Mirghasemi urmia lake disasters 17062014

Urmia Lake Disasters because of Lack of

Integrated Nartural Resource Management Strategy in Iran

Seyed Abolfazl Mirghasemi

Lessons learnt: Knowledge sharing, M&E systems strengthening, and groundwater management in the GEF MENARID program”

16-18 June 2014, Beirut, Lebanon

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In the past, Urmia Lake was rich in biodiversity and full of life (migration of birds like Flamingo and Pelicans) There was active ecotourism industry in the region especially for using hyper Saline water for medical uses.But how is it nowadays ….

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Photo from Ashk island in Urmia lake

Upper photo in: 2002

Lower photo in: 2009

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Manmade DisastersAlthough the region is affected by climate change issue but most of the problems are caused because of manmade factors like:• Sectoral planning• Wrong policies (agricultural development in area with water

scarcity region from 150000 ha to 450000 ha)• Changing crop pattern from low water requirement (Grape) to

high one (like apple & sugar beet)• Construction and of 72 under-operation dams in upstream (20

extra dams are under study and execution)• Overexploitation of GW by drilling illegal wells (farmers are

using 53000 wells for iirigation without government permission)

• Disturbing ecological system of the lake by contracting a bridge in its middle part

Urmia Lake Basin (more than 5 million hectares)

Location of under operation dams in upstream of Lake

Agricultural activities in neighborhood of lake, over use of water

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Area would be under salt storm disaster and 5 million people will be on danger (migration, health care, DISEASE and ….)

Salt Storm

Map of the area under danger of salt tsunami

Wind direction

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Poor Artemia in the dried Urmia lake (Salt)

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Poor Artemia in the dried Urmia lake (Salt)

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I hope we do something before it becomes too late because common sense says:

PREVENTION is better than CURE

Thanks a lot

for your attention !