Northwestern Kani Barazan Wetland play host to 30,000 migratory birds

TEHRAN — Some 30,000 migratory birds have winged their ways to Kani Barazan Wetland, located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, Mahabad chief of department of environment has said.

Govt. pledges to increase water level at Lake Urmia 

TEHRAN — The Iranian government has pledged to take measures to increase water level at Lake Urmia by one meter within the next three years, deputy environment chief Masoud Tajrishi has said.

Lake Urmia water increased by 810 million cubic meters 

TEHRAN — The volume of water in Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, has increased by 810 million cubic meters compared to the same date last year, director general of West Azarbaijan regional water company has said. 

Water level in Lake Urmia rises by 33cm

TEHRAN – The level of water in Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, has increased by 33 centimeters compared to the same time last year, head of the provincial department for the Lake Urmia restoration program in West Azarbaijan province has said.

Viral 10-year challenge reveals effects on Iran’s environment

TEHRAN – Environmentalists took up the 10-year challenge on social media, posting photos of the lakes and wetlands drying up across the country, to raise awareness about the devastating impact of climate change on the environment, Mehr reported on Saturday.

Agricultural water use fallen by 40% in Lake Urmia basin

TEHRAN — Implementation of the Lake Urmia restoration programs applying sustainable agricultural techniques and water-saving measures, has led to 35-40 percent drop in agricultural water consumption in the catchment basin of the Lake, head of the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP) has said.

‘Salt particles raising from Lake Urmia contained by 80%’

TEHRAN – Salt particles raising from the catchment basin of Lake Urmia has been contained by nearly 80 percent, Farhad Sarkhosh, head of the provincial department for the Lake Urmia restoration program at West Azarbaijan has said.

Supreme National Security Council to weigh up agriculture around Lake Urmia

TEHRAN — The Lake Urmia restoration program has taken over the issue of agricultural development around the lake into the Supreme National Security Council, deputy environment chief Masoud Tajrishi has said.

Lake Urmia full restoration deferred pending budget allocation

TEHRAN — Limited budget could put back Lake Urmia, a wetland located in northwest Iran, restoration projects, Masoud Tajrishi deputy environment chief and an official with the lake restoration program has said.

Digital transformation meant to save Lake Urmia: ICT minister

TEHRAN – Digital transformation in the field of irrigation can help save 35 percent of water resources in northwest of the country and lead to the preservation of Lake Urmia, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said on Monday, ILNA reported.

Millennia-old Hasanlu under restoration, landscaping project

TEHRAN – A restoration and landscaping project on Iran’s Teppe Hasanlu has been completed some 70 percent, CHTN reported on Wednesday.

‘Solar power plants an alternative for income generation around Lake Urmia basin’

TEHRAN — Setting up solar power plants to produce electricity can be an alternative income generation for farmers in Lake Urmia basin in northwestern Iran, Ja’far Mohseni, head of East Azarbaijan academic center for education, culture and research, known as Jahad Daneshgahi, has said.

Lake Urmia likely to revive in 10 years; building our hopes up?

TEHRAN — Chief of West Azarbaijan province’s Department of Environment, Parviz Arasteh, has said that Lake Urmia will be revived within the next 10 years, but is he building our hopes up?

MP proposes water, environment, natural resources ministry

TEHRAN — MP Abbas Papizadeh has proposed creation of a new ministry for water, environment, and natural resources aiming to supervise the current trend of environmental predicaments the country is facing.

Rainfalls to the rescue: Water flows into Lake Urmia

Following the recent spring rainfalls water has flowed into Lake Urmia, the “the turquoise solitaire of Azarbaijan”.

Water flow to Lake Urmia drops by 400mcm yr/yr: environment chief

TEHRAN — Water flow to Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, has decreased by 400 million cubic meters year on year, chief of the Department of Environment (DOE) has said.

Water transfer won’t revive Lake Urmia: official

TEHRAN — Water transfer won’t restore Lake Urmia, Hedayat Fahimi, an official with the Ministry of Energy has said, noting that promoting sustainable agriculture is the way to save the lake.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Salt mining in Lake Urmia: Opportunity vs. threat

The dryness of Lake Urmia in recent decades has revealed great salt reserves in its bed. Estimations for the amount of salt in the lake varies from 6 to 10 billion tons. That’s certainly a great potential for mining and has already tempted some individuals to extract some salt, however, there are different views on salt mining in the region.

Lake Urmia, habitat of some 35,000 flamingos

TEHRAN – Some 35,000 migratory flamingos are now living in Lake Urmia and the seasonally-flooded wetlands in the region, said an official with West Azarbaijan province’s department of environment.

‘Without restoration plan, Lake Urmia would have been fully drained by now’

TEHRAN – If there had not been any plan to restore Lake Urmia, it would have been completely drained by now, Department of Environment chief Isa Kalantari said on Wednesday.

Lake Urmia water level increases

TEHRAN – The level of water in Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, has increased thanks to releasing of water from dams and also good precipitation in the region.

Cultivating sugar beet and rice hinders wetlands restoration programs

TEHRAN – Cultivating water intensive products including sugar beet and rice has been banned in some regions as they were not in line with plans for reviving wetlands, an official with wetland ecosystems division at Department of Environment has said.

Ramsar to host World Wetlands Day ceremony

TEHRAN — Iran will mark the World Wetlands Day in a ceremony which is scheduled to be held in the northern city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Lake Urmia depletion will cause great discomfort

TEHRAN – The total dryness of Lake Urmia will have a large negative impact on the health and livelihood of local communities and even beyond.

JICA pledges $7m to address Tehran’s air pollution

TEHRAN — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged $7 million to tackle the everlasting air pollution in the metropolis of Tehran, IRIB reported on Monday.

Grape festival time in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – The fifth grape festival of Iran kicks off today in Urmia, the capital of West Azarbaijan province, with variety of parades, exhibits of grapes and grape products planned.

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

Budget deficit could delay Lake Urmia’s revival: environment chief

TEHRAN — Lake Urmia is already saved from total dryness, however, budget deficit might postpone the lake’s full restoration, the chief of the Department of Environment said on Monday.