Alborz Integrated Land and Water Management Project (AILWMP) - Upper Watershed Resources Management Services
The Project is designed as an integrated approach to water basin management for the Pasha Kola dam on the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountain Range. While some parts of the catchments covering a total area of about 500 km² are still densely forested, others already heavily degraded. The Project supports irrigation, drainage and other watershed related activities in the lowlands, promotes watershed management activities in upland watersheds and alpine rangelands, and introduces the concept of comprehensive basin watershed planning and management. The objectives of the Upper Watershed Resources Management Component are to (i) reduce erosion and sedimentation in the upper watershed, (ii) restore and protect natural rangeland and forests, and (iii) increase productivity and incomes of communities and forest cooperatives in the area.
Our contribution:
- Development of a participatory upper watershed design and community development framework combining sustainable forest and protected area management, erosion protection and community development.
- Review of the Government's current resettlement strategy in relation to the upper watershed to explore options and propose recommendations which will allow villages to remain in the area while engaging in natural resource management activities in a sustainable and participatory manner.
- Conducting feasibility studies and detailed design of watershed management infrastructure, with due consideration to environmental and social mitigation measures, and community development needs.
- Identification of (i) appropriate institutional arrangements between local implementing agencies and community organizations to engender community-based natural resources comanagement in the upper watershed, and (ii) mechanisms for dialogue and consultation to adapt annual working plans to emerging needs of communities and households.
- Identification of key types of community based land and water management and income generating activities for the upper watershed areas, on the basis of annual working plans and consultations with communities.
- Development of a working model for a Basin Water Fund to support community-driven pilot activities to improve water and land resources management and income generating activities.
- Development of a multi-layer participatory monitoring and evaluation plan for the upper watershed, including indicators for key elements (erosion, restoration, conservation, participation, livelihood improvements).
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