The significance of Iran’s wetlands for global biodiversity is unparalleled in the Middle East, and as the birthplace of the Ramsar Convention, Iran has long-signalled its commitment to wetland conservation. However, the rapid pace of development in the country has put enormous pressure on land and water resources in recent decades, such that the system of protected areas is struggling to maintain the condition of several of these internationally important wetlands and the biodiversity they support. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and UNDP have joined forces with the support of the Global Environment Facility to address the issue of sustainable wetland management through the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project. This 7-year initiative – which began on 26 January 2005 – provides a unique opportunity to build national and local capacity for improved management of wetlands and their globally significant biodiversity, and to raise the awareness of all stakeholders of their respective responsibilities. As the International Wetlands Biodiversity Expert (WBE) I have provided brief and intermittent inputs to the project since February 2007, together with the national WBE Ms Lisa Pourlak. The present is the background document for a training programme provided to DoE offices in Uromiyeh, Shiraz, Ahwaz and Tehran in May 2011, which was subsequently published as a guideline.