TEHRAN Iran’s successful cooperation in environmental issues has been recognized by the United Nations, Saber Masoumi (director of the UNDP’s environment and social development in Iran) said.
Two of the United Nations’ most successful projects include the sustainable development of Lake Urmia, and the expansion of the environmental management in Iran.
He pointed out that development must be balanced with the preservation and enhancement of the environment. He noted that international organizations are the best at discussing the interplay between development and the environment in different countries.
He also highlighted that Iran has many development capacities, but that it can be helped by the experience of other successful countries.
He considered climate change a serious threat for the future of the planet and stated that it is a priority for United Nations. The forecast does not predict that the future will be happy.
He explained that one of the most successful plans in Iran that has been implemented over 20 years in collaboration with the UN is the carbon reduction plan. This plan has achieved important achievements and is included in the Sixth Development Plan of Iran.
In 2009, a comprehensive management program for the Urmia Lake Catchment was approved. This document was to be used as a guideline and a foundation for future plans to rehab the water body.
He concluded that Iran’s success in these areas is continuing in countries like Iraq.
According to the cooperation document between the Department of Environment (Japan) and the United Nations Development Program (Financial support from Japan), in order to stabilize the existing measures and generalize the successes and successful experiences of previous year in the revival of Lake Urmia, the environmental and sustainable livelihood management planning in Lake Urmia as well as Bakhtegan, Shadegan wetlands, is to be implemented within the next three years.
Earlier in November, Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UNDP, said that we strongly support the environmental and development programs of Iran, considering the countrys previous brilliant actions.
We are well aware of the Iranian environmental issues. UNDP will definitely support to make the world cleaner, given Iran’s excellent track record in dealing environmental issues.
Steiner said that U.S. sanction lifting would help to speed up the development and progress in environmental projects.
Ikawa Kazutoshi, the Japanese Ambassador to Iran, stated that good steps have been taken to restore Lake Urmia. It is encouraging to see that the water body has been revived.
The Government of Japan contributed $3 Million to Lake Urmia’s revival through the United Nations Development Program on February 17. This was Japan’s eighth contribution to UNDP Iran.
The project has received almost $7 million in financial support by the Japanese government. In total, $1 billion has been spent.
FB/MG
