WANA (Dec 04) – The Head of Iran’s Department of Environment (DoE), Shina Ansari, announced that Japan will collaborate with Iran to restore Lake Urmia as part of a formal agreement. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting, Ansari explained that this initiative aligns with a recent agreement with the United Nations to enhance the resilience of Iran’s wetlands.

 

According to Ansari, efforts to revive Lake Urmia will focus on educating local communities and promoting alternative livelihoods in provinces within its watershed.

 

Discussing the Caspian Sea’s declining water levels, Ansari noted that during the COP 29 summit in Baku, it was decided that the issue would be a key focus at the upcoming COP 7 meeting hosted by Iran. The discussions will address both water level reductions and pollution concerns.

 

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Iran announced on December 1 that the Japanese government had allocated 690 million yen (approximately $4.7 million) to improve wetland management and bolster climate resilience in wetlands such as Lake Urmia, Shadegan, Parishan, and Anzali.

 

Since 2014, Japan has been a key partner for Iran and the UNDP in promoting sustainable natural resource management in wetland ecosystems and diversifying the livelihoods of dependent communities.

 

During a signing ceremony on December 1, 2024, Japan and the UNDP formalized agreements for the “Wetland Protection System Development Project.” The initiative, covering Lake Urmia and other key wetlands, will be implemented from 2024 to 2028 in collaboration with Iran’s DoE and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

 

The project aims to safeguard wetland ecosystems and support surrounding communities, reinforcing Iran’s commitment to sustainable environmental management.

NASA Releases Image of Lake Urmia Showing Changes

WANA (Aug 24) – NASA recently released an image of Lake Urmia, captured on August 2nd. In its description, NASA noted that the salty, red waters of Lake Urmia were photographed from the International Space Station at an altitude of 260 miles (418 kilometers).   The agency explained that over the past few decades, the […]

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