studio chahar
Community-based Environmental Intervention
Location: Qeshm, Iran
Ongoing project since 2019
Reforestation stands as one of the most effective and economical methods to promote biodiversity and combat global warming. Mangrove forests, with their exceptional ability to absorb three to five times more carbon than typical tropical rain forests, serve as formidable carbon sinks. Additionally, their swamps provide a habitat for numerous endangered species. Notably, mangroves grow in seawater, negating the need for limited freshwater resources required by other plant species. Unfortunately, these invaluable habitats face constant erosion risks due to human activities.
Iran is house to the Mangrove Forest of Harra, a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. Since 2019, in collaboration with the Gouron Village Cooperative on Qeshm Island, Iran, Studio Chahar has been actively developing community-based architectural strategies to combat erosion along the Harra mangrove forest shoreline in the Sarzurzuma reef, near the village of Gouron.
The Harra trees act as storm barriers; they filter pollutants and provide a unique habitat for local plants, birds, and sea life. Unfortunately, due to disturbance by boats and sea level rise, Sarzurzuma reef is eroding fast, leading to mangrove deforestation.
Studio Chahar was initially approached by Gouron Village Cooperation to design tourist pavilions for their site. The village relies on Sarzurzuma reef as an economic resource, with daily visits and stays by tourists. However, the accommodations they provided were not stable enough for long-term use, prompting them to construct more reliable campgrounds using materials like concrete. This approach had detrimental effects on the natural environment, making it crucial to find environmentally adaptive solutions. Additionally, responsible planning for tourism was necessary due to the environmental sensitivity of the mangrove ecosystem.
After conducting site visits and engaging in discussions with the community members, we discovered that the reef was eroding rapidly due to boat disturbance and rising sea levels, leading to mangrove deforestation. Addressing erosion became the primary focus of the project. Our initial strategy was to install beach-fencing and utilize natural debris bags along the site. We implemented these strategies in a prototype area, but due to limited resources, they proved to be less viable at the time.
The roots of Harra plants play a vital role in stabilizing the sand. A more affordable strategy involved planting new trees in areas of the forest that had been destroyed. By strategically planting new Harra trees, we aimed to restore the reef. Over the past three years, we have successfully grown and planted over three thousand new trees. Currently, we are in the process of planting an additional five thousand trees with the assistance of Gouron’s youth, community members, and volunteers. The village youth have been cultivating the seedlings and participating in the complete planting cycle.