Visit of the UNESCO Office Director to the Turan Biosphere Reserve and Qaleh Bala Village
The Director of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Shahroud County announced the visit of the UNESCO Office Director in Tehran to the Turan Biosphere Reserve and the Qaleh Bala tourist destination village. ... The visit to Qaleh Bala tourism took place following the specialized workshop "Sustainable Livelihoods in Iran's Biosphere Reserves" and provided a valuable opportunity... to introduce the cultural, natural, and social capacities of the region, especially the Qaleh Bala tourist destination village. The Director of the Cultural Heritage...
According to Mirath-Aria, Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Razavian said: The visit of the UNESCO Office Director in Tehran to the Turan Biosphere Reserve and the Qaleh Bala tourist destination village took place following the specialized workshop "Sustainable Livelihoods in Iran's Biosphere Reserves" and provided a valuable opportunity to introduce the cultural, natural, and social capacities of the region, especially the Qaleh Bala tourist destination village.
The Director of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Shahroud County added: A group of managers of the country's biosphere reserves, academics, and representatives of non-governmental organizations were also present during this visit, and accompanied by local experts, they visited various parts of this valuable ecosystem.
He stated: One of the most important parts of the program was the visit to the captive breeding center for the Asiatic cheetah in the heart of the Turan Reserve, which is being implemented as a national project with the aim of protecting this endangered species and received special attention from the UNESCO delegation.
Razavian continued: Following this visit, the accompanying delegation visited Qaleh Bala village as one of the successful examples of sustainable tourism. During this visit, topics such as the development of ecotourism, upgrading tourism infrastructure, and supporting alternative livelihoods for local residents were discussed.
The Director of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Shahroud County noted: UNESCO representatives, during their visit, considered the active participation of the local community, the preservation of the village's historical texture, and the link between indigenous culture and nature as strengths of the region and emphasized the importance of strengthening these components in the path of sustainable development.
He concluded by emphasizing: The presence of the UNESCO representative in the region is considered a valuable opportunity to attract international support, strengthen global interactions, and support the file for the global registration of Qaleh Bala village, which is being pursued in coordination and synergy with responsible institutions.