FAO says has successfully implemented ‘Sustainable Land
Project’ in Iran

"Rehabilitation of forest landscapes and degraded land
with particular attention to saline soils and areas prone to wind erosion”
project (RFLDL), implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO), reached its successful conclusion setting a new course
for sustainable land management in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Terminal Workshop of the project was held on 27-28
September in Kerman province, central Iran.

In a message screened in the event, Yubak Dhoj GC, FAO
Representative ad interim to Iran, lauded the collaborative efforts of all
stakeholders involved in the project and emphasized the importance of
harmonizing natural resources management and environmental conservation with
socio-economic development.

The RFLDL project, which commenced its operational journey
in 2011, focused on the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the mitigation of
land degradation, and the improvement of local livelihoods in two provinces of
Kerman and South Khorasan, GC explained.

Through this transformative initiative, several notable
achievements were realized, including, empowering local communities, enhancing
sustainable agriculture, preserving biodiversity and ecosystems and capacity
building, he highlighted.

Outcomes and achievements

He further stated that the project successfully promoted
public participation in rural areas by building the capacity of local
communities. These communities actively engaged in ecosystem rehabilitation
efforts and established local microcredit funds to reduce the pressure on
natural resources.

Moreover, sustainable agricultural practices were
prioritized, empowering rural households to manage their local ecosystem
resources effectively. This not only improved livelihoods but also enabled
communities to better cope with prolonged drought and climate change events.

The project's efforts were guided by a participatory
approach that actively involved local communities in the protection of their
environment, said GC.

Recognizing the importance of technical and institutional
capacity building, the project provided extensive technical training to staff,
he noted, adding, knowledge dissemination through FAO's E-Learning platform
ensured that lessons learned, and best practices reached a wider audience.

The independent Terminal Evaluation conducted in 2022
confirmed the project's success in establishing the foundation for
participatory and integrated Sustainable Land and Forest Management (SLFM) in
pilot sub-watersheds. These achievements align closely with Iran's national
priorities.

FAO ready to continue partnership

In his address, GC expressed FAO's commitment to the
project's ongoing success. He stated, "FAO is ready to continue its
partnership in the successful outcomes of this joint project. We aim to scale
up the valuable experiences and lessons learned during the project to be
applied in other regions of work in the future."

"We look forward to further extending our partnership
with you to scale up the results of this successful project and to develop and
implement new projects in the future," he added.

In conclusion, GC said that the RFLDL project, while marking
its conclusion today, opens a new chapter in sustainable land management in
Iran. As we face common challenges of land degradation, desertification, and
drought, this project serves as a model and a source of inspiration for
solutions developed and implemented which have the potential to be scaled up across
the country and beyond its borders.