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. 

‘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.

Leopard in snare escaped certain death, released back to wild

TEHRAN — A leopard caught in snare, in northern city of Galugah in Mazandaran province, was safely released and went back to wild with no lasting harms, Tasnim news agency reported.

Law adopted on selling national land area may endanger environment

TEHRAN — The recently-approved law on selling national land area will seriously endanger the environment and jeopardize the integrity of the protected areas, according to the Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization.

We should keep environment safe for next generations: Kalantari

‘Iran lagging behind the world in protecting the environment’

TEHRAN — In regard to factors determining environmental standards Iran is among countries that is lagging behind the world in safeguarding the environment, the chief of the Department of Environment said on Saturday.

Human intervention, climate change threaten Zagros mountain range

TEHRAN — While Zagros Mountains provide a protective barrier against sand and dust storms, human intervention and climate change have posed a major threat to these ecologically valuable natural resources, the central Zagros biodiversity landscape conservation project director said.

By Farnaz Heidari

The importance of common fox in Iran

The ecology of the common fox is of interest because of high adaptability. This species is found in all regions of Iran with the exception of the northern forests and the drier parts of the central deserts, where it is replaced by the sand fox. In Europe common fox (or red fox) is a reddish color but in Iran it is usually a buff grey-brown with a browner back. In North America, however, there are many distinct color varieties, with up to 20 percent of red foxes being black or silver.

Ebtekar visiting Germany to expand environmental ties 

TEHRAN — The director of Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) set off for Germany on Tuesday to hold talks on environmental issues, Shana news agency reported.