Iran to provide insurance for its brown bears

TEHRAN – Initial agreements have been reached with some Iranian insurance companies to cover the possible damages imposed by brown bears to locals, said Peiman Valizadeh, the executive secretary of the national committee for preserving brown bear affiliated to the Department of Environment.

Cultivating sugar beet and rice hinders wetlands restoration programs

TEHRAN – Cultivating water intensive products including sugar beet and rice has been banned in some regions as they were not in line with plans for reviving wetlands, an official with wetland ecosystems division at Department of Environment has said.

Caring for trees more important than planting them: Kalantari

TEHRAN – The chief of the Department of Environment Isa Kalantari criticized the lack of efforts for taking care of trees after they are being planted, adding, “Caring for trees is important, not their [mere] planting.”

Tehran, Baku seek increased environmental co-op

TEHRAN – Iran and Azerbaijan discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation on environmental issues concerning both sides.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Faced with e-waste

Fortunately for us, we are living in a world where the speed of emerging new technologies and electronic devices increasingly eases many of our daily tasks. These amazing rapid changes encourage or even sometimes force users to buy new devices. And what happens to the old ones? Either they are temporarily stocked at storehouses or thrown away among other waste materials. This is where we are introducing another threat to our environment: e-waste.

Reducing consumption the sole solution for water crisis: Kaveh Madani

TEHRAN – The only solution for water crisis in the country’s current circumstances is to reduce consumption in all industrial, agricultural and urban sectors, said Kaveh Madani, the deputy environment chief for international affairs, innovation and socio-cultural engagement.

Tehran to monitor carwashes for water pollution

TEHRAN – A special monitoring program will be implemented in Tehran over the next two months to control the water pollutants released by commercial carwashes, said the chief of Tehran’s department of environment.

Green development not a “choice” but an “obligation”: industry minister

TEHRAN – The world is increasingly approaching toward low-carbon economy and the move toward green development is not a “choice” but an “obligation,” said Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari.

We have made mistakes in protecting the environment: Kaveh Madani

TEHRAN — The nature is a proof of the fact that we have made mistakes in protecting the environment and we have to put them right, Kaveh Madani, deputy environment chief for international affairs, innovation and socio-cultural engagement said on Monday.

It takes 3 years to eliminate internal SDS hotspots: DOE chief

TEHRAN – Eliminating internal hotspots for sand and dust storms (SDSs) in southwestern provinces of Iran requires a 3-year period, ILNA quoted the chief of the Department of Environment Isa Kalantari as saying on Friday.

Environmental bodies sign MOU to bolster co-op

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Engineering Organization inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) hoping to preserve the environment more sustainably, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

DOE starting to promote ‘waste separation’ culture

TEHRAN – By establishing special bins for collecting dry waste in every room of its own offices, the Department of Environment tries to promote the culture of separating waste at source.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Possible environmental damages of tilapia farming

The environmentalists’ concerns for tilapia farming is nothing new as the topic is being debated over the past few decades across the globe. However, the recent controversial decisions made regarding farming and importing tilapia in and to Iran has turned it into hot topic in Iran’s environmental circles.

DOE against any withdrawal from fossil waters

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment opposes any withdrawal from renewable or non-renewable fossil water resources until further notice, Mehr quoted DOE chief Isa Kalantari as saying on Monday.

Iran’s environmental body asserts its right to green tax

TEHRAN — Once again Iran’s environmental body has demanded its right to the green tax imposed on polluting industries and allocated to municipalities.

Iran’s environmental body takes unprecedented step in fight against plastic pollution

TEHRAN — In a bid for public engagement Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) has banned bottled water at the DOE offices and all other organizations affiliated with it nationwide.

DOE ready to fight for people’s right of clean air

TEHRAN – Implementation of clean air law will definitely face serious oppositions but the Department of Environment is ready to stand up for the nation’s right to have clean air, DOE chief Isa Kalantari said on Tuesday.

Rangers to be equipped with personal armors

TEHRAN – As per a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Defense and the Department of Environment, the ministry is tasked to provide rangers with appropriate personal armors.

Tehran’s population doesn’t fit its area: environment official

TEHRAN – The population density (a measurement of population per unit area) of Tehran is near 10,000 people per square kilometer which is considered high and inevitably raises environmental issues, said chief of Tehran’s department of environment.