Directory of Iranian Wetlands Wetlands Iranian of Directory Wetlands are the place where land and water unite. Existence of wetlands date back to the time when the earth began life. Wetlands host the richest biodiversity and they are among the most beautiful spots on Earth. They have been the source of inspiration for painters, travelers, poets and photographers. Wetlands are important to the planet in many ways to mention but a few functions would be: preserving genetic storages of animals and plants, water provision DOE (quality and quantity), habitat for water creatures (more than two third of fish hatcheries in the world depend their crops on wetlands’ health), agricultural crops and products (through water provision and feeding elements), lumber production, energy provision, production of mud and plant material, transportation, leisure and tourism functions. The world cannot be without wetlands, We cannot be without wetlands. There is no alternative, Directory of Iranian They have to be preserved. Convention Ramsar the under Designated The climatic and geographical variations of Iran have resulted in Wetlands Designated under forming of a wide diversity of wetlands from Mangrove forests and coral reefs to Mountain lakes and saline desert marshes. More than 84 wetlands of international importance have been identified in Iran of the Ramsar Convention which 33 under 22 titles have been recognized by the Ramsar convention. This book introduces these 22 Ramsar sites. Second Edition Masoud Bagherzadeh Karimi Mahbod Rouhany Forest for Water for Wetlands Department Of Environment Deputy of Natural Environment & Biodiversity Habitats & Protected Areas Bureau Directory of Iranian Wetlands Designated under the Ramsar Convention Second Edition Masoud MSc. Watershed Management DOE - Wetland Expert Bagherzadeh Karimi [email protected] Mahbod Rouhany MSc. Environmental Technology [email protected] February 2011 I Contents Contents Acknowledgements 3 Preface 4 How to Use this Book 5 Introduction 7 Wetlands and Their Values 8 International Convention for Preservation of Wetlands 11 Iran and the Ramsar convention 12 Previous Criteria for Selection of Wetlands 13 New Criteria for Selection of Wetlands 16 Wetland Types 18 Iranian Wetlands Designated under the Ramsar Convention 23 1 Directory of Iranian Ramsar Sites Alagol, Ulmagol and Ajigol Lakes 29 Amirkelayeh Lake 38 Anzali Mordab (Talab) complex 47 Bandar Kiashahr Lagoon and mouth of Sefid Rud 60 +- Deltas of Rud-e-Gaz and Rud-e-Hara 69 Deltas of Rud-e-Shur, Rud-e-Shirin and Rud-e-Minab 78 Fereydoon Kenar, Ezbaran & Sorkh Ruds Ab-Bandans 87 Gavkhouni Lake and marshes of the lower Zaindeh Rud 96 Gomishan Lagoon 105 Govater Bay and Hur-e-Bahu 114 Hamun-e-Puzak, south end Hamun-e-Saberi & Hamun-e-Helmand 124 Khuran Straits 141 Lake Gori 152 Lake Kobi 161 Lake Orumiyeh 168 Lake Parishan and Dasht-e-Arjan 182 Miankaleh Peninsula, Gorgan Bay and Lapoo-Zaghmarz Ab-bandan 195 Neiriz Lakes & Kamjan Marshes 206 Shadegan Marshes & mudflats of Khor-al Amaya & Khor Musa 219 Sheedvar Island 231 Shurgol, Yadegarlu & Dorgeh Sangi Lakes 239 References 249 2 Introduction Aknowledgments The authors would like to express their gratitude to the following people that had a significant role in the completion of this book: Mr. Anoshiravan Najafi: Previous deputy of the Natural environment of DOE Dr. Mohammad Bagher Sadugh: deputy of the Natural environment of DOE Ms. Yasaman Rajabkhah: Director of Ramsar Regional Center in West and Central Asia; Ms. Arezu Ashrafizadeh: Wetland Expert Mr. Ali Bali: Senior expert of GIS Mr. Arash Bahmanpour: GIS expert; 3 Directory of Iranian Ramsar Sites Preface The main goal in preparing the present guidebook is to increase the awareness of individuals, concerned for wetlands, about various values and functions of wetlands especially those of international importance located in Iran. Wetlands are very sensitive ecosystems therfore every single individual and all those who benefit from them in a way or another, should do their utmost in protecting and preserving these valuable natural resources and try to use them in the wisest way possible and this would not be within reach unless wew bring about an increase in the publics awareness and information about wetlands and their functions. The 1971 Ramsar convention on preserving the wetlands is the only international ecosystem-related treaty signed in Iran and it would be appropriate for Iranians to have adequate information about it. Considering the large scope of an audience this book will have that would include university professors, university students, students, fishermen, local people residing near these wetlands, government authorities, non- governmental organisatons, private sector entrepreneurs, judicial authorities, etc. the author has focused on having an eye on technical and scientific points of view, proper for a guide like this, and using simple and day-today concepts that lend themselves to easy understanding by 4 Introduction laymen. The