Euphoria in Isfahan as water flows into Zayanderud 

TEHRAN — While water is released into Zayanderud river, central province of Isfahan, the citizens are exhilarated by seeing the river alive again. 

Flash flood hits southwestern Iran, villages evacuated 

TEHRAN — Heavy rainfalls in northern and eastern parts of the province of Khuzestan, southwestern Iran, have led to devastating flood hitting the region over the past three days leading to evacuation of some villages, Khabaronline reported.

Wetlands restoration requires a budget of $14b: DOE chief 

TEHRAN — In order to restore wetlands in the country a budget of 600 trillion rials (nearly $14 billion) is required, chief of the Department of Environment (DOE) Issa Kalantari said on Sunday.

Iran to mark World Wetlands Day in southern city of Bandar Khamir 

TEHRAN — Iran’s department of Environment will mark World Wetlands Day, February 2, in the southern city of Bandar Khamir, Hormozgan province, deputy environment chief of DOE natural environment and biodiversity directorate has said.

Flood resilience improved in 1.5m ha of watersheds  

TEHRAN – The Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization has enhanced the country’s watershed capacity to resist floods, 1.5 million hectares of which have so far undergone flood resilience measures, the Organization’s director for watershed management has announced.

DOE builds underpass to avoid Asiatic cheetah road crash death

TEHRAN – In an attempt to provide a safe place for the few surviving Asiatic cheetahs, the Department of Environment (DOE) has constructed an underground passage stretching to 8 kilometers along Abbasabad road in central province of Semnan, Rajab Ali Karegar, the Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah (CACP) project deputy director has said.

Silent death: Zagros Mountains forest plagued by deforestation, degradation 

TEHRAN — Deforestation and degradation are gravely threating the Zagros Mountains forest and the current trend can seriously harm the ecology of the region and its biodiversity in the near future. 

Rainfalls brings life back to Gomishan wetland 

TEHRAN— Gomishan international wetland, northern province of Golestan, is once again partially filled with water with recent rainfalls, the provincial chief of the department of environment has said. 

Green industrial, service units lauded 

TEHRAN—The 20th National Congress for Green Industrial and Service Units was held in Tehran on Tuesday during which green industrial and service producing units were lauded, ISNA news agency reported. 

Plan to combat SDSs in Tehran submitted to DOE 

TEHRAN— The plan to combat sand and dust storms (SDSs) in the province of Tehran is submitted the Department of Environment (DOE), an official with the provincial department of environment has said. 

Viral 10-year challenge reveals effects on Iran’s environment

TEHRAN – Environmentalists took up the 10-year challenge on social media, posting photos of the lakes and wetlands drying up across the country, to raise awareness about the devastating impact of climate change on the environment, Mehr reported on Saturday.

Drought-stricken southeastern Iran hoping for rain

TEHRAN – While an intense burst of snow has blanketed 22 provinces of the country, the southeastern province of Kerman is suffering from the lack of downpours along with severe sand and dust storms (SDSs), Mehr news agency reported on Friday.

Heavy snow piled up in 19 provinces 

TEHRAN — Heavy snow blanketed 19 provinces across Iran, head of Rescue and Relief Organization, Morteza Salimi, has said.

To see the azure sky everyday should be a ‘clean air day’: mayor 

TEHRAN — In order to see the azure sky everyday should be a “clean air day”, Tehran mayor wrote on the occasion of the national clean air day, marked annually on January 19. 

DOE, ICT Ministry to prevent, fight wildfires in Golestan National Park

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to contain natural disasters such as wildfires using modern technologies in Golestan National Park, northern Iran.

Tehran to host environmental impact assessment conference

TEHRAN – The 16th national conference on environmental impact assessment will be held in Tehran on February 20-21, Mehr news agency reported on Monday.

National plan for safeguarding Caspian seal drafted

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) is preparing a national action plan on preserving the relict species of Caspian seal in cooperation with the responsible organizations, Mehr reported on Saturday.

No water transfer from enclosed bodies of water: MP

TEHRAN – According to the national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March 21, 2019), no water will be transferred from enclosed bodies of water regarding its probable environmental consequences, MP Nour Mohammad Torbatinejad has said.

By Jamshid Parchizadeh

What are the potential strategies to mitigate cheetah mortalities on Iran’s roads?

Collisions with vehicles are known to be a source of cheetah mortality in countries such as Iran. In Iran, the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah, with fewer than 50 individuals left in the wild, is particularly susceptible to this threat.

SDSs hit 120 villages in southeastern Iran

TEHRAN – Intense sand and dust storms (SDSs) left 120 villages surrounded by sandy soil in Rigan county located in the southeastern province of Kerman, the region’s governor, Amin Baqeri, said on Monday.

Expert predicts Iran to meet period of wet spells

TEHRAN – Statistics show that Iran’s weather patterns are changing toward entering a period of consecutive rainy days, but given the country’s climate characteristic constantly experiencing intense wet and dry spells, it is necessary to prevent high water consumption, faculty member of the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands has said.

$215m to be earmarked for Anzali wetland nano bioremediation

TEHRAN – A total budget of 9 trillion rials (nearly $215 million) will be allocated to implement a scheme on restoration of the endangered Anzali wetland in northern province of Gilan by removing contaminants using domestic bioremediation nano-technology, ISNA reported on Wednesday.

Bike sharing program to develop in Tehran: mayor 

TEHRAN — Bicycle sharing program will be developed in the capital city of Tehran in a bid to reduce air pollution, Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi said on Tuesday. 

Green standards to be set for retrofitting schools

TEHRAN – Green standards for retrofitting schools in line with environmental sustainability are being developed in an initiative between the organization for renovation, development and equipment of schools and Shiraz University, the organization’s deputy director has said.

Expert predicts 10-day ‘cold spell’ as of Jan. 5 in Iran

TEHRAN – Eminent meteorologist professor Hossein Ardakani told Tasnim news agency that a cold spell will hit the country and heavy snow will start, leaving freezing weather for 10 days on January 5-15.

E-waste segregation, recycling site opens in Tehran 

TEHRAN — An electronic waste (e-waste) segregation and recycling site was inaugurated in district 22 of Tehran on Monday, ISNA news agency reported. 

Migratory birds wintering in Iran increased by 26.5%

TERHAN – The total population of migratory birds took flight to spend the cold season in the country increased by 26.5 percent last winter compared to a year earlier, head of aquatic animals and wildlife affairs at the Department of Environment (DOE) has said.

‘Diesel particulate filter best option to cut PM 2.5’

TEHRAN — Installation of diesel particulate filter on vehicles is one of the best and cost-efficient measures to reduce small particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5) in metropolises, Masoud Zandi, head of the national center for air quality and climate change, has said.

Shahr-e Sokhta yields rare 4000-year-old relics

TEHRAN – Iran’s UNESCO-registered Shahr-e Sokhta has yielded tens of rare relics which date back to over 4000 years ago, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Clunker cars cause 65% of air pollution in Tehran

TEHRAN – Clunker vehicles being responsible for 65 percent of the air pollution hitting the metropolis of Tehran, remain the largest source of emissions Tehraners breathe, member of the Majlis agriculture committee has said.