Analysis of the issues of Lake Zrêbar in a context of Integrated Water Resources Management using a stakeholder's participatory approach in a basin scale

Over the past few decades¡ due to human activities¡ aquatic ecosystems have experienced severe damages; Lake Zrêbar¡ located at 3 Km West of Marivan in-Iran¡ is not exempt from this issue. Approximately nine villages as well as the city of Marivan is located in periphery of the lake. The stakeholder analysis methodology was used in this study to assess the socio-economic and political sub-systems of the Lake Zrêbar basin. This analysis showed that over the last few years¡ for various reasons¡ including economic growth¡ demographic dynamics¡ and sediment inflow¡ the lake has faced with environmental and social problems. The wide variety of stakeholders in the lake as well as the complexity of issues has made the case of Lake Zrêbar as a complex problem. The results showed that the stakeholders¡ who are directly active in the region¡ have been ignored. Therefore¡ it is suggested that the ground-based participation of all stakeholders to be carried out. It is also important to take care that the economic benefits of the local communities to get balanced with the pressures loaded on the lake ecosystem. The whole stakeholders should be herad to come up with a comprehensive narration of the lake issues. That process is expected to be effective to attract the stakeholders’ support to the process of sustainable restoration of the lake.