The book presents the results of the interdisciplinary German-Iranian research project aiming at the establishment of an integrated water resources management in the Zayandeh Rud river basin. The Zayandeh Rud is one of the most important rivers in central Iran and supplies water to about 4.5 million people. Climate change and overuse of resources have already led to the river drying up completely several times in recent years. Water stress not only causes increased conflicts between different user groups in neighboring regions, but also has a negative impact on sensitive ecosystems.

A holistic approach to resource management

The IWRM concept now offers comprehensive technical and non-technical packages of measures to meet these challenges and make the best possible use of limited water resources. They range from concepts for water reuse to capacity development activities for water management professionals and can each be adapted to local conditions.

This provides stakeholders in Iran with an IWRM approach that can be used to start the IWRM process in a stepwise and iterative manner. The decision support system developed and described in the book enables the establishment of a fact-based and cooperative coordination of the different stakeholder groups.