Summary

As an urban agricultural park, the complex for Production and Proliferation of green spaces of the municipality of Kashan, is a multi-functional project designed to create a recreational environment, establish social relations, develop economic levels and environmental sustainability, form cultural spaces and create new urban spaces.

Background and Objective

Situation Before the Initiative Began: The climatic conditions of the desert city of Kashan and the water shortage crisis caused critical problems for the creation and maintenance of 850 hectares of green space in the city, especially in marginal regions, while creating serious problems for the vitality and health of Kashan citizens. Hence, the municipality of Kashan designed this multi-functional project, aiming at cultivating drought-resisted plants and protecting the environment for all of the age groups, especially children. Establishment of Priorities: This project is beneficial to all age groups and sexes and different cultural and economic groups, bringing them together in a space and engaging them in activities related to agriculture, educating children in different aspects of the environment in the form of a School of Nature, and applying the university studies of researchers and environmentalists. Formulation of Objectives And Strategies: One of the main objectives of this project is to find suitable mechanisms for optimizing, multiplying and cultivating plants that can be used in urban green spaces, applicable not only in the green spaces of Kashan, but also in other cities of Iran. From the other objectives of the project is to cooperate with academic researchers in this field and to carry out researches on valuable ornamental plants that not only have aesthetic capabilities but are also resistant to adverse environmental conditions such as drought, soil salinity and coldness, and plant pathogens. Making children familiar with nature, training them the optimal use of green space and respect for nature can be considered among the educational goals of this project. Mobilisation of Resources: Amounting a credit over $400000 derived from the city budget for the development of civil and environmental projects as well as the municipal payment of taxes, the municipality of Kashan contributed to the construction and launching this project, while receiving the cooperation and participation of University of Kashan, the School of Nature, Green Desert Society of Kashan, and the citizens.

Actions and Implementation

This project encountered numerous problems during different phases of implementation. One of the main problems of this project was the lack of financial resources in order for the quantitative and qualitative development. Relying on the application of local technology and rejecting dependence on foreign equipment, we could overcome this problem and control the costs in some extent. The shortage of water resources and fertile soil can be mentioned as the infrastructure problems of this project. The results of the researches and studies of researches and students of Kashan university were very beneficial in solving such problems. Using modern plant cultivation and proliferation technologies such as seed treatment, hydroponic culture, and drip irrigation methods can be considered as the other solutions to these problems.

Outcomes and Impacts

This project contributes in promotion of sustainability in different aspects. Regarding economic aspect, it has been effective in enlarging the amount of per capita green space. It is also applicable in developing a low emissions industrial zone. The educational and the participatory aspects of the project can be regarded as the social dimensions of sustainability. More importantly, the environmental protection impacts of the project can be impressive in promotion of environmental sustainability.

Sustainability and Scalability

This project designed in a way that all of its academic achievements can be applicable for all of the cities with similar climatic conditions all around the country.

Innovative Initiative

Some of the main lessons learned from this project can be listed as follow: - We learned how the parks can be transformed from a mere tree- planted place to the centers for education, research, natural science, etc. - We found that Green Space Participatory Plans could be impressive in the promotion of sustainable urban development, addressing all age groups, respecting for gender equity, and the participation of environmentalists. - We learned that, developing such environmental plans, cities can benefit from reducing their costs, controlling environmental pollution and saving resources and energy, and as a result, step toward self-sufficiency.

Resources devoted to delivery

No. Title Source Author Publication Title Volume Number Date Page Number 1 Launching the Workshop-Educational Complex of Urban Green Space Isfahan Emrooz News paper Ebraim Ghorbani Resaneh Bartar 2858 Jan. 12.2017 4

Conclusion

This initiative has caused development of some policies including the following cases: - Enacting regulations to protect every urban tree -Institutionalizing, preserving and protecting the green space, -Promoting and continuously training environmental issues and holding cultural programs in cooperation with those NGOs that encourage citizens and their participation in the maintenance and development of green space. - Policies due to creating attractive environmental spaces -Policies on the development of public green space and its role in sustainable urban development as well as water resource management