A water transfer project aimed at restoring the imperiled Miyankaleh Wetland in Mazandaran Province was officially inaugurated on Tuesday.
One of the 613 international biosphere reserves, the wetland has been battling desiccation for years due to the Caspian Sea recession, climate change and Iran’s protracted battle with water scarcity.
“The government made the revival of the wetland a priority and devised a project, whose first phase includes dredging and replenishing rivers and water canals feeding the wetland,” said Massoumeh Ebtekar, the head of the Department of Environment, IRNA reported.
Miyankaleh is expected “to be completely restored by 2021”, that is when it achieves ecological balance.
The $8.8 million project is in line with the government’s policy of improving the conditions of lakes and wetlands, including Urmia Lake, Hoor al-Azim Wetland and the Hamouns.
The wetland is located in Miyankaleh Peninsula, a narrow but long peninsula in the northern province of Mazandaran, along the extreme southeastern part of Caspian Sea.
The wetland is a wildlife sanctuary and hosts a number of endangered species, particularly aquatic migratory birds who prefer the site for laying eggs.
Miyankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay were registered in 1969 as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. In 1979, the peninsula was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
