Miankaleh Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1976, in Iran (Islamic Republic of). The Miankaleh Biosphere Reserve is located in the south-eastern region of the Caspian Sea. Major habitats include wetlands, intertidal mud with sandy shores, and shallow marine waters. Forests, peatlands and agricultural areas are also present. Miankaleh was designated a Ramsar site in 1975. Local people earn their income from agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry. Other livelihoods include handicrafts, carpet weaving, traditional poultry farming and tourism. Management challenges include overgrazing, illegal hunting and fishing, and deforestation, as well as the unplanned spread of villages.