Short description of the best practice

Carbon Sequestration in woody biomass and in soils is a cost-effective measure to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels.Also, surplus biomass could be used as a substitute for fossil fuels.Some woody biomassspecies can grow in these low rainfall areas with saline soils, although the build up of organic carbon in wood and soils is modest. Up to 9,000 ha of run-down land will be rehabilitated with the active participation of twelve villages in whose ownership the land will be vested. This project is meant as a catalyst for rangeland reclamation via CS and natural resource management throughout Iran and beyond. This project will demonstrate the means not only to increase animal fodder production, but also to expand the storage of C and provide renewable energy at the same time. It will also enhance the fl ora and fauna, thus increasing biological diversity and rehabilitate the ecosystem. Thus, the government is integrating global environmental protection concerns into national development activities. |

Location

The size of the hydrologi|

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Soil is composed of gypsic and calcic minerals which is typical of arid and semi-arid lands.Hot and dry desert soils usually contain rock and gravel, creating coarse soil with good draining. Semiarid deserts have finer soil containing loose rock, gravel sand with  low soil humidity. |
The location is covered almost by plains which is suitable for irrigated and agriculture from point of and around 50% is hilly/steep which is suitable for range land. The average Plain elevation is 1700 meter.
Climate is arid and semi arid with cold winters and hot summers.The mean annual precipitation ranges between 117mm-340mm Average 188mm.Most of the precipitation occures during the fall and early spring.It is characterized by consecutive droughts and occurrence of critical climatic conditions.this area is affected by Sistani 120 days north to south Prevailing wind.

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

Those living in the location and nearby normally are low-income  farmers and Livestock husbandry with an average income of 3000000 IRR monthly.
all range land belong to the government and utilization is base on range land management plans. Most of the agricultural lands belong to village cooperative but there are some private farmlands as well
At the first stage of the project all area was supported just
under 1,000 people. There was 30 villages some of which have been abandoned and others only contain one or two families. Animal herding was the main occupation, with the villagers owning about12,000 sheep and goats,and non productive farming|

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

This project serve as a training and demonstration site to encourage rural people, with some government assistance through participatory approaches . This project  demonstrate the practicability and cost-effectiveness of rejuvenating range land areas and making them productive, while at the same time increasing the organic C stocks in plants and soils. Therefore, additional funds to cover the incremental costs, especially the training, monitoring & evaluation costs, could demonstrate to local people and governments the practicability of such an initiative.so it constitute an example of a “win-win” strategy that is an essential factor in sustainable natural resource management.|

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Two main problems that contributed to land degradation and desertification in the project area, which is among those areas near the Afghan border are: (1) lack of control over the land by the local population and , in the ten-year period to 1996; and, (2), a large influx of Afghan refugees.This led to overgrazing by local, refugee and migrant animals, and to excessive fuel wood gathering.|

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

overgrazing, drought and the damage caused by wind erosion are the specific land degradation problems against rehabitation of vegetation cover in project area. For four months each year, sand ladened ‘sistani’ winds blow almost continuously.  This is not only unpleasant, but it makes arable farming difficult because sand covers the fields On the other hand the experiences government in term of combat desertification activities proves that re habitation activities will not be successful without real participation of rural communities. |

Specify the objectives of the best practice

The main global,national and rural objectives are:improve the ecosystem through natural regeneration by planting/seeding, drought resistant grasses and shrubs, and to make the rangeland areas of Iran more productive. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that low rainfall areas can be rehabilitated at a relatively low cost, using a mixture of woody and non-woody plants,with the active participation of the local population. |To build capacity through demonstration, training and extension activities to people throughout the country so that the project can be replicated and improved. To promote environmental awareness.To enhance human resource development at the national and local levels.To enhance biodiversity.To improve fl ora & fauna numbers and composition and to enhance the micro-climate.To improve capacity of national experts and local people in rehabilitation, managementand utilization of resources

