08 Aug 2010, Iran --- Water has left the path to salt drifts, dry shrubs and abandoned piers. Lake Urmia, Iran. -- The third largest salt water lake in the world is drying up fast, as experts fear another environmental disaster in the Aral Sea. Lake Urmia, Iran. July 2011. --- Image by Alessandro Marongiu / Demotix/Demotix/Corbis[/caption]Tehran, March 18, IRNA A document to carry out the second phase of reviving Orumiyeh Lake was signed by Head of Department of Environment, Japan Ambassador to Tehran and UN Resident Representative to Iran.
Director of National Project to protect Iran's Wetlands Mohsen Soleimani said in signing ceremony that the key issue in reviving wetlands, especially Orumiyeh Lake, is lack of sustainable development of the wetlands' basins.
He added that absence of sustainable development has created plenty of difficulties in wetlands, especially in the lower area basins.
Soleimani said that the first phase of revival of Orumiyeh Lake with was carried out by local communities.
He said that in the project it has been tried that traditional approach in agriculture turned toward sustainable management and industrial irrigation.
He added that people participation in this section had been very noticeable, which indicated the people's interest and desire to revive the lake.
At the first phase of the project 41 villages participated and in the second phase the number will increase to 75 villages.
Japan Ambassador to Tehran Koji Haneda expressed pleasure with cooperation to revive Orumiyeh Lake and said that the decision to that effect was made in a joint meeting between Japan's premier with Iran's president.
He added that he visited Orumiyeh Lake last summer, the situation affected him and the basin needed faster support.
Haneda said that level of farmers awareness and their participation in the revival project was pleasing, because they knew very well about sustainable agriculture.
By IRNA
