TEHRAN ALIM SALAJEGHEH, the chief of Department of Environment, said that the environment should be protected and not sacrificed for political gain.
He said that the current decade is the decade for ecosystem restoration through revision and re-creation. This gives us an opportunity to accelerate the implementation and attainment of sustainable development goals, particularly the 11, 13, 14 or 15 goals.
The remarks were made at the Fifth Session, United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), held online in Nairobi, from February 28 through March 2.
This is where scientific evidence, nature-based and climate-based solutions, knowledge about traditional ecology, climate action, youth and women’s capabilities, and the ability of indigenous communities to rehabilitate ecologies are all essential.
Iran is the source of many important genetic resources worldwide and the primary and secondary diversity of important animal and plant species. It has more than 2,200 endemic and unique plant species. Iran has taken several steps to protect and increase its biodiversity.
Despite the climate tensions Iran and West Asia face, Iran’s other efforts to conserve this ecosystem include modeling and micro-finance creation and supporting the sustainable livelihoods wetland communities.
Iran has the largest water border to the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. He said that Iran has attempted to add 3,000 hectares of mangrove habitats to its country. He also stated that he had developed a plan to monitor, conserve and manage Caspian seals and humpback dolphins. He also established forty stations for continuous monitoring of marine ecosystems.
He also mentioned the preparation of a National Action Plan for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the Priority Areas of Climate Change, Biodiversity, Marine Pollution, Public Participation, Capacity Building, and Increase of Coast and Marine Protected Areas as other actions of the country.
He stressed that climate crises are escalating, insecurity, a lack of regional integration to address environmental problems, unilateral politicoeconomic sanctions and illegal harvesting, trafficking and trade of wildlife, valuable species, dust storms and drying wetlands pose a serious threat for biodiversity, rich habitats and ecosystems.
Salajegheh urged the international community to collaborate, converge, co-invest and work together to strengthen national, regional and international efforts to conserve nature.
He also stated that he was open to any international cooperation or initiative to use sustainable and natural-based solutions to reduce the impact of sand storms in Iran and other parts of the region.
The overall theme of UNEA-5 will be Strengthening Actions For Nature to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals. This theme highlights the important role nature plays in peoples’ lives and in socio-economic and environmentally sustainable development.
UNEA-5 provides an opportunity for Member States to share their best practices for sustainability. It will give governments the opportunity to accelerate multilateral environmental efforts to preserve and restore the natural environment upon which societies and economies depend.
FB/MG
