Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP) has played a lead role in restoring wetlands in Iran since 2005 by introducing the ecosystem approach and establishing a new management system.

In 2014, with the generous contribution from the People and Government of Japan and in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Iran’s Department of Environment, a new component was added to CIWP known as “Modelling Local Community Participation in Restoration of Lake Urmia Through Establishment of Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation”.