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| Lake Urmia |
Despite the temporary rise in water levels in Lake Urmia due to increased rainfall this year, the situation of the lake remains critical.
Based on images and statistical data shared by official institutions and the media, although the condition of the lake is better than it was at this time last year, the water level is still lower compared to three years ago.
Dr. Ahmad Bayburdi, an expert in environmental and natural resources, has stated that improvements in the situation of Lake Urmia can be achieved if the state reaches an agreement with the local population in the region.
Ahmad Bayburdi, the former head of the East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, predicted that with an increase in the evaporation rate over the next two months, the lake's condition will deteriorate further.
“The water volume of Lake Urmia is approximately 2.6 billion cubic meters. Thanks to recent rainfall and the relatively low evaporation rate from the lake’s surface, the situation is somewhat better. However, with the increase in evaporation in the coming two months, the condition will worsen. The governor of West Azerbaijan [and the secretary of the Lake Urmia Restoration Center] must provide a report on the measures taken to restore the lake,” Bayburdi wrote on his X account.
The expert also emphasized the need for a balanced policy to improve the ecological state of Lake Urmia.
“A balanced development policy must be implemented around Lake Urmia. If the state can reach an agreement with the water-consuming local population in this area, the situation can be rectified. Farmers should be provided with loans to enter the greenhouse industry. By utilizing greenhouse equipment and new technologies, cultivated land should be reduced, and irrigation efficiency must be increased,” he stated.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Ekspert: Dövlət yerli əhali ilə anlaşa bilsə, Urmiyə gölünün vəziyyəti düzələ bilər