Safeguarding wetlands for ...
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The trend of unsustainable agricultural development upstream of wetlands, including those of Bakhtegan, Urmia, and Jazmourian, the number of legal and illegal wells in the wetland basins, the construction of numerous dams and barriers on incoming rivers, and the limited water resources—all contribute to the depletion and drying of these wetlands. Moreover, the state of wetland water resources has faced qualitative challenges due to the influx of pollutants and reduced water quantity.
Given the importance of these valuable ecosystems and the consequences of their drying up, the law prioritizes meeting the minimum environmental water needs of wetlands after drinking water. Unfortunately, due to reasons such as livelihood concerns, fulfilling the water needs of wetlands has not been fully addressed and prioritized.
To address the water shortage and take land use planning into account in water resource-dependent development projects, a review of water allocation and consumption documents to ensure the full allocation of environmental water rights for wetlands and the sustainability of river flows is essential. This can lead to improved conditions for wetlands in river basins and the sustainability of the country’s wetland and river basins.
According to the latest studies, 1.5 million hectares of the country’s wetlands have turned into sources and centers of dust storms with varying intensities.The most urgent measure to prevent the activation of these sources is to secure the minimum water requirements, alongside preventing the degradation of wetland beds and vegetation, managing livestock grazing in these areas, fostering collaborative protection of these valuable ecosystems with the involvement of all stakeholders and local communities, and most importantly, ensuring sustainable management of water resources and consumption at the watershed level of each wetland.
The Department of Environment views the protection of wetlands not only as aquatic areas but also as regions providing extensive ecological, social, and economic services. Therefore, the ecological conservation of wetlands is a priority for this organization. In this approach, public participation and inter-agency cooperation play crucial roles.
“Free flow of information” is one of the key components of this approach to wetland protection. The Department of Environment strives to serve as a bridge between various agencies and the government and the communities living on the edges of wetlands, as well as the general public. The multitude of responsible agencies in this area sometimes complicates this free flow, but the department is working to resolve these issues, as we believe that the free flow of information invites greater participation and fosters new initiatives and creativity in conservation efforts.
The DoE emphasizes the need for collaborative inter-agency efforts, coherence in policymaking, avoidance of sectoral myopia, meticulous planning, and the implementation of effective and sometimes stringent policies in managing and protecting wetlands. Undoubtedly, one of the most critical factors for success in wetland management is the close cooperation and fruitful interaction between governmental and non-governmental institutions, as well as the proper definition and fulfillment of roles by local communities. This has been reflected in the development and implementation of wetland ecosystem management programs, and I hope that with continuous efforts and effective national and international collaborations, we can mitigate the risks facing Iran’s wetlands—a task that is indeed very challenging and requires time, resources, and collective will.