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Public awareness and information dissemination. This activity will be implemented to ensure that a wide range of concerned stakeholders are fully informed about the rehabilitation techniques, management mechanism and long-term economic and environmental benefits of the project.|
Community-based management regime. This activity will aim to explore various management regimes to have the villages/households organized for the planting efforts and declare their ownership and access rights to the land.
Rehabilitation of semi-arid areas. Land rehabilitation includes seedling production,ground preparation, planting, weeding, and watering for the first two years, guarding and
management.|Training and extension. Project preparation, promotion workshops and meetings involving different stakeholders. Compile management plans for undertaking rehabilitation activity.Natural resource management training for villagers and staff of the Forest and Range Organization and some overseas training to engage the local people. establishing community-based management regimes, land ownership legalities, entrepreneurial activities,etc.
Monitoring and Evaluation.

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

the presses of project are as follow respectively:community-base managements,Establishment of Co-Management Plans, Implementation of Co-Management Plans /Agreements, Social Communication Initiatives and Performance Monitoring & Assessment of Rehabilitation.
There is a direct link between poverty and desertification, thus combating desertification should help in working against poverty. One strategy applied by the project is the establishment of a micro credit mechanism for VDG members. The Micro‐credit Fund has been financed both by the project and by the small savings made from VDG members. Every fortnight during the VDG meetings, the villagers offer their own savings into the Micro‐credit Fund, which is money that will at a later point in time be re‐loaned to them. By selecting a Board of Directors representing the local communities, the targeted area has full ownership over the Micro Credit Fund. The participatory approach of the project allowed for a sound collaboration among a host of international, national and local partners. The steering committee of the project therefore includes representatives from various ministries representing various sectors of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Environment, the Budget and Planning Authorities in the country as well as the national GEF focal point.
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Name and address of the institution developing the technology

Carbon Sequestration in Desertified Rangelands of Hosseinabad Project, Phase 2 | The project was designed to demonstrate that desertified rangelands can be cost-effectively reclaimed by, and for the benefit of local people and that there is significant potential to sequester carbon in plants and soil in these areas for overall global benefiton March 2010

Was the technology developed in partnership?

Yes

List the partners:

Result of the project in pase I has led to new dialogue being initiated between UNDP and the FRWO on further expanding the project approach to select sites in the provinces of Kerman (Shahdad) and Tehran (Mallard) with the possibility of inclusion of Yazd and Isfahan.

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• Local initiative
• National initiative – government-led
• National initiative – non-government-led
• International initiative

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

Local farmers and villagers|Farmers' and range management associations|Farmes'cooperatives|Research institutes in the concerned provinces |Local communities

For the stakeholders listed above, specify their role in the design, introduction, use and maintenance of the technology, if any.

A wealth of knowledge and experience on participatory management of rangelands. Participatory rehabilitation and conservation of 13572 ha of degraded areas;
80.6% reduction in the consumption of fuel-wood by local communities as a result of the introduction of new sources of energy;
A locally adjusted model for carbon sequestration in dry land ecosystems;
Demonstration and promotion of innovative land and water management techniques at pilot level, which have been extended to some other parts of the country;
A network of VDGs (mixed, male, and female) that oversee the use of micro-credit mechanism;
A set of micro-credit/micro-saving schemes at VDG level;
Enhanced vocational skills among local inhabitants, particularly women;
130  small business initiatives that contribute to improved livelihoods at the village level; and
Significantly, increased awareness at local and national levels regarding partnership |

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

Yes

By means of what?

