TEHRAN — The International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO added Iran’s Lake Hamoun to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves during its meeting in Peru on March 18-19.

This brings the total number of biosphere reserves to 669 sites in 120 countries.

Biosphere reserves are areas comprising terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. Each reserve promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

With the recent designation, the number of Iran’s biosphere reserves increased to twelve, according to UNESCO website. 

Lake Hamoun is also listed as a tentative site that the World Heritage Committee may consider for nomination to the World Heritage list.

Hamoun is a desert lake shared between Iran and Afghanistan. In seasons of high precipitation the lake is about 5700 square kilometers in area, 3800 square kilometers of which is within the Iranian territory and the rest is located in Afghanistan.

The area is of great flora and fauna and the lake is valued for its natural phenomena. This is a vast area including lakes, ponds and swamps.

The area is the residence of nearly 190 migrant birds such as flamingo, pelican, crane, spoonbill, several kinds of duck, goose, swan, and coot. The region is being the habitat for rare animal and plant species.

Moreover the vegetation coverage in this vicinity offers a camouflage for some of the birds, mammals, and aquatic species.

MQ