Rainfall in Tehran hits 69-year record high

TEHRAN – Rainfall doused the capital city of Tehran over the past two days, reaching 55.5 millimeters, which was unprecedented in the past 69 years.

Rainfall increases Lake Urmia level

TEHRAN – Recent rainfall has increased the level of Lake Urmia to 1,271 meters, a step closer to its ecological level of 1,274 meters.

Urials, proposed by Iran, added to UN global wildlife agreement

TEHRAN – The Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13) has approved Iran’s proposal to include urials in the United Nation's list of endangered animals.

Wildfire extinguished in northern forests

TEHRAN – Wildfire, erupted in northern forests of Gilan province over the past 2 days, has been fully extinguished, commander of the protection unit of natural resources and watershed management organization of Gilan has stated.

Iran to cooperate with India, Pakistan and Oman to study tsunami off Makran coast

TEHRAN – Iran is conducting a research on tsunami off the southern Makran coast in collaboration with, India, Pakistan and Oman, aiming to identify high-risk areas, a faculty member of the National Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences has announced.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

End of the line for Iran's bird-watching paradise?

TEHRAN – Miankaleh international wetland has recently witnessed the death of over 13,000 migratory birds. Although veterinary organization announced that the birds have been killed due to the “botulinum toxin”, some environmentalists believe that water pollution and other factors that have not yet been investigated have caused unprecedented bird mortality in the area.

International environment exhibition to be held in Tehran

TEHRAN – The 19th International Exhibition on the Environment will be held in Tehran on March 4-7, IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

World Wetlands Day: 25 Wetlands of International Importance in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran currently has 25 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), covering a surface area of 1,488,624 hectares.

Some 6,000 migratory birds die mysteriously in Miankaleh peninsula

TEHRAN – Some 6,000 bodies of lifeless migratory birds have been found so far around Miankaleh peninsula, located in the extreme south-eastern part of the Caspian Sea, IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

Migratory birds wing their way to southern coasts of Iran

TEHRAN – About 90 species of aquatic birds annually migrate to southern Hormozgan province, which is one of the important wintering grounds for migratory birds.

Heavy rainfalls fill Jazmourian wetland by 80%

TEHRAN – Recent heavy rainfalls have led Jazmourian wetland to be filled by 80 percent, Marjan Shakeri, head of Kerman province’s department of environment has said.

Persian Gulf’s underwater museum: an environmental threat?

TEHRAN – An underwater museum has been suggested to be designed in the Persian Gulf to prevent coral reef habitats from extinction due to over-fishing and over-visiting, but the question is that do these museums cause threats to the marine environment?

Wild sheep breeding site set up in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – A 10-hectare site has been launched in Maku Free Zone located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan for breeding Armenian mouflon (the mountain sheep), ISNA reported on Sunday.

20% of Persian Gulf’s aquatic species to be extinct in 80 years: expert

TEHRAN – Studies show that as the current environmental issues continue, by the end of the century, about 20 percent of native species in the Persian Gulf will be extinct and 10 percent of new species that might be invasive will replace them, coordinator of the Regional Organization for the Protection of Marine Environment (ROPME) has stated.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

International Mountain Day: natural treasure must be protected

TEHRAN – Mountains have long been home to people and a source of freshwater, however, they are currently under threat due to climate change and overexploitation, so this is the time to take steps toward protecting the nature’s valuable treasure.

Iran’s two Asiatic cheetahs reach ‘the bitter end’

TEHRAN – Two Asiatic cheetahs, kept in captivity at Tehran’s Pardisan Park, have reached the bitter end because they have lost their ability to regenerate and should be returned to nature.

Adverse environmental effects may occur as Caspian Sea is shrinking: expert

TEHRAN – Caspian Sea water level is shrinking and, if the trend continues, adverse environmental consequences may occur in the coastal areas of the country, Iran’s Meteorological Organization (IMO) director has warned.

55m saplings to be planted in Iran within 4 months

TEHRAN – A campaign to plant 14 million saplings in a week kicked off in Iran on Thursday under the Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization (FRWMO)’s wider plan to lead the planting of 55 million saplings.

International Cheetah Day: running fast toward extinction

TEHRAN – Asiatic cheetah, the planet’s fastest mammal, are facing extinction as their population has dramatically shrank to less than 7,000 in the world over the past few years, with a small remaining population in Iran.

Tehran’s air pollution mitigation needs $4 billion

TEHRAN – The Municipality of Tehran has prepared a comprehensive plan to mitigate air pollution in the metropolis, based on which a total budget of 174 trillion rials (nearly $4 billion) is required over the course of four years.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iranian northwestern national parks share incredible biodiversity

TEHRAN – The precious national parks of northwestern Iran are the most diverse of any in the country, differing from rainforest to wide shrub lands which share a great biological diversity, this time we will take a quick look at three incredible national parks located in East Azarbaijan province.

Tehran hosting international, regional conference on climate change

TEHRAN – The sixth international, regional conference on climate change opened in Tehran on Monday with the participation of representatives from World Meteorological Organization and several countries.

‘Poor waste management brings annual loss of $10.5b’

TEHRAN – Poor waste management brings the country an annual loss of 440 trillion rials (about $10.5 billion), Hassan Pasandideh, head of waste management affairs at the Department of Environment (DOE), has said.

Iranian environmentalists to plant 1 billion trees in 5 years

TEHRAN – As long as deforestation is haunting the country, environmentalists have decided to join hands and plant one billion trees during the next five years, IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

Camera traps picture Persian leopard in western Iran

TEHRAN – Camera traps captured photos of a Persian leopard in Khorram Abad, western Lorestan province, Mehrdad Fathi Beiranvand, provincial department of environment chief has said.

Persian leopard appeared on camera trap in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – A photo of a Persian leopard was recorded by a camera trap in the western part of Alamut hunting restricted area, located in northwestern Qazvin province, Mehr news agency reported on Friday.

First flock of white pelicans landed in Kani Barazan wetland

TEHRAN – The first group of white pelicans, amounting to 150, have flown to the Kani Barazan wetland, located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan.

Migratory birds arrive in Gulf of Gorgan, Ashuradeh Island

TEHRAN – The Gulf of Gorgan, the largest Gulf in the Caspian Sea in northern Iran, is hosting flocks of migratory birds once again which have flown long distances to spend the cold season.

Flood hits 5 provinces, leaving 2 dead

TEHRAN – Torrential rain has triggered flooding in 5 provinces of the country, claiming two lives so far, head of Rescue and Relief Organization Morteza Salimi said.

Migratory birds return to Shadegan wetland

TEHRAN – Shadegan wetland in southwestern province of Khuzestan has come back to life by heavy rainfall and is now hosting flocks of migratory birds, Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday.