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The relationship between aboveground biomass and plant diversity has been extensively examined to understand the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functions and services. Degraded grassland restoration projects can enhance carbon sequestration. However, the relationship between biomass and diversity remains one of the most actively debated topics regarding grassland ecosystems in degraded grassland restoration projects. We speculated that establishing the linear relationships between aboveground biomass and plant species diversity could contribute to enhancing the efficacy of degraded grassland restoration projects. This study sought to determine whether these relationships were linear during the initial stages of the restoration projects of degraded grasslands in Xing'an League, China. The investigations were based on an examination of seventy‐six 1 × 1 m2 plots distributed among 15 areas in which the degraded grassland was at the initial stages of restoration. To quantify the species diversity of the degraded grassland communities, we used the species richness, Shannon–Wiener, inverse Simpson's reciprocal, and Pielou's evenness indices. Our analyses revealed that aboveground biomass had clear positive linear relationships with species richness during the initial stages of degraded grassland restoration. However, there were less pronounced associations with species diversity as assessed using the Shannon and inverse Simpson indices, based on regression models. Furthermore, weed biomass was found to have significant negative effects on species richness and Pielou's evenness. The weak linear relationship between aboveground biomass and species richness could be ascribed to an increase in weed biomass. We concluded that aboveground biomass and plant species diversity could be enhanced during the initial stages of degraded grassland restoration projects and suggest that the extent of weed biomass could serve as a key indicator of the efficacy of restoration from the perspective of plant species diversity and aboveground biomass in carbon sequestration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The relationship between aboveground biomass and plant diversity has been extensively examined to understand the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functions and services. Degraded grassland restoration projects can enhance carbon sequestration. However, the relationship between biomass and diversity remains one of the most actively debated topics regarding grassland ecosystems in degraded grassland restoration projects. We speculated that establishing the linear relationships between aboveground biomass and plant species diversity could contribute to enhancing the efficacy of degraded grassland restoration projects. This study sought to determine whether these relationships were linear during the initial stages of the restoration projects of degraded grasslands in Xing'an League, China. The investigations were based on an examination of seventy‐six 1 × 1 m2 plots distributed among 15 areas in which the degraded grassland was at the initial stages of restoration. To quantify the species diversity of the degraded grassland communities, we used the species richness, Shannon–Wiener, inverse Simpson's reciprocal, and Pielou's evenness indices. Our analyses revealed that aboveground biomass had clear positive linear relationships with species richness during the initial stages of degraded grassland restoration. However, there were less pronounced associations with species diversity as assessed using the Shannon and inverse Simpson indices, based on regression models. Furthermore, weed biomass was found to have significant negative effects on species richness and Pielou's evenness. The weak linear relationship between aboveground biomass and species richness could be ascribed to an increase in weed biomass. We concluded that aboveground biomass and plant species diversity could be enhanced during the initial stages of degraded grassland restoration projects and suggest that the extent of weed biomass could serve as a key indicator of the efficacy of restoration from the perspective of plant species diversity and aboveground biomass in carbon sequestration projects.

The effects of grazing on the soil carbon of an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were studied. The aims were to estimate the effects of grazing on the spatial and vertical distribution of soil organic carbon, estimate the potential carbon sink and provide suggestions for sustainable grassland management. Biomass and soil characteristics of the topmost 1 m soil layer in plots under three different grazing intensities were investigated. Soil organic carbon density (SOCD) and stocks (SOCS) were calculated as weighted averages. Soil organic carbon content (SOCC) decreased with increasing grazing intensity and soil depth, with the highest values observed in the top 30 cm of the soil layer at light grazing (LG) sites. Soil water content, total carbon, and biomass had a positive relationship with SOCC. However, bulk density was negatively correlated with SOCC. The lowest SOCD and SOCS were in the 30–100 cm soil layer at heavy grazing (HG) sites, indicating that HG could have significant negative effects on SOC. It could take at least ∼60 years for C stocks at HG sites to reach a steady state. A regime of low grazing is recommended for combining C sequestration with sustainable development.

