‘Climate change impact on Iran doubles world average’

TEHRAN – The effects of climate change on Iran has more than doubled on average compared to other parts of the world, while southern provinces of the country are more likely to bear the consequences, secretary of environmental policy at the center for strategic studies affiliated to the presidential office has said.

Gestational surrogacy an option for Asiatic cheetah breeding

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) has considered using gestational surrogacy as an option to breed the endangered species of Asiatic cheetah, deputy environment chief for natural environment and biodiversity directorate has said.

Rain and wind to the rescue: Tehran air quality markedly improved in autumn 

TEHRAN — As per the data released by Iran’s Meteorological Organization as well as National Drought Warning and Monitoring Center with increased precipitation in Tehran air quality have noticeably enhanced in the capital. 

Annual dusty days up day-and-a-half in Khuzestan over 3 decades 

TEHRAN — The number of dusty days in southern province of Khuzestan have increased by day-and-a-half over a 30-year period per annum on average, the provincial meteorological organization director has said.

Rainfalls bring back life to Bamdej wetland, southwestern Iran

TEHRAN – Bamdej Wetland, located 40 kilometers northwest of Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, has been filled with water after autumn rainfalls, while suffering a significant drop in water level during summer, deputy director of Khuzestan province’s environment department general said.

International Mountain Day: Mountains are vital for our lives

TEHRAN — Almost one billion people live in mountain areas, and over half the human population depends on mountains for water, food and clean energy. However, according to the United Nations, mountains are under threat from climate change, land degradation, over exploitation and natural disasters, with potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences, both for mountain communities and the rest of the world.

Agricultural water use fallen by 40% in Lake Urmia basin

TEHRAN — Implementation of the Lake Urmia restoration programs applying sustainable agricultural techniques and water-saving measures, has led to 35-40 percent drop in agricultural water consumption in the catchment basin of the Lake, head of the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP) has said.

Whooper swans come to northern Iran two weeks earlier

TEHRAN – Whooper swans, the last group of migratory birds spending winter in northern Iran, landed in Miankaleh wetland in eastern part of Mazandaran province two weeks earlier, deputy director for the provincial department of environment (DOE) has said.

‘Iran falling short of 5,300 rangers’

TEHRAN — Iran is facing shortage of 5,300 rangers, as there should be 8,500 rangers protecting the country’s natural resources and environment, however, there are 3,200 rangers working in the country.

Pollutants hit unhealthy levels in Tehran

TEHRAN – Tehran’s air quality index (AQI), exceeding 150 microgram per cubic meter, has been unhealthy at nine meteorological stations across the city, spokeswoman for Tehran Air Quality Control Company has said.

Green taxes not used for environmental development’

TEHRAN – While the Municipality of Tehran receives green taxes paid by pollutant industries, the money is not used for developing the environment or improving the industries, Ali Moridi, head of department of environment’s (DOE) soil and water office has said.

Blame-shifting keeps air pollution continuing: councilor

TEHRAN – Different bodies and organizations constantly try to shift the blame for the country’s severe air pollution to each other, keeping the current situation of air pollution alive, Tehran city councilor has said.

Siberian crane ‘Omid’ returns to Iran, brings hope 

TEHRAN — While there were growing speculations among environmental lovers as to whether the Siberian crane ‘Omid’ will wing his way back to Iran or not, the crane returned to spend the winter in Fereydunkenar, northern province of Mazandaran, once again 10 days ago. 

Winter precipitation to hit normal levels: IMO

TEHRAN — Iran’s Meteorological Organization (IMO) has projected normal precipitation amounts on average for the winter across the country.

Iran seeking possible inclusion of Aq-Qeshlaq wetland on Ramsar List

TEHRAN – Iran is seeking to register Aq-Qeshlaq wetland in the northeastern North Khorasan province on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, the provincial department of environment chief has said.

Air pollution leading contributor to NCDs

TEHRAN – Air pollution is the second most common cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which has a high correlation with heart and brain stroke, diabetes and many respiratory diseases, deputy Health Minister has said.

