ABSTRACT
Urmia Lake (UL) has experienced a significant decline in water levels since 1996, resulting in a 70% reduction in its surface area. The drying up of UL has caused severe environmental, socio-economic, and health-related challenges in the region. In 2013, the Iranian government established a national committee comprising all relevant governmental entities to develop a roadmap and restore the lake. This chapter examines the UL restoration process through the lens of water diplomacy. Drawing on a water diplomacy framework, the chapter describes and evaluates the process, focusing on the lessons learned and diplomatic challenges encountered. Specifically, the chapter discusses the importance of a range of factors in the lake’s restoration. These include political will, stakeholder engagement, scientific approaches, transparency and accountability, social capital and trust-building, judicial mechanisms, decentralization of power, network governance, and collaborative planning. By examining these factors, the chapter aims to provide insights into effective negotiation strategies, solution-finding, and joint action implementation. Overall, this chapter highlights the critical role of water diplomacy in managing complex water-related challenges and underscores the importance of adopting a collaborative, inclusive, and transparent approach to achieve successful outcomes.
