148- The Impacts of Climate Change and Recent Droughts on Natural Resources: A Case Study of Hamoon Lake in Sistan, Iran

Basically, in the areas where the relative rain fall is less than 70 ml, the existence of shallow water, the underground sources or water or other flow from the surrounding areas has a fundamental role on socio-economic condition of such regions. Hamoon Lake in Sistan, and its existing functions, in particular the lack of underground water resources has immensely affected the territory. In fact, this scarce and plentifulness of water has largely influenced the socio-economical as well as the ecological context of this region. During the last 10 years due to the prevailing drought which led the Hamoon to be dried up, the whole rush swept away while before the occurrence of the drought, Hamoon comprised over 42 small islands which served as the main food source of over 90000 cows. Besides, more than 80 villages were to a great extend depended this lake. These people included hunters and fishers who used to hunt over 470000 various types of birds and fishing more than 15000 tons of fish annually. Their activities also include weaving of 30000000 square meter mats. Unfortunately, the last decade which contained the drought of the region strongly affected the lake, the whole socio-economic condition of the people was significantly affected and what is objectively left is the poor living condition and poverty. At present, not only the inhabitants have been misfortune to benefit their natural resources as mentioned earlier, but also they should find another source of income to import many of the above needed items costing them nearly over 3000 billion rails from other remote areas. The economical revival of the region strongly depends on the reconstruction of Hamoon Lake something which seems to be almost impossible by policy makers.

dry regions, Hamoon Lake, drought, economical functions, Sistan