Illegal bird traps identified, destroyed in northern Iran

TEHRAN – Some 400 illegal mist nets for catching birds have been destroyed and cleared from some areas of Babolsar and Fereydunkenar in Mazandaran province, northern part of the country, the provincial department of environment (DOE) chief has said.

‘Jazmourian wetland restoration, DOE’s priority’

TEHRAN – Reviving Jazmourian wetland, the sole major water source of Kerman province, has become a priority to the Department of Environment (DOE), which is preparing several plans to restore the wetland, deputy environment chief for marine affairs has said.

‘Only 15% of Tehran’s construction, demolition waste recycled’

TEHRAN – While some 50,000 tons of construction and demolition waste is produced in Tehran daily, only 10 to 15 percent of which are recycled and the rest is dumped or disposed, Mohammad Hossein Bazgir, head of Tehran’s department of environment (DOE) has said.

‘Iran's wildlife population shrinking at alarming rate’

TEHRAN – The country’s wild species population is shrinking at an alarming rate as many of the species are facing a decline being killed in car crashes as a result of road construction in the middle of forests and depletion of their habitats, chief of Alborz province department of environment (DOE) has said.

On verge of extinction: Cheetah killed in road accident in northeastern Iran

TEHRAN – A female Asiatic cheetah lost life after being severely wounded in a car crash in Jajarm road in North Khorasan province, the provincial department of environment (DOE) public relations has announced.

Tehran air quality improves compared to last year

TEHRAN — Air quality in Tehran has improved in the current [Iranian calendar] year (started on March 21) so far compared to the last year, Masoud Zandi, head of the national center for air quality and climate change affiliated with the Department of Environment, has said.

‘Recent heavy rainfall not to compensate for water scarcity’

TEHRAN — Since the beginning of autumn, the country has been poured with rain, experiencing a 14 millimeters increase compared to the long-term average, nevertheless the water scarcity or the severe drop in groundwater resources are not compensated, director for drought and crisis management department at Iran’s Meteorological Organization has said.

Precipitation reaches record high in Tehran

TEHRAN — Raining set a record high in Tehran on Monday, constituting 10 percent of the annual precipitation in the city, Tasnim news agency reported.

‘Regional cooperation, only way to tackle SDSs’

TEHRAN – Sand and dust storms (SDSs) severely hitting the southern part of the country posing threat to human and environmental well-being, requires the cooperation of neighboring countries to be tackled, head of the international affairs at the Department of Environment (DOE) has said.

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

Meeting on regional co-op for building resilience to disasters opens in Tehran

TEHRAN — An Expert Consultation Meeting on Regional Cooperation for Building Resilience to Slow-Onset Disasters, Including Sand and Dust Storms and Information Management for Cross-Border Disaster in Asia and the Pacific opened in Tehran on Monday.

Poor waste management posing a challenge to DOE

TEHRAN – While proper waste management and separation of waste at source could help create many jobs and solve the country's environmental problems, the budget requested by the Department of Environment (DOE) for waste management has not been approved by the Majlis [Iranian parliament], the head of DOE’s soil and water office has said.

SDSs shut down offices, schools in southeastern Iran

TEHRAN – Severe sand and dust storms (SDSs) hitting the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, has led to the closure of offices and schools in five cities on Saturday, head of Sistan-Baluchestan disaster mitigation and management organization has announced.

‘Salt particles raising from Lake Urmia contained by 80%’

TEHRAN – Salt particles raising from the catchment basin of Lake Urmia has been contained by nearly 80 percent, Farhad Sarkhosh, head of the provincial department for the Lake Urmia restoration program at West Azarbaijan has said.

‘Closing industries rather than schools would tackle pollution’

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) planned to halt industries and activities emitting the most pollutants to contributing to Tehran’s air pollution rather than closing schools, during the second half of the current year (September 2018- March, 2019), Tehran’s DOE chief has said.