Covering an area of approximately 5,377 km², Shadegan Wetland is one of the largest and most important wetlands in Iran. This valuable wetland complex comprises freshwater and saline wetlands, the tidal Khor Musa Bay, and its surrounding islands. It is located in the lower reaches of the Jarahi River Basin, between the cities of Shadegan, Abadan, and Mahshahr in Khuzestan Province, and is connected to the Persian Gulf through its southern section.

In 1975, Shadegan Wetland was designated as the largest Iranian site under the Ramsar Convention. It is one of Iran’s Ramsar Sites and has an ecosystem management plan in place. Owing to its exceptional biodiversity, the wetland is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance. The Ramsar-listed area covers approximately 400,000 hectares, excluding the coastal and marine areas extending into the Persian Gulf. Beyond its ecological significance, Shadegan Wetland also plays a vital socio-economic role, with approximately 100,000 local residents relying on its natural resources, to varying degrees, for their livelihoods.

Shadegan Wetland plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological stability of southwestern Iran, supporting local livelihoods, and regulating the region’s water and soil systems. However, increasing pressures from prolonged drought, climate change, unsustainable agricultural practices, declining water resources, and the gradual degradation of surrounding ecosystems have highlighted the urgent need to improve wetland management and resource use. Under these circumstances, ecosystem-based management approaches, combined with the active participation of local communities, are widely recognized as among the most effective strategies for the restoration and sustainable management of Shadegan Wetland.

Shadegan Wetland has been selected as the third pilot site of the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP). The project aims to strengthen ecosystem-based wetland management through the development and implementation of a comprehensive management plan based on the ecosystem approach, while reducing the major threats to its internationally significant biodiversity. Within the framework of the four-year cooperation agreement between the Government of Japan and the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project, entitled “Developing a Wetland Conservation System for Lake Urmia and Other Wetlands Together with Their Local Communities,” and building upon the achievements of previous project phases, field implementation activities have been entrusted to local companies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) since 2025.

Accordingly, two complementary initiatives have been launched: an ecosystem-compatible livelihood diversification project in six selected villages in the counties of Shadegan and Abadan, and a sustainable agriculture project in twelve selected villages across the counties of Shadegan, Ramshir, and Mahshahr. These initiatives emphasize effective engagement with local communities, trust-building, stakeholder consultations, capacity development through training and awareness-raising programmes, and the active participation of local stakeholders in project planning and implementation. The programmes will continue through 2028, with the expected outcomes of enhancing community resilience, improving local livelihoods, and strengthening the conservation and sustainable use of the valuable Shadegan Wetland ecosystem.