• Consultation
• Participatory approaches

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

Since October 2010, experts and consultants from “No Andishan Tose’e Mosharekat Mehr” NGO have been contracted to update and improve the established Micro-Credit Fund Management Systems as well as promoting innovative approaches to expand the market of local products by taking a systematic approach |
Reduction of poverty and creating job opportunities for the locals, which lead to the reduction of the emigration rate to larger cities.
A network of VDGs (mixed, male, and female) that oversee the use of micro-credit mechanism
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This project
produces a measurable increase in the fl ora and fauna and an enhanced micro-climate. Another positive environmental impact is sand stabilization through project activities should reduce the Sistani damage.
Participatory rehabilitation and conservation of 13572 ha of degraded areas;
This project fosters an increased and sustainable production of fodder, wood and other products,and a measurable increase in the area of and off-take from sheltered lands. There
would also be a build-up of organic C that could reach 3-4 t/ha. after 20 years|
80.6% reduction in the consumption of fuel-wood by local communities as a result of the introduction of new sources of energy;

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

Increased awareness at local and national government levels regarding the potential of partnership with local people to restore and protect the natural resources based on the achievements of phases I and II, has led to new dialogue being initiated between UNDP and the FRWO on further expanding the project approach to select sites in the provinces of Kerman (Shahdad) and Tehran (Mallard) with the possibility of inclusion of Yazd and Isfahan, as major project sites in the next phase.|
developing a locally adjusted model for carbon sequestration in dry land ecosystems;

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

At least 9,000 ha of degraded rangelands will be converted to grazing forest-land. Through this change, the amount of additional atmospheric C, that could be stored in above and below ground biomass and in the soil, will be about 2 tonnes per hectare once the project is completed. This is anticipated to increase to about 14 t/ha. after 20 years, 21 t/ha. after 50 years and 30 t/ha. After 100 years, of which up to 90 percent will be belowground. These estimates have to be verifi ed. Due to the prevailing arid climatic conditions and the stability of the sink, the turnover rate of C tends to be very slow and belowground C storage in roots and soil is considered to be a high quality offset. The sequestering of C does not stop at year 20, although it will slow down due to harvesting of wood. A model has been drawn up indicating the likely growth and production in the project area over a 100-year time period. The projected   cremental store of C after 50 years is 20.9 t/ha. with an incremental cost of US$6.8 t./C. After 100 years, the projected C store is estimated to be 29.7 t. for an incremental cost of US$4.8 per tonne of C.
The greatest benefi ts to farmers and globally will be through establishing forest-grazing areas. This project produces a measurable increase in the flora and fauna and an enhanced micro-climate. Another
positive environmental impact is sand stabilization through project activities should reduce the Sistani damage.
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Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Yes

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Yes

Where?

the project approach to disseminated to select sites in the provinces of Kerman (Shahdad) and Tehran (Mallard) with the possibility of inclusion of Yazd and Isfahan

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Yes

Specify which type of incentives:

• Policy or regulatory incentives (for example, related to market requirements and regulations, import/export, foreign investment, research & development support, etc)
• Financial incentives (for example, preferential rates, State aid, subsidies, cash grants, loan guarantees, etc)

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

In order to rehabilitate the local dryland, while also working to engage the local community, the project contracted with local VDGs to have seedlings grown and planted in the area.  This work was done as part of the  microfinance funds given to the VDGs, which then used the loans to grow and sell the  seedlings.this method is replicable elsewhere with major adaptation  |
project asked the women already trained in the project to train the new project beneficiaries.  This allowed for a closer relationship between project members.  Further, as the existing members were aware of the likely problems the new members would face, training was made more efficient and effective.this method is replicable elsewhere with some level of adaptation|
In the last year the Project’s experiences have been shared with other projects in Iran, including UNDP/GEF SGP projects,voluntary NGOs and governmental experts this method is replicable elsewhere with major adaptation.|

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?

• Local
• Sub-national
• National
• Subregional
• Regional
• International

Related to human resources

For higher impact the results and achievement of the project need to be propagated across the country through the national decision making forums. By replicating the project experiences in areas with similar situations, the outcome could affect the country’s ability to counter the global climate change, while simultaneously improving the livelihoods of the rural and marginalised communities as well as halting desertification.
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Related to technical aspects

Performance Monitoring & Assessment of Rehabilitation and carbon sequestration needs eSMART indicators,|