1 G-Wadi Meeting June 2011, Tehran-Iran A short report on the Establishment of the International Center on Qanats & Historic Hydraulic Structures (ICQHS) Dr. Semsar Yazdi Director of ICQHS

2 International conference on Qanat held in Yazd in May 2000

3 Recording Qanats with regard to important historical & Technical prominence as the world cultural Heritage Recording Qanats with regard to important historical & Technical prominence as the world cultural Heritage Emphasizing the Establishment of an International Qanat Center in Iran Emphasizing the Establishment of an International Qanat Center in Iran Using of traditional & modern technologies aiming the rehabilitation & development of Qanats Using of traditional & modern technologies aiming the rehabilitation & development of Qanats preparing certificate & atlas for the Qanats of the country preparing certificate & atlas for the Qanats of the country Setting up the Syndicate for the Qanat practitioners & Qanat Masters Setting up the Syndicate for the Qanat practitioners & Qanat Masters Compilation of the local experts experiences Compilation of the local experts experiences Declarations of the International Symposium on Qanat 9-12 May 2000, Yazd- Iran Yazd Declaration:

4 Setting up the secretariat of the task force committee at the Yazd Regional Water authority Setting up the secretariat of the task force committee at the Yazd Regional Water authority Putting together the proposed report to UNESCO under the following title: Putting together the proposed report to UNESCO under the following title: Detailed Proposal for the establishment of an International Center on Qanat and Historic, Hydraulic Structures Participation of the UNESCO representative in the task force committee Participation of the UNESCO representative in the task force committee Preparation of the report by the UNESCO representative Preparation of the report by the UNESCO representative Setting up a task force committee

5 Submission of the proposal at the 32nd session of the general conference of UNESCO Paris, October, 2003 THE CONTENT OF THE APPROVAL:

6 Signing Ceremony: Establishment of the International center on Qanats and historic hydraulic structures (April 2005)

7 Main missions of ICQHS: Recognition, transfer of knowledge and experiences, promotion of information and capacities to all the aspects of Qanat technology and other historic hydraulic structures to fulfil sustainable development of water resources

8 Inaugurating the ICQHS building Inaugurating the ICQHS building Designating the director of the center Designating the director of the center Setting up the Qanat website: Setting up the Qanat website: Inauguration of ICQHS building August 14, 2006

9 Structure of the International Center on Qanats & Historic Hydraulic Structures Government of I.R Iran UNESCO Other affected States Governing Board of ICQHS Secretariat (Director of the Centre)

10 Governing Board China Afghanistan Japan Iraq Chairman UNESCO Representative GB Algeria Ministry of Jahad Agriculture Iraq Algeria Japan UNESCO Representative RCUWM-Tehran Syria Iraq Algeria

11 First Governing Board meeting of ICQHS: 10th July 2008, Yazd-Iran

12 Second Governing Board meeting of ICQHS: 23 November 2009, Yazd-Iran

13 Third Governing Board meeting of ICQHS: 2 nd October 2010, Yazd-Iran

14 Acknowledgments