One of the goals of the International Carbon Sequestration Project in South Khorasan Province is to study the sustainability of natural resources, especially in the rehabilitated areas, by reducing the reliance of villagers to the natural resources of the region, creating alternative livelihoods with job empowerment and solving the problems of villagers in the region, especially rural women. The purpose of this study was to predict the rural women’ empowerment who received microcredits during the project. The research was done through a descriptive-correlational method. Statistical sample includes 188 rural women who were members of the microcredit Fund. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by panel of research committee experts and the reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient to 0.95. The results of study showed that there is positively a significant correlation between rural women empowerment and variables of Membership Years, Loan Amount, and Loan adequacy, Age, Literacy Level and Income per month. But rural women empowerment could be predicted by three variables of Loan adequacy, Literacy Level and women Age. Also, Loan adequacy was known as the most powerful predictor of rural women empowerment. Given the positive impact of microcredits on rural women empowerment, as well as rural women empowerment to reduce pressure on ecosystems and improve carbon sequestration, it is proposed to increase the microcredit program and its amount.

The effects of grazing on the soil carbon of an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were studied. The aims were to estimate the effects of grazing on the spatial and vertical distribution of soil organic carbon, estimate the potential carbon sink and provide suggestions for sustainable grassland management. Biomass and soil characteristics of the topmost 1 m soil layer in plots under three different grazing intensities were investigated. Soil organic carbon density (SOCD) and stocks (SOCS) were calculated as weighted averages. Soil organic carbon content (SOCC) decreased with increasing grazing intensity and soil depth, with the highest values observed in the top 30 cm of the soil layer at light grazing (LG) sites. Soil water content, total carbon, and biomass had a positive relationship with SOCC. However, bulk density was negatively correlated with SOCC. The lowest SOCD and SOCS were in the 30–100 cm soil layer at heavy grazing (HG) sites, indicating that HG could have significant negative effects on SOC. It could take at least ∼60 years for C stocks at HG sites to reach a steady state. A regime of low grazing is recommended for combining C sequestration with sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the goals of the International Carbon Sequestration Project in South Khorasan Province is to study the sustainability of natural resources, especially in the rehabilitated areas, by reducing the reliance of villagers to the natural resources of the region, creating alternative livelihoods with job empowerment and solving the problems of villagers in the region, especially rural women. The purpose of this study was to predict the rural women' empowerment who received microcredits during the project. The research was done through a descriptivecorrelational method. Statistical sample includes 188 rural women who were members of the microcredit Fund. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by panel of research committee experts and the reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient to 0.95. The results of study showed that there is positively a significant correlation between rural women empowerment and variables of Membership Years, Loan Amount, and Loan adequacy, Age, Literacy Level and Income per month. But rural women empowerment could be predicted by three variables of Loan adequacy, Literacy Level and women Age. Also, Loan adequacy was known as the most powerful predictor of rural women empowerment. Given the positive impact of microcredits on rural women empowerment, as well as rural women empowerment to reduce pressure on ecosystems and improve carbon sequestration, it is proposed to increase the microcredit program and its amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Although, villagers are the societies with simple social, cultural and economical relations, but in most of the areas, the existence of cultural, ethnic, and religious conflicts issues and more important, the intensive contrast of social classes has caused societies with its specific complications. For this reason, developing proper approaches for entering in to such societies is the main concern of programmers and policy-makers. The experiences of several decades of activities about rural development shows that failure of programs and unsuccess in accompanying people and their maximum cooperation in the plans and constructional, social, and cultural projects has a close relation with the attraction of villagers’ confidence. Therefore, it seems that if we be able to increase the villagers’ confidence toward programmers and policy-makers, a large part of these problems will be solved. The experiences of some successful plans show that the best solution for this problem is to involve practically villagers into planning, implementation and evaluation processes. The condition that is noticed in some projects, including the Carbon Sequestration Project (CSP), which is implemented in Hossein Abad of Sarbisheh region. The managers of this project who, through maintaining and reviving natural resources of the region, have intended to increase the current Carbon Sequestration realized that they cannot reach the targets without participation and accompaniment of people. This group, after studing the social and cultural condition of the region and observing weak results of previous plans reached to this end that they should concentrate their most attempts on attracting the participation of people. They found that they should make plans together with people, instead of for people. Also this research is implemented to introduce this project. Research Methodology This survey is implemented by descriptive and analytic method. Therefore, a sample size with 354 people is selected by random method. 