The announcement was made at the 14th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 5 to 13.

The Wetland City Accreditation scheme will encourage cities in close proximity to and dependent on wetlands.Urbanization is one of the key defining mega-trends of our time. It is transforming where and how people will live in the future. Four billion people, about half of the world’s population live in urban areas today. By 2050 that number is expected to increase as more people move into cities.

Over the last few years, the officials, various groups of people, and environmentalists decided to propose global registration of Varzaneh city to preserve and protect the international wetland of Gavkhuni.

On November 10, the certificate of wetland city accreditation was officially handed over to the mayor of Varzaneh, Hamed Akhgar.

The relationship between the international Gavkhuni wetland and the livelihood of the people of Varzaneh is a point that now only the stability of the water flow in the life-giving river of Zayandehrud can maintain.

Except for the city of Varzaneh, the city of “Bandar Khamir” near the Khorkhoran International Wetland in Hormozgan province, this year was recognized and introduced as the first wetland city in Iran by the Ramsar Convention.

Wetland City Accreditation scheme

The 172 Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands have agreed to the conservation and wise use of wetlands in their territories.

Recognizing the importance of cities and urban wetlands, the Convention has introduced a Wetland City accreditation scheme (Resolution XII.10).

This 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.

The Wetland City Accreditation scheme will encourage cities in close proximity to and dependent on wetlands, especially Wetlands of International Importance, to highlight and strengthen a positive relationship with these valuable ecosystems, for example through increased public awareness of wetlands and participation in municipal planning and decision-making.

The Accreditation scheme should further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local people.

The post Varzaneh awarded Ramsar wetland city accreditation appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The Wetland City Accreditation of the Ramsar Convention aims to further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.

The accreditation will encourage cities that are close to and dependent on wetlands, primarily Wetlands of International Importance, but also wetlands with other conservation category status, to develop and strengthen a positive relationship with these valuable ecosystems, for example through increased participation and public awareness, as well as careful consideration of wetlands in municipal planning and decision-making.

A candidate city for the Wetland City Accreditation will be assessed and recommended as an Accredited Wetland City by an Independent Advisory Committee, after being proposed by the Contracting Party (through its Ramsar National Focal Point or Head of Administrative Authority) on whose territory it stands.

Cities complying with each accreditation criterion described within Resolution XII.10 are invited to complete the nomination form.

Wetland Cities

Bounded by the Persian Gulf, Bandar Khamir is the only city located on the coast of the Khorkhoran Wetland, one of the largest and most important marine environments in the country.

In 2018, Bandar Khamir got the international accreditation to be a Ramsar wetland city.

It has also joined the UNESCO Network of Learning Cities this week, according to UNESCO, and received a certificate of membership in the network.

Stretching 47,000 hectares, Gavkhuni is a salt marsh with an average depth of about 1 m. which is located in the terminal basin of the Zayandeh-rud river.

It is the 19th wetland in Iran designated as a Wetland of International Importance on the Ramsar list, which as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, recognizes the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.

The Convention was adopted in the Iranian northern city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.

Wetlands importance

Wetlands are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. They store water and ensure its quality, providing resilience against drought. They play a central role in sustainable development by supplying all our freshwater.

Wetlands play a major role in protecting the land against floods and the impacts of storms. They provide food and diverse habitats which support genetic, species, and ecosystem biodiversity. Wetlands play a key role in the life cycles of many species and in annual migration patterns.

Unfortunately, wetlands are being degraded and lost due to pollution, overexploitation, climate change, and human population growth. In recognition of these challenges, the RAMSAR Convention, an international treaty, was adopted in 1971.

Ramsar Wetlands are sites inscribed on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) under the Convention on Wetlands.

The post Bandar Khamir, Varzaneh accredited as Ramsar Wetland Cities appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Domestic and foreign experts gather to attend the specialized webinar to discuss the role of wetland education centers in enhancing environmental literacy and the CEPA program (communication, education, participation, awareness).

The event will be attended by Chris Rostron, International Engagement Manager at Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, and Hossein Badripour, facilitator and director of a specialized network for resilience and sustainable land management.

Wetlands are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. They store water and ensure its quality, providing resilience against drought. They play a central role in sustainable development by supplying all our freshwater. More than 40 percent of freshwater fish are said to live in wetlands.

Wetlands play a major role in protecting the land against floods and the impacts of storms. They provide food and diverse habitats which support genetic, species, and ecosystem biodiversity. Wetlands play a key role in the life cycles of many species and in annual migration patterns.

Iran is rich in terms of having a variety of wetlands due to its climatic diversity. In Iran, 141 wetlands with ecological value with an area of over 3 million hectares have been identified, of which 25 wetlands are designated as wetlands of international importance (registered in the Ramsar Convention) covering more than 1.4 million hectares and four sites are biosphere reserves.

Of Iran’s 25 Ramsar sites about one-third are under pressure or in critical condition.

Unfortunately, wetlands are being degraded and lost due to pollution, overexploitation, climate change, and human population growth.

The post Tehran to host intl. webinar on wetlands protection appeared first on Iran News Daily.

A collection of 29 photos on the theme of wetlands will go on view at the Ramsar Grand Hotel on the sidelines of a conference on World Wetlands Day, the Persian service of IRNA has announced.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat provides outreach materials to help raise public awareness of wetlands in the world.

The Standing Committee of the convention approved “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future” as the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2018.

The post Photographers to mark World Wetlands Day in Ramsar appeared first on Iran News Daily.