The first international ecological meeting for protection of wetlands was held in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, on Sunday. Attended by the ambassadors of Australia, Belgium, Sweden and Norway, as well as deputy ambassador of Austria in Tehran, UNDP Resident Coordinator in Iran Gary Lewis, the two-day summit aims to bring global attention to Iranian wetlands’ plight, IRNA reported. Governor General of Khuzestan Abdolhassan Moqtadaei called on international organizations to “share their knowledge and experience with the government as well as the people and NGOs”. Based on official reports, the average temperature in Khuzestan has increased by three degrees Celsius and humidity has decreased by 50% over the past 30 years, due to the desiccation of wetlands. Shadegan, Hoor al-Azim, Bamdezh and Miangaran are Khuzestan’s major wetlands severely affected by drought and mismanagement.
