Empowering rural communities through a diversity of land-based carbon management approaches: A case study from Western Asia

Poverty is a pervasive challenge that affects many rural communities, particularly in regions marked by environmental degradation. The grassroots initiatives have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in tackling the multifaceted challenges posed by poverty and adapting to rapidly evolving circumstances. This research seeks to highlight a success story arising from the integration of grassroots efforts and stakeholder engagement in remote villages located within the degraded landscapes of Eastern Iran. Initially conceived as a carbon sequestration project, which focused on enhancing the quality of soils in impoverished rangelands, the initiative underwent a significant transformation to also target the pressing issue of rural poverty. A direct evaluation of the project conducted in 2011, along with a review of published reports and documents up until 2023, indicated that the project successfully established a robust communication strategy to inform all beneficiaries. The project organized several participatory workshops for needs assessment and formed local Village Development Groups (VDGs) consisting of men, women, and mixed members. The number of VDGs grew from zero in 2003 to 63 by 2016. These groups facilitated loan applications and provided support for the community to restore the surrounding environment and create job opportunities. The project also encouraged marginalized women and men to participate in training workshops and courses. As a result, more than 66 types of jobs were created across seven main categories, including beekeeping, vermicomposting, and fruit drying. By reducing pressure on land and water resources, the project led to a remarkable recovery of vegetation and wildlife, even in the face of frequent droughts. What began as a modest endeavour has blossomed into a noteworthy project, earning recognition from the UNDP as one of the leading initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region aimed at poverty alleviation and soil rehabilitation, particularly highlighted in 2016. The research findings underscore the crucial role that early involvement of local communities plays in soil-related projects. It also highlights the necessity for ongoing financial and administrative support from local, national, and international governing bodies. Such backing not only enhances local expertise in soil improvement practices but also fosters trust and sustainability through the establishment of mutually beneficial agreements among all stakeholders involved. This project is particularly relevant to the thematic focus on “certification of sustainability” for this conference, as its principles and practices can be applied on a global scale. It directly aligns with several SDGs, especially SDG 1, SDG 2, and SDG 13.