188 people of this sample are the villagers who are inhabited in the area of CSP and the inhabits of the adjacent villages who have not enjoyed from facilities of this project. Moreover, to study the conformity of the considered priorities of the project authorities and people, the priorities considered by senior authorities of the project area were considered and asked. For more accurate and precise study of the condition, the required information were obtained through questionnaire. Formal and local statistists were used in addition of field statistics and information. A pretest is performed to determine the validity of the questionnaire in the under the study area; and then 0.94 Cronbach's alpha coefficient was obtained by using SPSS software which indicates that the questions of the questionnaire have a great validity. Discussion and Results CSP has directly involved people into planning, implementation, and supervision fields to set demands and proprieties of them. So that, it is sound that CSP has come to provide villagers demands and needs, rather than to maintain and/or increase vegetation of the region. In fact, when the intended priorities of the people and authorities were compared, this survey showed that the average of scores that the people and the authorities have assigned, are too close together and nearly the same. Therefore, participation in CSP has got near to 80 percent. In contrary to most of the plans, this participation has been involved various groups of people. Maximum participation of people and following-up the project implementation conditions through correct and democratic methods, have brought specific consequences and blessings. For example, the current surveys showed that the income condition of households that exploit from the facilities of the project are too better than the households who are not located in the project. According to the obtained results and sequences from implementation of CSP, it is identified that the people have highly got confidence to the project and even they are hopeful to its future. so that, the results of the survey about forecasting a willing future for this project and other similar projects show that 66 percent of the people are hopeful to the future of these activities. On this basis, through realization of maximum participation of people ,the sense of possession and participation in the results and consequences of constructional plans will be provided and people play not only the role of its protector and supporter powers but also as the permanent preserver and keeper. ­­­­ Conclusion Since, most of constructional projects in rural areas don’t face with the participation and willingness of villagers, therefore they do not have distinguished results, and the main target of the current research is to identify how this basic problem can be removed. For this reason, the obtained experiences from the International Carbon Sequestration Project have been discussed. Initial surveys showed that significant revolution occurred in economical and social condition of Hossein-Abad-e Ghinab area, through implementation of CSP. Within the process of designing and implementation of the Project, firstly authorities of the project tried to lead the people. In second step, after presenting necessary training and information, they limit their performance range to guidance and cooperation. In third and final step, authorities sufficed to present necessary and demanded consulting by villagers. By this way, villagers, themselves, take the initiative and really get involved into practice. Sustainable Local Development and Attracting Maximum ... Continuing this procedure caused that the people not only contrast against the CSP but also they be considered as designer and executer of that, by presenting their little savings. This action has brought good and effective results, including maximum people participation in the plan, increase of villagers’ income, decrease of immigration, sense of possession to the established installation and equipments and consequently protecting and maintaining them, etc. Mainly, the obtained results and sequences from this project showed that if people practically got involved into constructional plans and projects and their views be used in this issue, not only the budgets and the spent cost will not be wasted, but will have results and consequences more that what forecasted. For this reason, it is advised that the experiences of CSP to be considered preciously take an attention and practically applied in other plans and projects about rural development and even in urban and regional plans. Keywords: Local development, Directed interventions, Rural society, Participation, Carbon sequestration project. Refrences 1- Andishe-ye Sabz (2007). Why Carbon Sequestration?, Andishe-ye Sabz, Promotional Journal of CSP, Vol. 1, No. 1 2- Andishe-ye Sabz (2008). Abstract of Carbon Sequestration Project Operation, Vol. 2, No. 3 3- Carbon Sequestration Project (2008). Basic factors for implementation of participatory development, Andishe-ye Sabz, Vol. 1, No.2 4- Chambers, R (1992). Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participation, I.D.S., Sussex. 5- Chambers, R (2003). Reflection on P. R. A. Experiences, Pathway to Participation, I.D.S., Sussex. 6- Chambers, R (2004). Prioritizing The Poors, Translated by M. Azkiya, Tehran Tehran University Press. 7- Khorashadizadeh Gh. et al (2007). International Carbon Sequestration Project, Execution Report, National Forests, Pastures, and Watershed Management Organization: International carbon Sequestration Project Office. 8- Lewin, E (2006). Feminist Anthropology, Blackwell, Oxford. 9- Malhotra P, Dutta S, Pal RC, Sharma S, Ramana PV(2000). Rural Energy Matters:The Dhanawas Experience, Data Energy Institute, New Delhi. 10- Malhotra P, Dutta S, Ramana PV (1998). Participatory Rural Energy Planning: A Handbook, Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi. 11- Malhotra, P (2006). Management of Community-Based Energy Interventions In Rural Areas of India, Calina in Waey, India. 12- Matthews, L (1994). Manual for Social, the Agha Khan Rural Support Programme, Pakistan. 13- Moseley, M.J (2004). Rural Development: Principles and Practice, Sage, Publications, London. 14- Naraghi, Y (1991). Development and Developing Countries, Press Corporation, Tehran. 15- Nomads Affairs Administration (2000). Planning and Implementing Inhabitation Site for Nomads of Hossein-Abad-e Ghinab, Nomads Affairs Admministration of Khorasan, Masshhad. 16- Perat, Bryan, Louses, and Peter (2008). Selecting Research Method, Translated by E. Hasanpour Ahi Dashti, Pubished by research and Survey rural affairs. 17- Poland DHV Consulting Engineers (1992). Guidelines for Programming of Rural Centers, Rousta va Tose’a Press. 18- Saberifar, R (2002). Social and Economical Study of River and Bed of Kalat-e Nader River, Sazab-e Shargh Consulting Engineers Company. 19- Saberifar, R. and Gheysari, S (2009). Management of Rural Areas and Eliminating Poverty, Case Study, Hossein-Abad-e Ghinab, Village and Development, Vol. 20, No. 2 20- Shirzad, A and Azkiya, M (2006). Rural Management, Ministry of Interior. 21- Taleb, M (1997). Rural Management in Iran, Tehran Tehran University Press. 22- Third Monitoring CSP (2008). Monitoring Plan for Carbon Sequestration Economical and Social Studies Sector: Forests, Pastures, and Watershed Management Organization, Forests, Pastures, and Watershed Management Department of South Khorasan. 23- Nomads Affairs Administration (2000). Planning and Implementing Inhabitation Site for Nomads of Hossein-Abad-e Ghinab, Nomads Affairs Admministration of Khorasan, Masshhad.

Participation is really a suitable lever for economical development of rural region that can be very efficient in improving life condition, working, production and income level promotion and social condition of rural people. This can be obviously seen in carbon sequestration international project activities with participation of global organization like GEF (Global Environment Facility) & UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) for rang lands rehabilitations that were destroyed totally because of the presence of Afghan immigrants in east of Iran borders. In this project, people participation was formed in organized foundations in villages in name of village development groups in separation of men, women or both. The goal in the present project was investigation the people formed organization in relation to participation index in region to be studied (Hossein Abad Ghinab plain) in south Khorasan, province in east of Iran border with Afghanistan. The present project is based on functional entity and descriptive -analytic method that the questionnaire technique, interview and present documents were used for gathering data. Results showed that creating village development groups and micro credit funds as people formed organization has caused basic changes in social condition, economical and bioenvironmental. On the hand, public and direct participation of people is the other successful factor that the present project has organized it the best way people participation in environmental plans, like planting, increasing village development groups in different years, and also rise in income index, financial saving and is the result of people participation by the people formed organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon sequestration projects are currently being explored as a method for offsetting carbon emissions and addressing global concerns over climate change. This paper examines the potential for carbon sequestration projects in the Panama Canal Watershed, an area with increasingly fragile forest ecosystems. The maintenance of forests in the Watershed has economic and ecological value for operating the Canal, providing drinking water to Panama City, and protecting wildlife habitatand diversity. Land conversion to agriculture and pasture has led towidespread deforestation; predicted population growth threatens the Watershed further. Compounding the problem is the lack of funding forprotected areas in the Canal Watershed Area. Carbon sequestration projects are being promoted as an economically efficient way to reduce harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increase forest cover in developing countries. Forests, acting as sinks for carbon, can reduce emissions produced elsewhere. Many concerns have been raised by developing countries, and uncertainties relating to carbon storage and carbon trading remain to be resolved. Despite these drawbacks, carbon sequestration projects offer an economically attractive strategy for furthering Panama's goals of protecting and expanding forest coverin the Watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]