Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

The socio-economics effects of Hamoon Lake in Sistan region of Iran

Author(s):

Majid Dahmardeh ^1*, Mehdi Dahmardeh ², Saeed Yazdani ³, Eissa Piri ⁴

Recieved Date: 2009-01-18, Accepted Date: 2009-04-12

Abstract:

Sistan is a densely populated enclave in the scarcely populated South-eastern part of Iran. It is characterized by adverse socio-economic situations including poverty, unemployment, emigration to other regions, increase in illegal activities, increase in health problems and loss of natural resources. The water resources are scarce in the region. The main water resource is the Hirmand River that flows from Afghanistan into Iran and finally goes to Hamoon Lake. Its inflows into Iran have been decreased in the recent years. The high evaporation rates and inefficient water usages have reduced these scarce resources even more. The main objective of this study was to examine the optimum allocation of the scarce available water resources between the farming and the ecosystem demand sectors, in order to maximize the socio-economic development of the region. This study proved that the local people, who have traditionally exploited and managed the natural resources of the region, possess valuable knowledge about the wetland and its valued features. The results of the study indicated that in best case scenario the Hamoon wetland may provide job opportunity for 40.8 percent of the Sistan households. Out of that about 8.6 percent of the job opportunities are in the fishing activity, 2.8 percent are in bird catching, 4.1 percent are in reed harvesting and mat weaving. More than 25 percent of these job opportunities are provided in animal husbandry on the pastures of the Hamoon wetland and from field cultivation near the Hamoon wetland. The region lacks appropriate infrastructure and development potentials. The unemployment rate is higher than 21%, comparing to the national unemployment rate is very high. Since this region builds the Iranian border with Afghanistan and because of the lack of job opportunities, many households are involved in illegal activities including drug dealing and smuggling. Moreover, this study concludes that besides creating job opportunities and food for the Sistan community, which results in a safer Sistan, the Hamoon wetland has the potentials to contribute to the economic situation of the region by the annual fish catch, bird catch and reed harvests.

Keywords:

Hamoon Lake, wetland, socio-economics, Sistan, Iran

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2009
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 799-802

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