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In Tiab village of Hormozgan Province, a group of rural women has taken on an important role in protecting and restoring the Shour–Shirin–Minab International Wetland, one of southern Iran’s most valuable ecosystems.

Supported by the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) UNDP and funded by ICCA-GSI was implemented by the Mashgh Afarinesh Va Toseye Paydar, the project set out to promote sustainable livelihoods that also contribute to the conservation of mangrove forests.

Through training and hands-on workshops organized in partnership with the Provincial Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, local women were trained on how to collect mangrove seeds, prepare soil mixtures, plant seedlings, and manage a small nursery. 

Later on, these efforts led to the establishment of the first women-led mangrove nursery in Tiab, with a capacity of around 1,500 seedlings. The nursery became both a source of environmental restoration and an opportunity for small-scale income generation.

Ms. Mehri Zarei, member of the Tiab Women’s Green Nursery says: “We nurtured these seedlings with our own hands, just like our own children… Planting each mangrove felt like giving birth to hope all over again. When I placed the roots into the mud, I felt as if I was becoming a mother once more, this time, to the Earth.”

The initiative also encouraged knowledge exchange between Tiab and neighboring villages such as Chah Sahari, where similar activities were replicated. The women’s groups learned from each other’s experiences, sharing practical lessons in nursery management, irrigation, and seed collection.

Through the meaningful engagement of local women in conservation activities, the project highlights how community participation can strengthen both environmental sustainability and rural livelihoods.