By Faranak Bakhtiari

Quenching thirst of arid plains or jeopardizing nature?

TEHRAN – Transferring water from a basin to drought-ridden areas over varying distances is among the plans in Iran to quench the thirst of some provinces, while construction of such tunnels is inherently risky and can result in unpredicted events or irreparable environmental issue.

Govt. permit to ensure quality of agritourism in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism chief Vali Teymouri has said permits will be granted to eligible tour operators to launch their agritourism businesses, aiming to set certain standards in a move to ensure the quality of such services in the country.

Sanctions hinder GEF to finance environmental projects in Iran

TEHRAN – Unfair and unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States has hindered the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to finance environmental projects in Iran.

Three Asiatic cheetah cubs spotted in northeastern Iran

TEHRAN – Three Asiatic cheetah cubs have been spotted in Bardaskan county, northeastern Khorasan Razavi province, for the second time since the beginning of this year (March 21, 2019), head of the provincial department of environment (DOE) has said.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Does economic growth worth degrading the environment?

TEHRAN – Although environmental consequences of economic growth bring about numerous reactions of economists and environmentalists, there is still doubt that environment protection rules and regulations hinder economic growth, or future development has dire consequences on the environment which does not worth it.

Action plans to tackle sand and dust storms to be completed by yearend

TEHRAN — There are some 20 million hectares of sand and dust storm hotspots in the country and some are in a critical condition, so the action plans to fight the storms will be completed by the yearend (March 19, 2020), deputy environment chief Masoud Tajrishi has said.

Common water hyacinth venders sell carcinogenic

TEHRAN —Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as common water hyacinth, which is being sold by vendors on the streets are carcinogenic plant species and their trade must be banned.

No plans for reintroduction of Asiatic lion: DOE official

TEHRAN — Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) has no specific plans for reintroduction of Asiatic lion into the wild for the time being, Majid Kharrazian-Moqaddam, director of the wildlife conservation and management at the DOE, has said.

Iran, Turkey to boost co-op in environmental issues, waste management

TEHRAN – Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) chief, Issa Kalantari, and Turkey’s Deputy Minister of the Environment and Urban Development, Fatma Varank, discussed increased cooperation on environmental issues and waste management during a meeting held on Wednesday.

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.

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.

‘Environmental education must be acquired at earlier ages’

TEHRAN – Environmental education has been included in the country’s school curriculum to prepare students for natural resources and environment protection, while it needs to be more efficient and acquired at earlier ages to make favorable cognitive and behavioral changes in the students, Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.

Majlis to assess Department of Environment performance 

TEHRAN—The agriculture committee of Majlis (Iranian parliament) will assess performance of the Department of Environment (DOE) since 2013, Tasnim news agency reported on Monday. 

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. 

Tehran mayor calls on universities to cooperate on proper waste management

TEHRAN – Pirouz Hanachi, Tehran’s mayor, has called on academics to cooperate on waste management, which has turned into the capital’s main challenge along with air pollution, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

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.

DOE not convinced to transfer water from Caspian Sea 

TEHRAN— Studies carried out so far has not yet convinced the Department of Environment (DOE) to transfer water from the Caspian Sea to central Iran, Parvin Farshchi, deputy director of the DOE for marine affairs has said. 

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.

DOE calls on ISRC to become warning center for environment

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) chief Issa Kalantari has called on the Iranian Space Research Center (ISRC) to become a warning center for the environment and natural resources.

DOE’s next year budget seen to rise by 47%

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) will receive a budget rise by 47 percent as proposed in the budget bill for the next calendar year (starting on March 21, 2019), an official with the DOE has said.

Only 2 weeks of clean air quality for Tehraners this year  

TEHRAN — Tehraners have experienced a fortnight of clean air quality since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), an official with Department of Environment 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.

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.

Rare Corsac fox coming to the verge of extinction

TEHRAN – The Corsac fox, a small intelligent hunter, having a limited range in Turkmen Sahara, northeastern Iran, is endangered due to habitat fragmentation and lack of safety, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

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.

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.