Speaking at a ceremony marking National Caspian Sea Day on Tuesday, Shina Ansari said the water level of the Caspian Sea has fallen by about 2 to 2.5 meters over the past decade.
She stressed that managing this trend requires cooperation among the five countries bordering the sea; otherwise, it would have extensive consequences for the ecosystem, ports, the livelihoods of coastal communities and people across the region.
Ansari identified climate change, increased evaporation and reduced river inflows as the main factors behind the decline in the Caspian Sea’s water level. She said the Islamic Republic of Iran is pursuing the issue within the framework of five-way cooperation among the littoral states.
She also said a regional project on managing marine litter and marine plastics is being implemented in the Caspian Sea through a systematic approach and with the support of Russia.
According to Ansari, the project could help improve the management of pollution originating from land-based sources, analysis of regional data and the enhancement of policy frameworks.