Hur al-Azim wetland might dry up completely: Official
The deputy of the natural environment of the Khuzestan Department of the Environment, Adel Mola, pointed out the potential drying up of the Hur al-Azim wetland, a critical ecosystem in the southwestern province.
Mola revealed that the lagoon currently holds only about 40 percent of its water capacity. The combination of high air temperatures and increased evaporation rates threatens to further deplete the lagoon’s water levels, according to ISNA.
“For several years, the water rights of Hur al-Azim have been largely ignored, except during floods, or they have been significantly less than the amount allocated for the wetland,” Mola said.
Despite recent water releases, the official expressed concern that the water is not reaching the environment. He cited uncontrolled water harvesting upstream for agriculture as a major issue, and called for stricter regulation of farmers and agricultural lands upstream.
Mola also criticized the reporting of water inflow into the lagoon, arguing that the figures do not accurately reflect the reality. He pointed out that the water entering the wetland is largely the result of upstream paddy fields or water lost from farmers.
“One, two or three cubic meters of water is not sufficient for the lagoon. The lagoon needs a strong wave of water to be revived to some extent,” he said.
He also highlighted the ongoing legal efforts to secure the water rights of the lagoon, but warned that the process is time-consuming and has not yet yielded any preventative measures to avert the crisis.
“In the first quarter of this year, only 0.4 percent of the water rights of the Hur al-Azim wetland reached it. In this critical situation, at least 20 to 30 percent of the water rights of the Hur al-Azim wetland should have been delivered,” Mola stated.
The deputy warned that the current condition of the lagoon is critical, with the decreasing water level posing a serious risk of fires and fish deaths. He suggested that local fishermen might be allowed to catch the remaining fish to prevent a total loss due to dehydration.
Mola also raised concerns about the potential for the wetland to dry up completely, which could lead to the land becoming a dust center, encroachment and occupation of the dry parts of the wetland, fire, air pollution, and other dangers to the living.
In the face of these challenges, Mola emphasized the need for continuous monitoring to prevent the occupation of the wetland lands.
“This work is being done, but if the process is prolonged, there will definitely be people who want to occupy the lands,” he concluded.