Galazani in Havareh Khol Village
Location: Baneh, Khol Village (Kurdistan Province, northern Zagros)
Main characteristics:
- 340 ha;
- Inhabitants of Havareh Khol Village, Kurds;
- Since nationalization of the land (1963) conflicts have been over use of forest resources and traditional/local foresters have been fined for their traditional practices even though technical studies under an SGP grant have shown them to be highly sustainable and conservation oriented.
- Extracting fodder for livestock, wood, fruits, hunting.
- Main livelihood is livestock breeding. The forest has also spiritual and cultural values;
- Zagros forests are a unique ecosystem and oak (Quercus spp.) are a globally important element;
- Galazani has been practiced since long time ago in this area. Since 1963 (Nationalization of the natural resources in Iran) it had been mandatory to get permission from the Natural Resources Bureau. With increasing population and loss of sense of ownership human pressure on forest and its resources has been accelerated. In 2004 a UNDP/SGP funded project helped bring back the attention of the Bureau of Natural Resources to the importance of community forestry based on traditional practices;
- Management was based on decisions made by local traditional leaders, and the system has been effectively revived.
- Land is officially owned by government but the villagers exercise their customary rights over it through a system of grazing permits. These forests are considered de facto ancient ICCAs.
Reference: Association of Young Conservationists (Daumoon). 2002. Traditional Forest Management in Haverh-Khol Village, Kurdistan Province. Association of Young Conservationists (Daumoon) and UNDP-GEF-SGP. Np.
