Dam constriction on Anzali wetland; threats and advantages

TEHRAN – With the construction project of Lasak dam on Anzali wetland getting underway many are now voicing concerns or counting advantages of building the dam on the precious ecosystem.

5-year plan launched to safeguard Zagros forests

TEHRAN — A 5-year conservation plan for Zagros forests has been designed and gone into effect this year (starting on March 21), an official with Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Organization (FRWO) has said.

Will Iran set all-time heat records this summer?

TEHRAN – Following torrential rain and flooding in the country, some experts say that this summer will beat the heat records, with sweltering temperatures scattering around the country.

Researchers discover flat cup coral habitat in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN — Researchers have discovered one of the main habitats of flat cup coral in the Persian Gulf, ISNA news agency reported on Monday.

‘Four bird species on the edge of extinction’

TEHRAN – An ornithology expert, Alireza Hashemi, has warned that four bird species are on the verge of extinction in Iran, driven by the destruction of natural habitats, hunting, and other destructive human actions.

Flamingos return to Gavkhuni wetland after 2 years

TEHRAN – Flamingos landed once again in recently replenished Gavkhuni wetland in central province of Isfahan, after 2 years, the provincial department of environment deputy director has said.

Colorful butterflies flap wings across the capital

TEHRAN – Great numbers of butterflies are taking to the skies of the capital, following rainy periods, Tehran City Council member has stated.

Is Lake Urmia on fast track to total restoration?

TEHRAN — Kiumars Daneshjoo, CEO of West Azarbaijan regional water company, said on Saturday that two billion cubic meters of water is released from the dams surrounding the Lake Urmia increasing the volume of water at the lake to more than 5.3 billion cubic meters.

World Migratory Bird Day: habitat destruction posing threats to the species

TEHRAN — Unsustainable development leading to habitat destruction is one of the major threats to migratory birds, Masoud Hosseini, an official with Iran’s Department of Environment has said.

No plans for reintroduction of Asiatic lion: DOE official

TEHRAN — Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) has no specific plans for reintroduction of Asiatic lion into the wild for the time being, Majid Kharrazian-Moqaddam, director of the wildlife conservation and management at the DOE, has said.

‘Wetland restoration budget must be spent on increasing vegetation cover’

TEHRAN – After flood filled the dams and water resources in the country, some claimed that the budget for conservation of wetlands and reforestation must be cut, while it must be earmarked to restore vegetation cover in forests and rangelands, deputy chief for natural environment and biodiversity directorate at the Department of Environment has stated.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Precipitation doused Iran, western provinces hit records high

TEHRAN – Iran has experienced 40.5 percent rise in rainfall since the current water year (September 23, 2018) compared to the long-term mean with western provinces of Lorestan and Ilam setting the record for the highest rainfall levels.

Sistan-Baluchestan infested with desert locust

TEHRAN — According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan is infested by desert locust, director of the agriculture organization of the province has said.

As Lake Urmia replenishes Artemia returns to the lake

TEHRAN — After heavy rainfalls nationwide Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, sprang back into life and now Artemia, aquatic species which used to reside in the lake, returned once again.

Kani Barazan international wetland overflows after a decade

TEHRAN – Recent downpours made Kani Barazan international wetland full to bursting its banks which is unprecedented over the past ten years, Mahabad chief of department of environment (DOE) has stated.

‘Watershed management; Iran’s only way to survive drought, severe rainfall’

TEHRAN – The only way for the country to overcome long-term droughts along with preventing floods is through comprehensive watershed management plnas, Ali Salajeqeh, University of Tehran faculty in river engineering and watershed management, has said.

Animal, botanic garden inaugurated in Tehran

TEHRAN – A garden dedicated to preserve and display different endemic plants and animals have been inaugurated near Chitgar Lake, in northwestern part of Tehran, Fars news agency reported on Saturday.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Will recently returned Persian lion survive threats once pushed it toward extinction?

TEHRAN – Long-lost Persian lion is back to the country to conserve the rare species by reproduction, the species which once gone extinct due to excessive hunting and habitat loss, so the question arises, will the endangered species survive the threats which once pushed it through eradication?

Rainfall brings drought-hit southeastern Iran back to life

TEHRAN – Long battled with drought, the southeastern province of Kerman benefits from heavy rainfall which filled the province’s water resources and quenched pastures’ thirst, despite causing damages to the infrastructure and farms, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Water level in dams steadily rising due to heavy rainfalls

TEHRAN – The water level in dams is rising steadily following heavy rainfalls in most provinces across the country, as water behind dams has increased by 63 percent until April 30 compared to the same time last year, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Charity foundation donates livestock to flood victims

TEHRAN — Barekat Charity Foundation, affiliated to Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam also known as Setad-e Ejraiy-e Farman-e Hazrat-e Emam has donated some 1,500 livestock to flood victims in the northeastern province of Golestan on Sunday. 

Return to motherland: Asiatic lion to return to Iran after 80 years

TEHRAN — Tehran Zoological Garden, also known as Eram Zoo, will be home to Asiatic lion, which was extinct in the country for almost 80 years, a veterinarian at Eram Zoo has said.

Spring downpours replenish Hamoun and Helmand, revive agriculture

TEHRAN — After two decades of dryness, enough ranis have finally come to bring Hamoun wetland and Helmand River back to life in southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, hence revives agriculture in the region as well.

Daily waste generation decreased by 1,000 tons in Tehran

TEHRAN — Generation of waste in metropolis of Tehran has dropped by 1,000 tons per day in the current year (started March 21) compared to a year earlier, director general of Tehran Waste Management Organization affiliated to Tehran Municipality has said.

‘Proper vegetation cover could reduce flood damage’

TEHRAN – Distinguished environmentalist Mohammad Darvish has said that loss of vegetation cover and conversion of forests to rainfed farmlands has caused the country to be more vulnerable to flooding as proper vegetation cover could reduce flood damage.

Iran loses 12,000 ha of forests annually

TEHRAN – Approximately 12,000 hectares of forests across the country is wiped out annually, an official with Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization has said.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iran’s precious crown imperial on the brink of extinction

TEHRAN – The fascinating crown imperial (fritillaria imperialis), precious part of Iran’s botanical richness, is being pushed to the brink of extinction due to inappropriate herbivory, overgrazing, land use changes, illegal bulb and flower harvest, road construction, mining activities and drought.

Temperature drop across Iran within a month

TEHRAN – Iran has experienced an average 0.4 degrees on the Celsius scale temperature decline during the first month of the current Iranian calendar year (starting on March, 21) compared to the long-term means, the director of National Drought Warning and Monitoring Center, affiliated to Iran’s Meteorological Organization, has said.

2 rare bird species spotted in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Two rare species of rock bunting and masked booby have been spotted for the first time in Bandar Genaveh, southern Bushehr province, Mohammad Tolideh, chief of Bushehr department of environment has announced.

7-month heavy rainfalls beat 2-year drought: IMO official

TEHRAN – Director of National Drought Warning and Monitoring Center (NDWMC) affiliated to Iran’s Meteorological Organization (IMO) Sadeq Ziaeian announced that since the beginning of current water year (starting on September 23, 2018) precipitations have compensated for the below normal averages of past two years.