The restoration project which was kicked off in 2022, was implemented and operated in December 2023 by Iran Ports and Maritime Organizations (PMO) and proved to be an environmental success.
The 40 cm rise in the water level of Gorgan Bay during only one month after reopening the canal and the increase of 3000 hectares of the water area of Gorgan Bay by refilling about 400 m of dried shores along the Caspian Sea indicate the success of the project and it is expected that these figures will increase in the future, According to Saeed Hassan Abbasi, head of the Department of Civil Engineering and supervision of Ports and Maritime Organization's projects.
He added that with the successful completion of this project, the concerns of the citizens of Golestan Province for many years have been resolved in terms of environment, livelihood, fisheries, tourism and nature tourism.
The Gorgan Bay, which was close to destruction and turning into a salt marsh, is now restored. The main objectives of restoring the Bay were facilitating the flow of water between the Caspian Sea and the Gorgan Bay, providing the possibility of the movement of all types of vessels in this route for marine tourism activities, fisheries affairs, preventing the drying of the Gorgan Bay and the consequences caused by the dust, preventing the increase of salinity of Gorgan Bay's water and preventing the creation of salt marsh, revival of marine industries and businesses for people's livelihood and reducing unemployment.
According to a published article in the Science Journal, between 2017 and 2021, about 35% this Bay dried up due to decline in water level, high sediment accumulation, dense growth of seagrass, closure of canals, decreased precipitation and increased evapotranspiration.
The article in this journal states that Iran' measures to restore this valuable environmental asset should focus on the long-term protection of this Bay and the Caspian Sea since the initial success depends on health of the Caspian Sea.
The Science Journal recommends that Iran can protect the Bay and Sea by "establishing a comprehensive monitoring system, reforming water governance, developing contingency plans for extreme climate events such as drought or inundation, effectively managing land use and integrated water resources, and enacting legal protections".
The article acknowledges the economic advantages of this restoration; however, it warns about the environmental effects of revitalized tourism which based on the 20230 UN SDG 11, both the ecosystem and human rights to water have to be secured.
MNA/mrud