducted on the area to identify the characteristics of the Wetland with the help of the experts, and to identify the methods to ameliorate the problems with the full involvement of the local communities from the early stages of the project. The participatory workshops with Kuhi men, women and children will help in capacity building of the local communities which ensures the sustainability of the project.
The Wetlands has been hailed internationally as the first Community Conserved Area (CCA) in Iran.
The project activities are aimed at the following goals:
- Empowerment of the stakeholders towards establishing Char Tang-e Kushk-e Zar Wetland as a CCA;
- Restoring the rights of the Kuhi to their customary range and the waters of the wetland as much as possible;
- Empowering the people to realize the value of the biodiversity and follow up with stakeholders.
- Developing a management plan for the CCA through discussions with stakeholders including villages and officials.
The main project activities are:
- Conducting communication workshop to raise awareness of the local community including women, children, teachers and the traditional elders for environmental, social and economic values of the wetland and the need to keep it in good health;
- Gain the support of the Department of the Environment (DoE) in designating the upper part of the wetland as “Hunting Prohibited Area” and recognition of game guards from the Kuhi families to protect and patrol the area during the absence of the Kuhi Sub-tribe (from November to April).
- Prepare a GIS map and GPS Cartography with the assistance of DoE (if DoE cooperates).
- Prepare a descriptive booklet of the biodiversity of the wetland with native names, pictures and their local uses if applicable;
- Prepare a booklet on a summary and processed socio-economic report on of the wetland related to CCA defining the indicators;
- Negotiating between local communities of two parts of wetland (middle and upper part) to resolve the conflicts for the future CCA;
- Documenting the farming system of the wetland area with the participation of different stakeholders.
- Classification of pollution problems extracted by the local community and their proposed solutions.
- Preparation of promotional/educational leaflets on water pollutants of the wetland based on the community’s proposed strategy on using alternative biodegradable cleaning agents
- Present an agreement on the system of water usage of the wetland;
- Mid-term and final participatory evaluation with all stakeholders
- To document and disseminate the processes and achievements of the project the following will be prepared:
- A booklet on the project process and the lessons learned in English and Farsi
- A short film of the project process in English and Farsi
- And finally presenting the new IUCN guidance on establishing and strengthening local community’s and indigenous people’s participation in the management of wetlands to relevant governmental organizations
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