Roodasht, central Iran: An arid region where water scarcity due to multiple uses and climate change led to supply problems and soil degradation.

The lower reaches of the Zayandeh Rud are almost exclusively inhabited by farmers who are heavily dependent on river water. Due to this dependency, local farmers are particularly affected by drought and desertification. At the same time, they can actively shape environmental and regional developments through their economic .

Development of an action plan for the region

Based on a previously prepared vulnerability analysis, an action plan for policy makers was developed through participatory processes involving relevant stakeholders from the region and the provincial administration. An action plan compiles feasible approaches for a sustainable land use approach that helps stakeholders prevent or reverse soil degradation and efficiently use water resources. This action plan, prioritized with decision-makers, thus communicates needs-based and concrete measures for ecological and economic development of the region despite water scarcity.

The results were produced as part of the research project "Sustainable land use and adaptation to climate change in the lower reaches of the Zayandeh Rud in Iran" (2015-2017), which was funded by BMUB and GIZ.