UNESCO nominates Qeshm reservoirs for 2017 ESD prize

UNESCO has nominated water reservoirs of Qeshm Island in southern Iran on 2017 Prize of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

UNESCO is to offer the prize to Qeshm cisterns due to being an innovative approach to revive ancient water structures on the island in the Persian Gulf.

The project manager Mohammadreza Farzaneh said “The project attained the highest national rank in comparison to other pilot projects due to its comprehensive views that offer education about the sustainable development.”

Talking to media on July 5, he added that the scheme also entails revival of ponds and ancient water reservoirs and cisterns (called Ab-Anbar in Persian) across the island.

He also explained that “Safeguarding potable water is of other goals that the mission pursues, yet it paves the way to pass the local knowledge of building and conserving them for the future generations.”

According to the ESD, the prize and award will be presented to the nominee which best recognizes the role of education in linking the social, economic, cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.

Funded by Japan government and awarded the first time by the Director-General of UNESCO in November 2015, the prize is comprised of three annual awards of $50,000 for each winner.

Ab-Anbar is an ordinary term across Iran as a label for roofed underground water reservoirs. The cistern is associated with water management system in dry areas that are dependent on stable springs or on seasonal rain water.

MG/MMF