Message from Mr. Tomoo Aoki, Chief Advisor of JICA Expert Team

Chief Advisor of JICA Expert Team

I am very glad to issue the 7th edition of the newsletter for the Anzali Wetland Ecological Management
Project – Phase II. In this edition in the final year (5th) of the project, various activities are comprehensively introduced, which have been implemented jointly between Iranian counterpart from various governmental/non-governmental organizations in Gilan Province and JICA Experts with different expertise under the project so far.

In October this year, the 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP13) will be held in Dubai. The theme for COP13 is “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future”. The Anzali Wetland, whose watershed includes Rasht City, capital of Gilan Province, Anzali City adjacent to the wetland, and other semi-urban cities, supports the theme for COP13 from ecological and social aspects as well as supporting to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With understanding its importance and feeling its beauty in the Anzali Wetland, I hope that current efforts for conservation activities of the Anzali Wetland will be continued and extended with more participation of the various stakeholders of Iranian people to maintain ecologically healthy conditions of the Anzali Wetland for our future generations.