{"id":685764,"date":"2025-08-18T19:05:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T16:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/irans-nature-is-under-threat-heres-how-better-environmental-stewardship-can-save-it\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T19:05:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T16:05:14","slug":"irans-nature-is-under-threat-heres-how-better-environmental-stewardship-can-save-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/irans-nature-is-under-threat-heres-how-better-environmental-stewardship-can-save-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran&#8217;s nature is under threat\u2014here&#8217;s how better environmental stewardship can save it"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3ec614750de\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3ec614750de\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/irans-nature-is-under-threat-heres-how-better-environmental-stewardship-can-save-it\/#From_challenge_to_reform\" >From challenge to reform<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/siberian-crane.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/siberian-crane.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/siberian-crane.jpg\" alt=\"Siberian crane\" title=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>From arid deserts and alpine meadows to dense wetlands and temperate forests, Iran&#8217;s natural landscapes give rise to rich native <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbd.int\/doc\/world\/ir\/ir-nr-05-en.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">wildlife<\/a>. This country is home to over <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/iranian-studies\/article\/abs\/conservation-of-biodiversity-in-iran-threats-challenges-and-hopes\/40045A96655CF158012B657B35CE567F\" target=\"_blank\">8,000 species of plants, nearly 500 bird species and 194 mammals<\/a>. The UN has listed <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unesco.org\/en\/mab\/map?hub=66369\" target=\"_blank\">13 special ecological areas<\/a>, including salt lakes and marshlands, that support huge numbers of migratory birds.<\/p>\n<p>But this rich natural heritage is under growing threat. The Asiatic cheetah, once widespread across west Asia, is now confined to desert reserves in central Iran, with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/370102002_The_persistence_of_the_critically_endangered_Asiatic_cheetah_relies_upon_urgent_connectivity_protection_a_landscape_genetics_perspective\" target=\"_blank\">fewer than 50<\/a> remaining.<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/species\/7951\/12874957\" target=\"_blank\">Persian onager<\/a>, a wild ass native to Iran&#8217;s deserts, struggles on with just 600\u2013700 animals remaining, displaced by both water scarcity and livestock. And the Siberian crane, once a seasonal visitor, has vanished from the Iranian landscape entirely. The last known individual, a male named Omid, was last spotted over three years ago.<\/p>\n<p>Iran&#8217;s accelerating biodiversity crisis is a warning sign, but it does not exist in isolation. The country&#8217;s ecosystems are under siege not only from species loss, but also from deeper, systemic environmental pressures.<\/p>\n<p>Chief among these is a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/boards-policy-regulation\/iranian-president-says-country-is-brink-dire-water-crisis-2025-07-31\/\" target=\"_blank\">worsening water crisis<\/a>. This is now widely recognized by researchers as a case of &#8220;<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kavehmadani.com\/_files\/ugd\/34bbdd_5a4cc1814c254205ad211840ed297d8d.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">water bankruptcy<\/a>,&#8221; where unsustainable demand has long outs<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>ped the country&#8217;s renewable water resources.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the Iran-Iraq war, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/5f0f5b1018e89f351b8b3ef8\/t\/60de294f8dc2a90de24d0726\/1752379460481\/KAVEH+MADANI.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">international isolation and sanctions<\/a> since the 1980s, the government has driven policies to make the country&#8217;s food system more self-sufficient. They have promoted growing crops such as wheat and rice, which are water-intensive and ill-suited to Iran&#8217;s arid climate.<\/p>\n<p>Today, more than 90% of Iran&#8217;s water is allocated to agriculture, primarily to grow these water-hungry crops in some of the driest parts of the country. The consequences have been stark: land degradation, the erosion of rural livelihoods and a deepening cycle of poverty and environmental decline.<\/p>\n<p>Poor water governance and in<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ropriate farming have driven the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.2024221118\" target=\"_blank\">depletion of aquifers<\/a> (underground layers of porous rock saturated with groundwater) and the drying out of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-021-88522-y\" target=\"_blank\">rivers and wetlands<\/a>. This has placed mounting stress on communities and local economies.<\/p>\n<p>These challenges are compounded by entrenched interests and fragmented institutions&#8217; oversight, and bureaucracies that are competing for control of the limited water supplies. In such a landscape, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4441\/11\/9\/1835\" target=\"_blank\">meaningful reform<\/a> and equitable distribution become difficult, if not impossible.