Soil and Water Conservation for Desertification Control in Iran - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 381

- Developing scientific and administrative capacity within implementing organiza-

tions about watershed management plans in the country.

- Ensure active participation by land users and other relevant stakeholders in the

planning, decision-making and execution of soil and water conservation activities
within catchments

- Introducing watershed management principles and practices to the responsible

authorities in Iran and stress its importance and priority in execution of integrated
watershed management in the pursuit of economically viable agriculture and the
survival of socio-economic life of villages. And also emphasize the necessity of
allocating enough facilities and financial credits for the matter.

- Developing rational land use by farmers and others by Increasing awareness and

providing training on sustainable agricultural practices, crop rotation, minimum
tillage, conservation agriculture, improved livestock husbandry and animal health
etc.

- Providing essential laws and regulations as executive guarantees for developing

and performing watershed management activities.

- Provide sound advice on which to base integrated watershed management plans

as foundation for participatory development programs.

- Providing and organizing the elements of natural resources and agricultural

systems information exchange.

- Applying long-term and short-term training courses in the country and abroad in

order to have active experts and staff.

- Providing comprehensive studies and serious research in the watershed

management plans.

4.2.2 Rangeland Management

There is a professional Society for Rangeland Management and a regular scientific
journal ( Journal Rangeland Science ). Iran is also hosting one of the six Thematic
Program Networks (TPNs) under the UNCCD.

Box 18.3: Iran as Host to the UNCCD TPN3

The TPN3 was launched in Yazd in 2008. The network has the objective of
re-establishing sustainable systems for managing rangelands and livestock
production in the rangelands in an economically feasible and socially eq-
uitable manner. The core sub-program areas have been endorsed, namely:
capacity building on new approaches to rangeland management, indigenous

(continued)