The document on the fifth phase of the international project on Urmia Lake’s restoration was signed on Monday by officials with Iran’s Department of Environment and the office of the United Nations Development Program.
The project which involves fostering local communities’ participation in developing sustainable agriculture and protecting biodiversity is jointly operated by the UNDP and the DOE with support from the Japanese government.
So far, 110 out of 3,000 villages in the lake’s catchment area have been covered in the project and the number is planned to reach 130 in this phase.
During the ceremony, the DOE chief Isa Kalantari commended the project for focusing on social factors and attempting to encourage public participation.
“Such programs are very difficult as they require a long schedule and huge budget,” he said, DEO’s news portal reported.
He also expressed gratitude to the government of Japan for its contribution to restoring the key marine ecosystem, announcing Iran’s willingness to attract further financial and technical support from the global community to fully revive the lake.
Abolfazl Abesht, director of the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project, presented a report of the project’s achievements during its previous stages.
Prime Goal
“So far, over 11,000 locals and farmers in the lake’s drainage basin have come onboard and collaborated in the program,” he said, noting that developing a sense of responsibility in society and involving the public in restoration efforts is the major goal of the project.
He also attributed the positive outcome of the plan to the successful cooperation between different national and international entities, including the Japanese government, the UNDP, the Agricultural Jihad Ministry, DOE, the Regional Water Authority, NGOs and local communities in the provinces of East and West Azarbaijan.
Hiroyasu Kobayashi, Japan’s ambassador to Iran, said the new phase is aimed at enhancing the locals’ knowledge and understanding of the key role of sustainable farming and developing such agricultural methods in 130 villages in Urmia’s drainage basin.
“Reducing the consumption of water and chemical agricultural inputs and encouraging society to campaign for restoration and conservation of biodiversity are among other targets of the operations,” he said.
Japan Role
Japan’s collaboration in reviving the embattled lake initiated in 2014, following negotiations between President Hassan Rouhani and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013.
Over the past four years, Japan has contributed $4 million to the project.
Located between the provinces of East and West Azarbaijan, Urmia Lake has been facing serious drought for years. The Urmia Lake Restoration Program was set up in 2013 to stabilize the lake’s water level (Phase 1) and restore its water level to what it was more than a decade ago (Phase 2).
While ULRP implements various rescue plans including water transfer and upholding water rights, the joint project places its main focus on long-term goals of boosting efficiency in water consumption.
