During the nomination process, awareness raising activities have been undertaken by the State Party both locally and nationally, but very little formal consultation has so far been undertaken with local communities and stakeholders (State Party of Iran, 2018). Public participation is not yet common in governmental projects in Iran, but the Department of Environment in Iran is encouraging the spread of public participation methodologies and Participatory Rural Appraisals are becoming more accepted as a methodology for rural development (Nippon Koei Co LTD, 2005).