CITES seeking to ban rare spider-tailed horned viper trade

TEHRAN – The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has proposed to ban illegal trade of spider-tailed horned viper, a unique species of viper endemic to western Iran being pushed toward extinction through poaching, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Anzali wetland should become main obsession of university students: academic

TEHRAN – Environmentally concerned university students should join hands to find solutions for reviving Anzali wetland in northern Iran, Mehdi Kazemi Khaledi, director for the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research has said.

67 villages hit hard by sand and dust storms

TEHRAN — Some 67 villages in Rigan, the southeastern province of Kerman, are severely hit by sand and dust storms causing a great deal of discomfort for the residents, Rigan governor has said.

SDSs haunting 35,000 sq. km of country’s land area: GSI

TEHRAN — Approximately 35,000 square kilometers of the country’s land area in various regions are being haunted by sand and dust storms (SDSs), director of Geological Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran (GSI) has said.

‘Further measures required to preserve forests’

TEHRAN – Iran's forest area is approximately 12 million hectares with 0.2 hectares per capita, which is one quarter of the world average, so attention to preserve the forest areas must be four times the global attention, faculty member of the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands has said.

Water flowing again into Zayandehrud river in Noruz

TEHRAN – Zayandehrud river, which was once flowing in central province of Isfahan, will be filled with water again in Noruz holidays (the Iranian New Year celebration, starting March 21), Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Qanat, a solution to water scarcity?

For many years, the country has been suffering from droughts and lack of water resources; wetlands, rivers, lakes and open drains have dried up gradually. While experts believe that the current water scarcity is due to poor water management policies, do qanats give us the right policy?

Persian Leopard cubs found dead in southwestern Iran

TEHRAN – Two Persian leopard cubs have been found dead in Choram county located in the southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, the provincial department of environment (DOE) chief has said.

Water drenches 18,000 ha of Hamoun-e Sabori wetland

TEHRAN – Hamoun-e Sabori wetland on the Iran-Afghanistan border has been saturated, as rainwater flowed over 18,000 hectares of the wetland, Mohammad Reza Alimoradi, head of marine affairs at the Sistan-Baluchestan provincial department of environment has announced.

Natural mating raises hope for Persian leopard conservation

TEHRAN – Two Persian leopards mated naturally for the first time at Tehran Zoological Garden on Wednesday and will breed by the next 100 days in case of reproductive success, Mehr news agency reported.

‘TOD only way for Tehran to survive air pollution’

TEHRAN – While some experts believe that Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the metropolis of Tehran is being carried out based on no proper principles and will not be effective, secretary of the TOD committee of Tehran City Council has announced that TOD can be properly implemented in the capital and mitigate air pollution.

Govt. pledges to increase water level at Lake Urmia 

TEHRAN — The Iranian government has pledged to take measures to increase water level at Lake Urmia by one meter within the next three years, deputy environment chief Masoud Tajrishi has said.

Water flow in Hour al-Azim wetland contains SDSs: official

TEHRAN – Hour al-Azim wetland being filled with water after recent above normal rainfalls and receiving amounts of its water right, has contained sand and dust storms (SDSs) haunting the southwestern Khuzestan province, director for wetlands ecosystem office of the Department of Environment (DOE) has said.

Iran seeking Chinese expertise for fighting SDSs

TEHRAN – Iran is going to use China’s expertise on tackling sand and dust storms (SDSs) and take steps to halt the external SDS hotspots affecting southeastern and southwestern parts of the country, head of the national working group on SDSs has said.

Lake Urmia water increased by 810 million cubic meters 

TEHRAN — The volume of water in Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, has increased by 810 million cubic meters compared to the same date last year, director general of West Azarbaijan regional water company has said. 

Tehran sets record high for cleanest air in five years

TEHRAN — The number of days with excellent air quality increased to 28 days in the capital of Iran, Tehran, director of Tehran province department of environment has said.

‘Playing to learn’ scheme piloted in elementary schools

TEHRAN – A plan dubbed “playing to learn” aiming at using educational games toward deeper learning was implemented for first time in elementary schools across the capital, with the Education Minister in attendance, Fars reported on Saturday.

Non-repayable loans for e-bikes must increase: Tehran City Council chairman

TEHRAN – While an important strategy to contain Tehran’s air pollution is using green vehicles, non-repayable loans to incentivize the owners to replace their motorcycles with electric ones is not sufficient and must increase, Mohsen Hashemi, Tehran City Council chairman, has said.

Plans on agenda to address sand and dust storms in 4 provinces 

TEHRAN — Studies to combat sand and dust storms are almost completed and next year (starting on March 21) plans will be implemented in four provinces of Khuzestan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Kerman and Hormozgan, director of the national headquarters for combatting sand and dust storms has said.

$4m earmarked for Asiatic cheetah conservation

TEHRAN – A total budget of $4 million will be allocated to prevent the remaining precious species of Asiatic cheetah from extinction, through a five-year plan, deputy environment chief for Department of Environment (DOE) natural environment and biodiversity directorate has announced.

1,250 ha of central Alborz Mountains undergo reforestation

TEHRAN – Reforestation will be conducted on 1,250 hectares of 1,800 meter altitude of central mountain range of Alborz, to prevent illegal constructions and land grabbing in mountainous areas, head of Tehran Parks and Green Space Organization, affiliated to the municipality has said.

SDSs mitigation plan to take effect next year

TEHRAN – Sand and dust storm (SDS) mitigation plan will be implemented in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan as of the next Iranian calendar year (beginning March 21), Department of Environment (DOE) chief has announced.

‘Water transfer from Sea of Oman entails no considerable environmental risk’

TEHRAN – Transferring water from Sea of Oman to central drought-ridden provinces of the country, provided that the environmental requirements are met, will not poses threats to the environment, Issa Kalantari, the Department of Environment (DOE) chief has announced.

Soil erosion reaches 16.7 tons per ha annually

TEHRAN – Soil erosion and pollution are the two major important environmental problems in the country, as some 16.7 tons of soil per hectare erodes annually, head of soil protection unit of the Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization has announced.

Tehran Municipality proposes new plan to tackle air pollution, traffic jam 

TEHRAN — Tehran Municipality has prepared a new traffic scheme for the capital in an attempt to address persistent air pollution and traffic congestion in the metropolis, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday. 

Iran to host Expert Consultation on Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment of the Makran Subduction Zone

TEHRAN — Kish Island, southern Iran, will play host to Expert Consultation on Scientific Tsunami Hazard Assessment of the Makran Subduction Zone on March 8, 2019. 

Zarivar wetland designated as a Wetland of International Importance

TEHRAN — Zarivar wetland, in western province of Kordestan, was designated as a Wetland of International Importance on Ramsar list, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday. 

97% of Iran affected by long-term drought: expert

TEHRAN — Based on the dada collected over the past decade approximately 97 percent of the country is affected by long-term drought, director of the national drought warning and monitoring center, Sadeq Ziaeian, has said.

Environmental assessment a must for artificial islands in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Construction of artificial islands off the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf must undergo environmental impact assessment to avoid negative repercussions on the ecosystem, which requires cooperation of responsible bodies, deputy Department of Environment (DOE) chief for marine affairs has said.

Tehran air pollution incurs annual loss of $2.8b

TEHRAN – Air pollution brings heavy economic burden amounting to $2.8 billion for the Iranian capital, Tehran, head of the national working group for air pollution mitigation affiliated to the Department of Environment (DOE) has announced.