Development of stakeholder collective and individual capacities for rational and sustainable exploitation of Bishe Delan Wetland, Boroujerd City

Like most of the wetlands in the country, Bisheh Delan Wetland is in poor condition and its ecological balance is fragile and unstable. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a training program on the importance of Bisheh Delan Wetland and how to use it responsibly by governmental and non-governmental stakeholders with the aim of repairing and supporting its restoration. In this regard, 10 workshops were conducted in a non-randomized purposeful manner in order to gain insight into the economic, social, technological, political, and cultural issues of the study area. Then, using elite ideas, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the wetland were identified. After, in accordance with the CEPA Action Plan, four strategies, including: A) public participation-information and socio-economic issues, B) promotion of national conservation and cooperation wetland management, C) achieving optimal environmental status and D) achieving optimum soil and water status were determined and then ranked. Based on the results of the strategy rankings as well as the results from the QSPM matrix, the conservative WO strategy was identified as the main strategy for the study area. In this strategy, handicrafts and indirect sales of its products to tourists are opportunities in the region that can, while directly and indirectly employing local communities, reduce the region's weaknesses (such as lower household income levels, poor infrastructure facilities and etc). Based on the results of this study, empowering local communities in achieving participatory wetland management is one of the best strategies for sustainable utilization of Bisheh Delan Wetland.