TEHRAN Inger ANDERSEN, Executive Director of UN Environment Program (UNEP), has praised Iran’s approach to environmental protection.
I was surprised to learn that Iran is also marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of its Department of Environment. She said that while I am pleased with this event, this news is remarkable because few countries have a long history in establishing an environment organization.
The remarks were made in a meeting she had with Ali Salajegheh (Department of Environment chief) on the sidelines of Fifth Session of United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), held in Nairobi from Feb 28 to March 2.
Kenya also created an environmental organization in 1974. But, most countries started to seriously consider the issue in 1992 after the Rio Summit, she explained.
She also noted that Iran’s environmental approach is evident in its protection of natural resources, waste management and other measures.
Salajegheh pointed out that Iran’s climate is extremely variable and that precipitation can vary from less than 10mm in the desert to more that 2,000mm in the Hyrcanian forest each year.
The area of protected zones has been increased by 11% and local communities have been involved in their management. Local communities have been made aware of the importance of these measures.
He spoke out about the diversity of Iran’s wildlife and noted that climate change has contributed to many endangered species. Unfortunately, biodiversity has been declining due to increased drought and drying of wetlands.
There are many valuable measures being taken in the area of human-environment, prevention of water, soil and air pollution, wastewater treatment, and waste management. He said that we have also passed laws and instructions regarding water, soil and air pollutants and sent them to all the responsible bodies.
Human activities degrade ecosystems
Iran has a high biodiversity of species due to its geographic conditions, climatic variety, large water resources of both the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf (north) and the Sea of Oman (south).
According to the most recent studies, approximately 1,300 species including mammals, birds and reptiles, amphibians and aquatic fish, 30,000 species invertebrates and 8,000 species plants have been identified in the country.
Unfortunately, the human activities of the past 20 years have led to alarming degradation in ecosystems, the deletion of species and genes, and biological capabilities. The human threat to biodiversity has accelerated the fastest over the 50-year history of human existence.
In December 2021, Hassan Akbari (deputy head of natural environment, biodiversity and the Department of Environment) stated that 130 of the 1,300 species of animals in Pakistan are endangered or threatened.
FB/MG