Attracting national and international organizations' support to continue Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project activities

The national manager of CIWP announced that CIWP 25th Steering Committee meeting with the presence of senior managers and deputies of the UNDP, DoE, Ministry of Interior, Planning and Budget Organization, Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Forests, Rangelands and Watersheds Organization, Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Handicrafts and Tourism, and the Employment Secretariat of the Ministry of Labor was held in the Deputy of Marine Environment and Wetlands t meeting room.

During the meeting, which was held on February 21, 2020, Ahmad Reza Lahijanzadeh welcomed the audience and noted the positive achievements of CIWP over the past 15 years. Lahijanzadeh also continued: "According to the opinion of the evaluators, the performance of CIWP has been assessed very well. He also noted some of the results and achievements of "Modeling local community participation in Lake Urmia restoration" project as successful samples.
Actions implemented in the mentioned project have resulted in a 50% increase in productivity, a 35% increase in the water usage efficiency and the attraction of the beneficiaries' partnership in 150 villages covered by the project." Ali Arvahi, National Manager of CIWP, presented the achievements of this project in 2019 and appreciated the support of those involved in the drafting of the strategic document 2020-2025 for conservation of Iranian wetlands.
The national manager of CIWP also pointed to the successful completion of the fifth phase of the project of "Modeling local community participation in Lake Urmia restoration" and the initiation of its sixth phase. He mentioned coverage of 150 agricultural villages by the project, the establishment of 18 livelihoods compatible with water resources, 19 rural women's micro-credit funds, 6 villages with an integrated approach, 26 villages with the participatory technology development (PTD) approach and 5 villages for implementation of the Payment for Ecosystem Services.
During the meeting, the UNDP Resident Representative appreciated the successful implementation of CIWP over the past 15 years. He cited one of the Iranian government's goals based on the performance-based budgeting and continued: "The 2020-2025 strategic document for CIWP is a precise and viable program."
He further announced the Japanese government's willingness to extend the seventh phase of "Modeling local community participation in Lake Urmia restoration" project. He also emphasized the use of existing capacities of NGOs in the project management and implementation and referred to the need for interdisciplinary cooperation between the relevant organizations to protect and restore wetlands in the country.
At the end of the meeting, Ahmad-Reza Lahijanzadeh, deputy of Marine Environment and Wetlands and the National Director of CIWP, mentioned the process of developing a five-year strategic plan for conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project.
He also noted that: "Introduction of CIWP 5-year document to be implemented at provincial level is one of the main responsibilities of CIWP steering committee members". He also emphasized on its implementation at national and provincial levels.
DoE Marine Environment and Wetlands Deputy also stressed on the necessity of continuing support from Department of Environment for CIWP.