Anzali Wetland, covering an area of approximately 195 km² , is located in Gilan Province in northern Iran, along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Owing to its international importance as a habitat for migratory birds, the wetland was designated as a Ramsar Site in June 1975 under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention). The wetland also has an ecosystem management plan in place. However, in recent years, the water quality of Anzali Wetland has deteriorated significantly due to the discharge of urban and rural wastewater and solid waste, including pollution originating from the city of Rasht, the capital of Gilan Province. As a result, parts of the wetland are now facing the risk of drying out.

Building on the successful experiences of the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP) during previous project phases in Lake Urmia, Shadegan Wetland, and Bakhtegan Wetland, Anzali Wetland has been selected as one of the pilot sites for the current phase of the project. Planned interventions include the development of ecosystem based conservation models, the establishment of sustainable agriculture practices in 11 villages surrounding the wetland, the promotion of ecosystem-compatible livelihood diversification in six neighbouring villages, and the implementation of environmental education and public awareness programmes. These activities have been underway since the beginning of 2025, in collaboration with key stakeholders and local communities in villages around Anzali Wetland. Early results indicate that expanding these approaches across the Anzali Wetland watershed can make a significant contribution to the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of this valuable ecosystem.