By Faranak Bakhtiari

Will unprecedented heat hit Iranian cities by 2050?

TEHRAN – A new study reveals that how 520 major cities worldwide might face unprecedented climate conditions by 2050, including the Iranian capital city of Tehran which could feel as warm as San Bernardino and California in the United States.

$285m from traffic taxes earmarked to curb air pollution

TEHRAN – A total budget of 12 trillion rials (about $285 million) from traffic tax income has been allocated to curb air pollution in the metropolis of Tehran, YJC news agency reported on Tuesday.

Special working group formed to mitigate ozone pollution

TEHRAN – A special working group consisting of environmental experts has been formed to find solutions for tackling ozone pollutants hitting the capital, deputy mayor of Tehran for traffic and transport affairs has said.

Tehran bus fleet equipped with 500 CNG tanks

TEHRAN – Some 500 compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks have been provided to the buses running in the capital’s transport fleet replacing the old ones, head of public transport and urban traffic affairs of the Municipalities and Village Administrations Organization has announced.

Defects still challenge law on upholding rangers’ right

TEHRAN – Although the law to uphold the rights of rangers has raised hope among those spent a lifetime to defend the nature, it still has many defects, former commander of Tehran province’s environment protection unit has said.

Can a desert plant help treat Endometriosis? 

TEHRAN- A new study has investigated the effects of Escanbil, a desert plant, in treating Endometriosis, Royan Research Institute reported.

Asiatic cheetahs spotted in eastern Iran

TEHRAN – Two Asiatic cheetahs have been observed in Tabas county, located in South Khorasan province, eastern Iran, since the beginning of this year (March 21), head of Tabas department of environment has said.

Carbureted motorcycles main source of ozone pollutants in Tehran

TEHRAN – Following consistent ozone pollution in Tehran’s hot season, motorcycles running on carbureted engines are considered as the main contributors to air pollution, Khabaronline reported on Wednesday.

‘Vehicle inspection curbs air pollution up to 25%’

TEHRAN – Vehicle inspection can contribute to air pollution mitigation by 15 to 25 percent, Tehran City Council member, Arash Milani, said.

‘Humans responsible for over 95% of wildfires’

TEHRAN – Over 95 percent of wildfires in the country are due to human-caused ignition from unattended campfires, debris, and negligently discarded cigarettes, the commander of the forest protection unit of Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization, has said.

‘Nano bioremediation on Anzali wetland worrisome’

TEHRAN – With huge sediments accumulated in Anzali wetland, a plan proposed using domestic bioremediation BioGME technology; but some are expressing worries about the technology as being carcinogenic or posing a threat to aquatic species, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Private ownership of marsh crocodiles outlawed

TEHRAN – Iran has banned the private ownership of marsh crocodiles and any violators would be fined or imprisoned, Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

Summer heats foster air pollution spikes in Tehran

TEHRAN – Tehraners breathed foul air not experiencing a single day of clean air since the beginning of summer (June 22), Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.

‘3,000 tons of plastic waste is produced daily in Iran’

TEHRAN – The use of plastic is on the rise among Iranians, as over 3,000 tons of plastic waste is generated per day in the country, the director of environment and sustainable development department of Tehran Municipality has said.

Bakhtegan wetland shrinking, flamingo chicks in danger

TEHRAN – Flamingo chicks being born in shallow waters of Bakhtegan wetland in Fars province are threatened to death due to the drying up wetland; while only the Ministry of Energy can help them survive granting Bakhtegan water right, IRNA reported on Sunday.

DOE plans to conserve Lake Urmia islands ecosystem

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) will implement four plans on reviving the endangered ecosystem and wildlife of the Lake Urmia islands, Hamid Zohrabi, DOE deputy chief for natural environment and biodiversity directorate, announced.

74,000 ha in Tehran prone to raise SDSs

TEHRAN – Some 74,000 hectares of southern and southwestern part of the capital are prone to give raise to sand and dust storms (SDSs), the provincial Department of Environment chief has stated.

Precious Hyrcanian Forest loses 25,000 ha annually

TEHRAN – Some 25,000 hectares of Hyrcanian Forest in northern Iran undergo fragmentation mostly due to land use changes for agricultural and residential purposes, wood smuggling and overgrazing, an official with the national network for environmental and natural resources organizations has said.

‘Saving Zagros forests must become first priority’

TEHRAN – Given that Zagros forests condition is worrisome being gravely threatened by wood logging, it must become the main concern of the related bodies to prevent it from disappearance, Khalil Aqaei, head of the Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization (FRWMO) has stated.

UNESCO is to assess Iran’s Hyrcanian Forest for World Heritage

TEHRAN – On June 30, the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan, to assess 36 nominees, including Iran’s Hyrcanian Forest, for possible inscription on the World Heritage list.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

High ozone brings serious air pollution to Tehran’s summer

TEHRAN – Tehran air quality reached a level which was unhealthy for sensitive groups for about 7 days due to ozone pollutant; as the statistics show concentration of this pollutant increases in the capital mostly during summer, so, ground level ozone became the main contributor to pollution in the capital’s hot seasons.

Bikes to hold 3.5% share in Tehran transportation

TEHRAN – Bikes will carry out 3.5 percent of the capital’s total transportation, as the national document on bike transport development has proposed, deputy mayor for traffic and transport affairs at Tehran Municipality has stated.

Shadegan wetland water level rises after heavy rain

TEHRAN – Shadegan wetland fully filled after heavy rainfall poured over the province of Khuzestan during spring, Ahmad Lahijanzadeh, head of marine environment affairs at the DOE has said.

Marine species population increased in protected areas

TEHRAN – According to the annual census, the population of marine species in habitats under the Department of Environment (DOE) supervision has increased, Ahmad Lahijanzadeh, head of marine environment affairs at the DOE has said.

‘Efforts being made to save Persian lion from extinction’

TEHRAN – Tehran Zoological Garden has developed plans for reproduction of endangered Asiatic lion, and the lion couple have been sent to the zoo for its great efforts to meet the defined standards, a veterinarian at Tehran’s Eram Zoo has said.

First green school being built in Tehran

TEHRAN – The first green school in Iran is being built in the capital city of Tehran in line with the goal of environmental sustainability, Ali Shahri, director general of the organization for renovation, development and equipment of Tehran schools has stated.

Air pollution responsible for over 4,000 deaths annually in Tehran

TEHRAN – Some 4,000 to 5,000 of people residing in the country’s capital lose their lives per year due to air pollution, according to statistics published by the ministry of health.

2 billion tons of soil erodes annually in Iran: expert

TEHRAN – Iran loses 2 billion tons of soil per year as a result of land use changes, rainfed agriculture, and overgrazing, Hossein Akhani, environmental and botanical expert has announced.

Robust and coordinated action needed to save Asia-Pacific’s forests: new FAO report

Highlighting the ongoing decline of biodiversity and resilience in natural forests in the Asia-Pacific region, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in its newest comprehensive report regarding the future of forest in Asia-Pacific region has asked country members to take firm measures to reverse this trend. 

Half of corals survived bleaching in Chabahar Port

TEHRAN — Based on the latest field operation carried out by Chabahar Oceanography Center in southeastern Chabahar Port, half of the coals which have turned completely white survived the bleaching event, ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday.