Water Justice

Water is a shared heritage, and traditional water management systems are essential to the resilience of Indigenous communities facing climate change. This study investigates the Telaw Wells of Laft village on Qeshm Island, Iran, as a unique hydrological heritage system in an arid coastal environment. Framed within the broader context of climate change, it explores how traditional water management systems, deeply embedded in local ecological knowledge and cultural practices, provide resilient, community-driven responses to water scarcity. The research highlights the critical role of women in traditional water governance, emphasizing their contributions to equitable access, sustainable management of water resources, and the continuity of water-related rituals. By considering the Telaw Wells as a unique tangible and intangible heritage asset, this study advocates for the integration of Indigenous knowledge into contemporary climate adaptation frameworks. It also examines the role of international heritage recognition mechanisms in safeguarding and revitalizing these traditional practices. The research emphasizes the need for more inclusive, locally rooted, and participatory heritage strategies that bridge local memories with sustainable water governance at local, regional, and national levels.