authors and the preparing team have done their utmost to pack the book with as much scientific content as was possible concerning the time limit and their technical expertise and would like to ask the respected readers to inform them of any factual or printing errors and omissions. How to use this book In this book the point of view is a general and comprehensive one of the wetlands registered in Ramsar convention. All Ramsar site wetlands have been introduced with a different color scheme except for the two Hamoun wetlands which have been introduced under one title as a result of their geographical and ecological conditions. In the beginning of each section, the location of the given wetland has been marked by a and the other internationally recognised wetlands by a on a map of Iran. In the beginning of each part the latitude and the longitude of each wetland is mentioned. The title for introduction of each Ramsar site is selected in the following order and an explanation for each title is given next to it. In the general overview section the letter and number signs used in Ramsar convention documents have been used for introduction of each wetland and the criteria for indentifying of the wetlands as 5 Directory of Iranian Ramsar Sites internationally significant. The explanations for these signs have been given in the introduction part of this guidebook. Since all Ramsar sites except for Fereydoonkenar have been introduced to the convention with the old criteria and the convention has introduced new criteria since, for better use of this guidebook both old and new criteria for each site have been mentioned. Regarding the illustrations and photographs,despite the limitation of resources, all efforts have been made in order to consider and show different aspects of the wetland including its general spectacle, ecosystems, habitats and different species of animals and plants. Eventually, it is also needed to be clarified that all statistical figures included in the text are mainly driven from the convention documents and in specific cases (due to some errors) have been taken from reliable internal sources. 6 Introduction Introduction Life of Earth depends on water. Wetlands are critical living creatures that have to be preserved for global and mankind salvation and preservation of a large variety of animals and plants that depend on wetlands for their lives. Wetlands are the place where land and water unite. Existence of wetlands date back to the time when the earth came into being and they are home to the largest ecological and zoological varieties. They can be found all across the globe from the equator to frost-bitten moors. For the Earth’s health and balance wetlands are equally important as any other natural body. They are also among the most beautiful spots on Earth and have also been the source of inspiration for painters, travelers, poets and photographers. It is not a surprise that wetlands are host to a surprisingly large variety of wild animals: from king fishers to alligators, from albatrosses to hippos and a large variety of plant life and water creatures. Wetlands have different sizes that range from very small ponds to 10 million hectare bays in Canada. Large or small, north or south wetlands all have similar function: food source, fuel source, holiday resort and creating employment opportunities, preserving a large group of wild life that will go extinct without them and preserving the life of millions of people from floods, storms and sea waves. 7 Directory of Iranian Ramsar Sites Finally, there is no second choice; it is not possible to imagine a world without wetlands. Man can cohabitate and live together with nature or can continue to tyrannically exhaust its resources. We have the choice. The world cannot be without wetlands. Introduction for Second Edition Wetlands are one of our more important natural resources because of the many environmental and economic benefits that they provide. However, at one time, people thought of wetlands as being “useless wastelands. There are more than 50 definitions of wetlands used throughout the world, but the broadest and most international is provided by the Ramsar Convention, which defines wetlands as "areas of marsh, fen, peat- land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters. Ramsar further incorporates into its consideration for listing "riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six meters at low tide lying within the wetlands". Wetlands constitute a resource of great economic, cultural, scientific and recreational value to human life, and are an essential 8 Introduction habitat for numerous threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna. Wetlands also play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature. They have an important role in Carbon fixation, erosion control/shoreline stabilization, flood control, water supply, groundwater discharge, sediment/toxicant retention, nutrient retention, biomass export, eco-tourism and water transport.