Iran has introduced four cities to be inscribed on the Ramsar Convention's list of internationally recognized wetland cities, said the deputy head of the Department of Environment's Habitats Office.
The 169 members of the Ramsar Convention, which aims to promote the importance of preserving the wetlands among local communities, adopted an initiative called the Wetland City Accreditation in a 2015 meeting.
The voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.
"There are many Iranian cities with high potential to turn into wetland cities. But for now, only four cities have been introduced to be registered as such under the Ramsar Convention's scheme" Masoud Baqerzadeh told IRNA on Monday.
"The cities nominated are Rasht [Gilan Province] for the nearby Einak wetland, Isfahan [Isfahan Province] for Gavkhouni, Marivan in Kurdestan Province for Zarivar wetland and Gandoman for a wetland of the same name in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province," he said.
Residents' Role
A city is to meet certain requirements to be considered for inclusion in the list, Baqerzadeh said, adding that the cooperation of city residents is key to maintaining the sustainability of the lagoon's resources by ensuring an efficient and controlled exploitation.
Highlighting the advantages that come with the new global status, the DOE official said, "When a city is working toward achieving the title of the wetland city, it would have to focus on the sustainable development and conservation of nearby wetlands. That, in turn, would lead to the better management of scarce water resources."
In addition, the new status would earn the city international recognition, which could help it develop into a tourist destination, Baqerzadeh added.
The Ramsar Convention, named after the Iranian city where it was signed in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
It recognizes the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific and recreational value.
There are 42 types of wetlands in the world, 41 of which are found in Iran.
