The report presents baseline environmental, economic and social information for seven selected wetlands in two sub-basins of the Urmia Lake Basin. It assesses their condition and management requirements (particularly hydrology and ecology), and then makes recommendations for their more sustainable management. All of the wetlands have been affected to some degree by changes to their hydrology and all are suffering from high levels of nutrient pollution (eutrophication), particularly from fertiliser residues in the irrigation drainage waters. They are also threatened to a lesser extent by other activities such as overgrazing, introduction of non-native fish species and disturbance.
The study concludes that the traditional approach to wetland management in Iran is failing to safeguard these important wetlands, in the face of rapid development pressures. A new, more integrated approach is needed, in which the responsibilities for wetland management are shared between all stakeholders. The values and needs of downstream ecosystems should be taken into account when planning and implementing developments such as dams and irrigation schemes, and local communities should be involved in management planning in a participatory way. Such an approach will lead to more sustainable use of wetland resources delivering social, economic and environmental benefits for the present and future generations.