Ecosystem approach to developing integrated wetland management plans (Case studies: Urumieh lake, Parishan and Shadegan wetlands)

Unlike other natural ecosystems, wetlands management is highly dependent on the upstream watershed condition and activities. Any development activity and water resources operation in the basins located in upstream areas can significantly affect downstream wetlands. Therefore, there is a need for integrated and basin scale approaches in developing wetland management plans. The most important and known approach which can provide a reliable support for developing the management plans at this scale is “Ecosystem Approach”. The project of "Conservation of Iranian Wetlands" (CIWP) aims to improve the socio-economic situation of the local communities by applying this approach in a completely participatory process at the basin level and with cooperation of all national and local stakeholders to develop an integrated management plan for Uromieh lake, Parishan and Shadegan Wetlands. Application of this approach has provided a good basis for the convergence and cooperation of all stakeholders in management of mentioned wetlands. As a result, these management plans have inter-sectoraly been approved at the cabinet and provincial planning councils as the highest decision making structures at national and provincial levels and started implementation of them by each responsible institution in the plan. Obviously, this approach is a new process for managing wetland protected areas which institutionalizing it within department of environment and development plans will play a crucial role in sustainability of these valuable ecosystems. This article provides a review on methodology and CIWP experience on three Iranian wetlands, Uromieh lake, Parishan and Shadegan wetlands.