INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
an official with the Department of Environment (DOE) has stated.Determining and monitoring the water needs of the wetlands and rivers,
implementing wetland protection and rehabilitation programs, preparing a comprehensive wetland management plan with an ecological approach,
entry of biological, chemical, and physical pollutants of agricultural lands, cities, villages, and industries; implementation of large
development projects and infrastructures such as roads, petrochemicals, refineries, airports, energy transmission lines in wetlands without
environmental assessment; improper use and excessive water withdrawal, climate change and legal deficiencies are among the challenges
threatening the wetlands in Iran.Pointing out that not providing the water rights of wetlands has long-term destructive effects, she said
that increasing the salinity of the wetland, reducing habitat capacity, severely reducing the ability of wetlands to support the livelihood
of local communities, and drying of wetlands are the most important destructive effects.One of the intensifying effects of wetland
degradation is the conversion of large parts of them to the source of SDSs, and in some cases, its effects have crossed the borders and
affected large parts of the globe, she lamented.Out of 226 wetlands nationwide, 42 are the hotspots of SDSs, including Hour Al-Azim,
dust storms, which means that if their water needs are not met, they can become new centers of dust in the country, she also noted.Wetlands
supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.Yet study after
study demonstrates that wetland area and quality continue to decline in most regions of the world
As a result, the ecosystem services that wetlands provide to people are compromised.Managing wetlands is a global challenge and the
Convention presently counts 172 countries as Contracting Parties, which recognize the value of having one international treaty dedicated to
a single ecosystem.The Ramsar Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands
This includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas, tidal
flats, mangroves, and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs, and salt
pans.The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and
their resources.It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975
141 wetlands with ecological value with an area of over 3 million hectares have been identified, of which 25 wetlands are designated as
wetlands of international importance (registered in the Ramsar Convention) covering more than 1.4 million hectares and four sites are
