Will Iran experience above-normal rainfall during autumn?

TEHRAN – According to the forecasts, El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is in a neutral phase during autumn, not contributing to a rise in precipitations in the country, especially during autumn and winter, Iman Babaeian, head of the climatological research institute affiliated to Iran’s Meteorological Organization has said.

Rare Baillon's crake spotted in Gandoman wetland

TEHRAN – Rare bird species of Baillon's crake have been spotted for the first time in Gandoman wetland located in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, said Shahram Ahmadi, the provincial department of environment chief.

4WD car rally called off in support of UNESCO-tagged forest

TEHRAN - The Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran (TACI) has canceled its plan for staging a rally of four-wheel-drive cars that opponents believe could inflict harm to environment of the Hyrcanian Forest, which has been recently designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage.

Old taxis soon reach up to 192,000

TEHRAN – There are currently 150,000 clunker taxis in the country, which will reach up to 192,000 by the end of this year (March 2020), Morteza Zameni, director general of urban taxi drivers union has said.

National congress on wildlife diseases, conservation to be held

TEHRAN – Tehran will play host to the first national congress on wildlife diseases and conservation which will be held in the Iranian calendar month of Azar (November 22- December 21), Mehr reported on Wednesday.

Artificial insemination failed on cheetah in captivity

TEHRAN – Female Asiatic cheetah, Delbar, being kept in captivity at Tehran’s Pardisan Park, has undergone artificial insemination some 100 days ago, but it turned to be unsuccessful, director of the wildlife conservation and management at the Department of Environment has said.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Can Iran get a second chance at extraordinary long-extinct Caspian tiger?

TEHRAN – The outstanding Caspian tigers once roamed over most of northern provinces of Iran, have gone extinct half a century ago, but recent studies show that tigers can make a comeback using the Siberian tiger subspecies, which detected genetic similarities with the Caspian tiger. But here the question arises that can Iran get a second chance to return the big cats and not lose them again?

Green schools being constructed in 3 provinces

TEHRAN – Three provinces across the country will soon have green schools, Darioush Varnaseri, deputy director of the organization for school renovation, development and equipment, has stated.

Hyrcanian forests to be equipped with technological support

TEHRAN – Hyrcanian forests will be equipped with modern technology devices such as camera traps, drones and fire-detection sensors, the deputy director of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has said.

Kaveh-Deh in northeastern Tehran defined protected area

TEHRAN – Kaveh-Deh, a hunting prohibited region in northeastern Tehran, has been defined as a protected area, being included in the Department of Environment (DOE) list, Fars news agency reported on Sunday.

300 rangers to join forces defending protected areas

TEHRAN – Some 300 rangers will soon join the forces defending the environment across the country, Fars news agency reported on Monday.

Tehran Municipality installs RVMs to contain plastic pollution

TEHRAN – Tehran Municipality has installed 50 reverse vending machines (RVMs) across the capital to encourage the citizens to contain plastic pollution and promote waste segregation at source, YJC reported on Sunday.

‘Wildfire losses increase 90-fold in Tehran’

TEHRAN – Wildfire incurred losses to the capital’s protected areas during the first three months of this year (started on March 21), which was 90 times more than the same period last year, commander of Tehran province environment protection unit has said.

Persian leopards’ natural reproduction turned unsuccessful

TEHRAN – A Persian leopard couple’s hormonal interventions to mate naturally at Tehran Zoological Garden for conservation purposes has turned out to be unsuccessful, YJC reported on Saturday.

Bill on protection of animals and wildlife still awaiting consideration

TEHRAN – While it has been over 3 years that a bill on protection of animals and wildlife has been proposed, it is still waiting to be discussed by the Majlis (Iranian Parliament), Khabaronline reported on Thursday.

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.