HAMOUN WETLANDS CURRENT SITUATION AND THE WAY FORWARD

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1 HAMOUN WETLANDS CURRENT SITUATION AND THE WAY FORWARD 1. INTRODUCTION The Hamoun wetlands are located in parts of south-western Afghanistan and south-eastern Iran. The wetlands have always been a unique ecosystem of outstanding local, national and international importance with ecological and socio-economic values. They support an extremely diverse wetland flora and fauna, and thus maintain the genetic and ecological diversity of the region. They play a substantial hydrological and ecological role in the natural functioning of a major river basin, Hirmand Trans-Boundary River, shared between two countries: Iran and Afghanistan. They support wintering population of four globally threatened species of birds, Pelecanus crispus, Aythya nyroca, Oxyura leucocephala and Aquila heliaca. Hamoun wetlands consist of Hamoun-e Helmand (complertely in Iran), Hamoun-e Saberi (one third in Afghanistan and the rest in Iran) and Hamoun-e-Puzak (two thirds in Afghanistan and the rest in Iran) which are interconnected during wet years. The international importance for migratory water birds has been the main reason to designate two parts of Hamoun wetlands under the Ramsar Convention in 1975 as shown in Figure 1. Afghanistan is not a member of the Ramsar Convention, hence has not assigned specific Ramsar sites in their parts of the Hamouns. Besides assigning the area as a Ramsar site, the Iranian government has also designated a part of the wetland as a Wildlife Refuge in 2004 which is separated with a red line in the figure. This area has also been considered as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. Since July 1990, all three Hamouns are listed under the Ramsar Convention s Montreux Record of priority sites for conservation action. 2. LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY The Hamoun sites are situated in the Province of Sistan & Balouchestan, in the Sistan Basin, northwest, northeast, west and southwest of Zabol in 60ᵒ 39 to 61ᵒ 35 east and 31ᵒ 15 to 32ᵒ north geographic coordinates. The Ramsar site Hamoun-e Puzak includes the south-western portion of the vast Hamoun-e Puzak wetland, two-thirds of which lies in Afghanistan. It is situated adjacent to the Hamoun-e Saberi and Hamoun-e Helmand Ramsar sites, with which it forms a large wetland complex. Only one half of Hamoune-Saberi lies in Iran, the other half is situated in Afghanistan. 1 P age

2 Fig 1. Sistan Area, Hamoun wetlands, Ramsar sites and DoE Wildlife Refuge A brief historical review of the Sistan plain shows that the Hamoun wetlands have been crucial in the development of civilizations from 8000 to 5000 years ago and the most important archaeological sites belong to Shahri Sokhta (Burnt City) near 35 Km of city of Zabol, centre of Sistan plain. 3. CURRENT SITUATION OF HAMOUN WETLANDS 3-1. TREND OF CHANGES IN WETLANDS AREA SITUATION The Hamoun Lakes, at their maximum extent, covered 500,000 ha. of land, 40% of which lies in Afghanistan. Based on satellite images taken in spring 2005, 2009 and 2013, Hamoun wetlands area has substantially declined as it is shown in the Fig 2. Fig 2. Hamoun wetlands area situation in spring 2005, 2009 and 2013, respectively (left to right) 3.2 MAIN PROBLEMS OF HAMOUN WETLANDS AND ITS WATERSHED The wetlands have faced intense pressure during the last decade and are currently in a state of ecological crisis with major impacts on biodiversity and socio-economic conditions. The wetland is mostly dried during these years so dust and sandstorms increased. The main reasons for this situation are: - Reduced precipitation apparently because of long-term climate change; - more water abstraction from rivers and water resources; - mismanagement of water resources in Sistan basin; - expansion of agricultural lands; - Using traditional irrigation systems and low water efficiency; - Using inappropriate cropping pattern; - Water control in Afghanistan; - Introduction of non-native species of aquatic plants; - Over exploitation of pastures. 2 P age

3 3-3- ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF HAMOUN WETLANDS PROBLEMS Negative effects of drying Hamoun wetlands are as follows, and some of them are shown in the images below: - Changing bird migration and destroying habitats of migratory animals and fishes; - Destroying unique reeds and vegetation of Hamoun wetlands and threatened animals of the region such as Sistani Cow; - Changing quality of wetland fresh water and salinization of water because of developing sand storm movement and prolongation of drought in wetland; - Developing sand storm and 120 days wind (some references reported about prolongation of time duration of winds about 220 days); - Increasing various diseases such as heart, respiratory, optic, cancer and even intestinal and other sicknesses among the residents of Sistan; - Negative economic and social impacts on local people of Sistan such as population immigration; - Changing the living patterns and increasing social problems such as drug addiction, smuggling and dissatisfaction of people from the circumstances; - Increasing local conflicts for water Schematic examples of damages inflicted by the drought of Hamoun wetlands in Sistan Region 3 P age

4 4. THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT To save and restore the Hamoun wetlands, various studies and activities have been carried out by different organizations and in different levels: international, national, regional and local. The most important ones are as follows: Holding trilateral meetings between Iran and Afghnistan by UNEP in Tehran and Geneva. (international) Negotiations between Iran and Afghanistan in high level authorities (international) International implementation (preparing and executing cooperation programs of Iran, Afghanistan and international organizations such as UNEP and financial agencies like GEF for assigning environmental water right rehabilitation of Hamoun wetland, proposal of bilateral cooperation in studying and execution of common agricultural, economical and social projects in Nimrooz province (Afghanistan) and Sistan basin (Iran) and stabilization plans for sand flowing) (international) Although the proposal on Sustainable ecosystem management of Sistan was approved by GEF/UNDP, it has not yet been implemented. (international) National implementation (stabilization of sand flowing in Sistan plain and Hamoun lakes, management of water resources and consumptions in Sistan plain, changing agriculture and irrigation patterns, creation and management of Chah Nimeh reservoirs for supplying the least volume of potable waters and as a complementary wetland for securing the lives of animals and plants) (national) Allocating wetland water rights from MOE Chah-nime (reservoirs) to restore some parts of the wetlands (national) Allocating necessary budget for establishing wetland integrated management secretariat, developing Hamouns management plan based on ecosystem approach, and Hamouns restoration. (national) Planning for an integrated Management approach in Sistan Basin (national) Planning to improve irrigation systems and crop patterns in Sistan Plain to cope with limited water received from Hirmand Transboundary River during recent decades (regional). Establishment of Hamoun Restoration Committee in Sistan and Balouchestan Province (local) Implementation on dredging of Hirmand river, Sistan River and its branches by MOE in order to facilitate water flow to Hamoun wetlands. (local) Knowledge promoting actions for local people by celebrating World Wetlands Day and holding several workshops (local) 4 P age

5 5. THE WAY FORWARD The unique environment of Hamoun international wetland and its' lakes is a great natural heritage which should be maintained intact and transferred to the future generations for continued life of humans, animals and plants. I.R.Iran has suffered heavy costs for protection and rehabilitation of the Hamoun wetlands. The shared location of the ecosystem between two countries makes bilateral cooperation essential and could improve results and accelerate all activities for international Hamoun wetlands rehabilitation. Hence, it is crucial that both countries would respect the environmental water requirement of these wetlands and accordingly plan for regular allocation of water. Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to study and execute common economical, social, agricultural and fishery researches in cooperation with Afghanistan for rehabilitation of Hamoun wetlands, with regards to international experiments of ecosystem management approach in trans-boundary rivers and wetlands of the world and also the Iranian expertise in environment, agriculture, water resources and tourism. Considering the international and regional importance of the wetland, the government is maximizing its efforts for capacity-building in order to restore the wetland. Formation of a National Implementation Committee for ecosystem-based management of Hamoun Wetlands with the Cabinet authority and chaired by Vice President, establishment of the common committee that was proposed in the trilateral international negotiations for Sistan Basin management and efforts for reactivating the GEF project for Sistan plain management are some examples in this regard. It is obvious that inter-sectoral implementation of the management measures and restoration of the lake will encounter obstacles, since it is a new approach. 5 P age