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SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF URMIA LAKE BASIN
IGA-436April 30, 2015
Group FlamingoMahdi Z, Ka Tsai K, Mahfuzul I, Ying L, Safwan S
Urmia Lake Basin
Characteristics:
The largest inland lake in Iran and one of the largest saline lakes in the world
Basin Area: 52000 sq. km ~ 20000 sq. mi
Lake area: 5000 sq. km ~ 2000 sq. mi
Rainfall: 250 mm/y ~10 inch/y
Evaporation: 1000 mm/y ~ 3 feet/y
Biodiversity
~550 plant species+315
animal speciesincluding unique
Artemia
Urmia Lake is Drying Up
Urmia Lake is Drying Up
Impacts on Biodiversity and Livelihoods
Assessment of Causes
Natural Phenomena (Drought)
Comparing the yearly changes of temperature, water level and precipitation of Urmia Lake during 1966 to 2010Zoljoodi and Didevarasl, Atmospheric and Climate Sciences (2014)
Man-made Causes– Construction of dams
– Development of agriculture
– Direct extraction of surface water and groundwater at the basin level
Assessment of Causes
UNEP (2012)
What happens if we do nothing?
Case: Rapid desiccation and salinization since 1960s due to unsustainable expansion of irrigation Impact: Disappearance of indigenous fish species, harm to rich ecosystem, decline of fishing industrySolution: North-south separation by dike and dam to raise of water level + lower salinity
Case: Desiccation both due to climatic changes and to high demands for agricultural waterImpact: Desertification + loss of lake-based livelihood of surrounding communities(Potential) Solution: Cooperative management of trans-boundary waterways
Aral Sea
Lake Chad
Agriculture
Problem Focus - Agriculture
Technical: Too much water from the Urmia Lake basin is being allocated to agriculture every year (94% of annual usage; only 35% used).
Implementation: Problems at local level forintroducing and enforcing new policies: No incentives/ reluctance to change Inappropriate/ insufficient legislative and institutional framework
Insufficient stakeholder engagement
Policy Solutions - Agriculture
From Supply Side:Water collection and storage facilitiesWater reclamation for irrigationCloud seeding Inter-basin water transfer
Policy Solutions - Agriculture
From Demand Side:Restructure Water pricing : from "area of each farm" and
"crop type“ to “crop type” and “quantity of consumption”Curbing groundwater over-exploitation Efficient Irrigation system Crop substitution
Provincial Level Stakeholders
Province Governors (3) Province Department of Environment Offices (3) Province MOJA Offices (3) Province Water Authorities (3) University of Medical Science Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization Other Universities Provincial Road and Transportation Offices (2) Provincial Industries and Mines Office
Local Level Stakeholders
Local Governor Offices (3)Local Department of Environment Offices (3)Local MOJA Offices (3)Local Natural Resources Offices (3)Local Offices for Veterinary Services (3)FarmersReed HarvestersArtemia HarvestersSalt Harvesters
Local Communities/ Rural PopulationFishersBuffalo HerdersHuntersVisitorsHealth and Sanitation OfficeLocal NGOsIslamic Councils
Local Level Stakeholders
Local Governor Offices (3)Local Department of Environment Offices (3)Local MOJA Offices (3)Local Natural Resources Offices (3)Local Offices for Veterinary Services (3)FarmersReed HarvestersArtemia HarvestersSalt Harvesters
Local Communities/ Rural PopulationFishersBuffalo HerdersHuntersVisitorsHealth and Sanitation OfficeLocal NGOsIslamic Councils
Stakeholder Analysis - Farmers
Farmers are not in a good bargaining position (against corporations and government)
But government cannot negotiate with all the farmers individually
Bottom Line: It is easy to force farmers to reduce water use – but how to do it without alienation or backlash?
Policy Solutions - Implementation
Focus on the local level – how to move farmers and local stakeholders away from present agriculture practices
Incentivize move away from agriculture Develop choice architecture (‘nudge’ – let stakeholders take
ownership of own decisions) Create job opportunities for new farmers
Punish stakeholders who disobey water restrictions/regulations Meters, law enforcement Cultural ‘taboos’ – enlist the force of the community against people
who break water restrictions? Initiate culture change / shift in popular thinking
NGO involvement for public awareness campaigns (videos, etc.)
Policy Solutions - Implementation
Focus on the local level – how to move farmers and local stakeholders away from present agriculture practices
Incentivize move away from agriculture Develop choice architecture (‘nudge’ – let stakeholders take
ownership of own decisions) Create job opportunities for new farmers
Punish stakeholders who disobey water restrictions/regulations Meters, law enforcement Cultural ‘taboos’ – enlist the force of the community against people
who break water restrictions? Initiate culture change / shift in popular thinking
NGO involvement for public awareness campaigns (videos, etc.)
Incentives System – California Example
California: 80% of water supply usage is for agriculture; 40% of farm land is flood irrigated
Marginal cost pricing: reflect opportunity cost of last unit of water Requires tracking water usage per user/ “farm”
Urmia Lake: not charged on quantity but on the "area of each farm" and "crop type”
Example of Aral Sea
Encourage local agencies to adopt water management practices
Loans/subsidies to adopt center-pivot, drop or micro irrigation (replace flood irrigation)
Water Rate Incentives
Financial Assistance Incentives
Education
Incentives Systems – Challenges for Urmia
Iranian Government's 10 Year Urmia Lake Restoration Program Focuses on dam and reservoir management; not on incentivizing
stakeholders Fails to engage farmers - top-down, low-stakeholder
engagement strategies Fails to solve administrative red tape
Access/collection of data for water demand and irrigation water consumption needed
Selecting appropriate water rates Funding for financial assistance incentives Transaction Costs – dollars and processes
Implementation Issues
Current Measures
23
Acknowledgments!
Team Flamingo
Mahfuzul IslamUNDPI
Liu YingMinistry of CommercePeople’s Republic of China
Mahdi Zarghami Water Management
Safwan ShababInvesting / Financial Services
Ka Tsai KuJapanese Politics and LawUniversity of Tokyo ‘13
Work and Education Background
