March 2010; Again in Golestan National Park

Once again this year a group of young volunteers from Plan for the land society (P4L) decided to spend their New Year holiday in Golestan National Park (GNP), to increase the public knowledge of the nature and wildlife conservation of the park.

In March 2010 during Norooz holidays a program ran by P4L with the participation of Department of Environment of IRAN (DOE), targeted the tourist’s awareness about the environmental impacts that road widening project would have on the GNP.The P4L believes that the increase in public understanding of this issue will lead into more public demand about environmental legality.This year’s program was specifically introducing the notion of the National park to tourists for a better understanding of the necessity of GNP’s conservation.At the moment P4L is active in many areas such as environmental education, Eco-tourism and wild life conservation but conservation of habitat has become one of their priorities because of the increase in habitat degradation.
In seventeen days about 10000, waste bags and brochures have been distributed to tourists by P4L volunteers.Also a number of information signs have been set up along the GNP’s main road.Moreover during face to face conversations the tourists, volunteers asked them to follow the points regarding environmental conservation which were mentioned in the brochures.
We appreciate the participation of volunteers from other NGO’s such as “Young tourist society” ,“Sky Peace” and the locals who have helped us run the program successfully” Said P4L’s spokes person.The number of volunteers varied from 3 to 24 people per day.
Although last year’s project sponsored was DOE, this year’s project was sponsored by the Ministry of Road and Transportation of IRAN.
By the end, the waste along GNP road was collected over 2 days as a symbolic action and stockpiled for public viewing.