خلاصة:
With a civilization that is thousands of years old, culture and nature have formed close linkages in Iran that are more complex than commonly recognized by mainstream environmental institutions and programmes. Cultural tradition and living tradition have been part of people’s lives and how they related to the environment. In fact, the relationship between people and nature cannot be separated from their knowledge and how they behave. The landscape/seascape approach embraces this complexity and recognizes that cultural and natural values are interlinked. Landscapes and seascapes encompass tangible and intangible heritage, and in pursuit of environmental sustainability, it is important to recognize the role of intangible cultural heritage. A thriving socio-ecological production, a landscape/seascape is where the local communities are actively involved in the sustainable management and the use of natural resources; where cultural sensitivities, heritage, and knowledge shape the core of where land and nature management come together. Therefore, intangible cultural heritage and knowledge of land/sea management need to be recognized and find its place in the decision-making processes on environmental sustainability. This article summarizes some of the GEF SGP UNDP Iran program experiences since its inception in 2001, by elaborating on a few case studies where local knowledge has contributed to environmental sustainability.
ملخص الجهاز:
This article summarizes some of the GEF SGP UNDP Iran program experiences since its inception in 2001, by elaborating on a few case studies where local knowledge has contributed to environmental sustainability.
(View the image of this page) About GEF SGP UNDP Iran and its approach Launched in 2001 in the Islamic Republic of Iran, GEF SGP UNDP has been globally supporting activities of non-governmental and community-based organizations in developing countries (120) towards climate-change abatement, conservation of biodiversity, protection of international waters, reduction of the impact of persistent organic pollutants and prevention of land degradation.
Fifteen years of experience working with local communities in Iran has shown that the GEF SGP approach is different and more efficient than the conventional approach towards environmental sustainability (Figure 4).
Role of Local Knowledge in Environmental Sustainability By elaborating on fifteen years of GEF SGP UNDP programme experience in I.
Based on the previous successful efforts in this region, in 2012 GEF SGP, in collaboration with the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP), supported local communities in Sirangoli and Ghori Gol wetlands to apply IPM/IPCM methods and move towards more sustainable agriculture practices, drawing on local knowledge.
These are some of the reasons for which GEF SGP has been supporting local community initiatives towards environmental sustainability in the Zagros region.
This programme, therefore, has played a key role in implementing projects through a learning by doing the process that involves directly the local communities and their knowledge to promote environmental sustainability.