Amir Behroozi

Series Finalist · Open Call 2024

Amir Behroozi

Anzali International Wetland, in Northern Iran in the Middle East, is disappearing. The wetland, which is directly connected to the Caspian Sea, is the largest and most ecologically important site in Iran. It provides a suitable habitat for various species, especially as a wintering and breeding area for hundreds of thousands of waterbirds from different parts of the world. The wetland is currently experiencing a drastic shrinkage due to high levels of sediment accumulation, pollution, intentional fires, inappropriate tourism, port development, and rising temperatures. Discharging pollutants into fragile ecosystem, which eventually flows into the Caspian Sea, exacerbates the problem even further. According to FAO estimates, the sediment load discharged by the ten major rivers into the wetland has reduced its depth from six meters to below one meter.

This vast wetland in the north of Iran, alongside four other countries, including Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, shares a border with the Caspian Sea. Environmentalists believe that another main reason for the desiccation of the wetland is the decline in the Caspian Sea’s water level in recent years. Moreover, the construction of new breakwaters, railways, and ring road projects, coupled with intensified pollution, has accelerated its desiccation. This development has also resulted in a severe reduction of the only connection between Caspian seawater flow and the wetland. These issues are exacerbated by deliberate fires set by profiteers to facilitate land use changes. The lives of the inhabitants have been adversely affected by the Anzali Wetland Crisis. The devastating effects of the degradation of the wetland have challenged the ecological balance on a regional scale, ecosystem function, public health, and the local economy. Areas of the wetland that once supported a population of 1.5 million people in the Middle East are now quite a distance from their heyday. Overall, the Anzali Wetland is an inseparable part of the collective identity of the people who are witnessing the rapid disappearance of this social memory with their own eyes each moment. This story portrays ordinary people sharing the same happiness and sorrow, expressing scenes from their daily lives.

The Eyeshot Open Call 2024 Issue #16 is a limited-edition magazine and photographic collection, showcasing the best in street and documentary photography. Featuring winners, finalists, and honorable mentions from over 15,000 global submissions, this exclusive edition celebrates exceptional storytelling.