FAO and Urmia Lake Restoration Program (ULRP) conducted a two-day workshop (26-27 April 2017) at Urmia University to highlight the importance of international dialogue to support the restoration process of the Lake.

According to a press release published by the FAO Representation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the workshop is attended by more than 100 international and Iranian experts and officials.

The workshop that follows with series of other similar workshops intended to pave the path of a joint and fruitful collaboration with all national and international stakeholders.

During the workshop that was organized by the FAO Representation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Urmia Lake Restoration Program (ULRP) and Urmia Lake Research Institute of Urmia University, 16 international and national experts presented their latest researches and ideas on sustainable water resources management in the Urmia Lake basin.

“This project will facilitate the dialogue among the best qualified national and international experts, in order to work as one team to discuss methods, present tools and evaluate options,” said Fabio Gritto, FAO’s Senior International Advisor, in his opening remarks.

FAO’s Integrated Programme for Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Urmia Lake Basin is a project financed by an approximately $4 million donation from government of Japan, will be implemented through an FAO operating and management team, fully integrated within the existing governance of the ULRP and in close cooperation with different partners, selected on the basis of multidisciplinary requirements.

The project will contribute to more sustainable, productive and climate change resilient agricultural and rural systems with a positive impact on the environment in general and on the water balance (inflow-outflow) of the Urmia Lake.