Organization of Bazangan Wetland through Capacity Building and Social Participation

Wetlands are important ecosystems around the world that offer a wide range of ecosystem goods and services that have social, cultural, economic, and environmental benefits for local communities. Therefore, the participation of local communities plays an essential role in sustainable conservation and preservation of these resources. The paper aims to organize Bazangan Wetland management through capacity building and social participation by the implementation of the Bazangan Wetland Management Plan with a social capacity-building approach.

The methodology is collaborative with applying research in practice. The statistical population is local and governmental institutions as well as women and men of the villages around Bazangan Wetland, especially the villagers of Bazangan. The CEPA tool (Communication, Education, and Public Awareness) was applied. To reach out to the community and the institutions to highlight the importance of the wetland, furthermore, a festival and several workshops were organized for locals and other stakeholders. Strategic plans were developed using SWOT and questionnaires with local trustees.

The results reveal three of the most crucial factors in the conservation and preservation of the wetland, including sustainable tourism development, collaboration to plan conservation actions, as well as training sessions.

They can play a critical role in empowering rural youth, earning a sustainable income, and paving the way for reducing their rural-urban migration.