Soldouz (or Sirangöli) Wetland
Location: Naghadeh (West Azerbaijan Province)
Main characteristics:
- 4,500 ha;
- Urban and sedentary villagers; Azeri (Turkish speaking) ethnic group;
- Considered as a government protected area since 1963, the wetland had suffered greatly from neglect and unfavourable development. Since approximately 2000 a local NGO, through community mobilisation and with some financial support from UNDP/GEF/SGP has revived the wetland environment by restoring the old water channels;
- Livelihood activities have traditionally depended on this wetland, including livestock breeding plus rangeland and water management and other resources have supported the communities around the wetland since time immemorial. The wetland also has cultural values, including community identity;
- A variety of plant and animal species (including migratory birds are supported by the wetland);
- Distribution of water between these wetlands and the surrounding agricultural lands has been a collective community decision making process for centuries;
- Local governance of the wetlands by the communities has been an effective part of the managed water resources of the wetlands on the southern side of the now endangered Lake Urmia Ramsar site; the resulting complex of 4 wetlands was known as the southern “Green Belt”.
Reference: Umbrella Group of Naghadeh NGOs of West Azarbaijan. 2006. Rehabilitation of Hassanlou Wetland, West Azerbaijan. Umbrella Group of Naghadeh NGOs of West Azarbaijan and UNDP-GEF-SGP. Np.