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ads w-100 my-4 article-main__more bg-light p-3 border\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-3\">\n        Discover the latest in <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a>, tech, and space with over <strong>100,000 subscribers<\/strong> who rely on Phys.org for daily insights.<br \/>\n        Sign up for our <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\">free newsletter<\/a> and get updates on breakthroughs,<br \/>\n        innovations, and research that matter\u2014<strong>daily or weekly<\/strong>.\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Poverty, migration and dysfunctional institutions are causing widespread food insecurity. Without coherent, transparent governance and a long-term vision for environmental stewardship, Iran&#8217;s water crisis threatens to undermine both public welfare and national economic stability.<\/p>\n<p>Environmental advocacy in Iran faces formidable legal and political barriers. Civil society organizations have confidentially told us they often struggle to formally register due to restrictive state permitting systems. This limits their ability to operate independently or engage in effective community mobilization. Meanwhile, independent conservation efforts have come under increasing scrutiny by the Iranian government.<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, several conservationists from the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2018\/10\/18\/irans-environmentalists-are-caught-political-power-struggle#:~:text=Since%20the%20environmentalists%E2%80%99%20arrests%2C%20state,of%20evidence%20of%20their%20guilt\" target=\"_blank\">Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation<\/a>, a not-for-profit organization, were arrested on national security charges, despite no credible evidence. This move was widely condemned by <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2019\/03\/iran-release-eight-wildlife-conservationists-following-unfair-trial-on-trumped-up-spying-charges\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\">international human rights organizations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These arrests were central to the documentary <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8WjDRQwd-i4\" target=\"_blank\">Tears of Extinction<\/a> (written and presented by one of us, Shooka Bidarian) that highlighted how, without these conservation efforts, the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/article\/how-iran-destroying-once-thriving-environmental-movement#:~:text=,required%20for%20legitimate%20wildlife%20conservation\" target=\"_blank\">Asiatic cheetahs<\/a> would face extinction within a few years.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_challenge_to_reform\"><\/span>From challenge to reform<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The prosecutions and prolonged detentions have contributed to a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2018\/10\/18\/irans-environmentalists-are-caught-political-power-struggle#:~:text=Since%20the%20environmentalists%E2%80%99%20arrests%2C%20state,of%20evidence%20of%20their%20guilt\" target=\"_blank\">chilling effect<\/a>, discouraging other scientists and conservation organizations from engaging in environmental work due to fears of surveillance and reprisal. This concern was publicly echoed by Issa Kalantari, then vice-president and head of Iran&#8217;s Department of Environment, who stated that &#8220;<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/aftabnews.ir\/fa\/news\/538590\/%DA%A9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%B1-%DA%86%D9%87-%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%B7-%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B4%D9%86-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF\" target=\"_blank\">if we knew they were spies, we would have treated them differently<\/a>&#8221; and admitted the arrests caused environmental activities across the country to freeze.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the severity of Iran&#8217;s environmental challenges, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-021-88522-y\" target=\"_blank\">experts<\/a> from the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kavehmadani.com\/_files\/ugd\/34bbdd_cbb82445d41e488ca15cf86ef57cf90d.pdf?index=true\" target=\"_blank\">United Nations University<\/a> and colleagues have outlined actionable reforms. These range from modernizing irrigation systems and adjusting water pricing to enhancing data transparency and embracing participatory, decentralized governance.<\/p>\n<p>Long-term resilience also requires adaptive planning that integrates climate variability and <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> vulnerability into national water strategies. These aren&#8217;t radical ideas. These <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-021-88522-y\" target=\"_blank\">approaches<\/a> have been proven to work well in other water-stressed regions <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/article\/partner-content-how-australia-is-securing-its-water-future\" target=\"_blank\">such as Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To protect Iran&#8217;s ecosystems and ensure their survival for future generations, the country needs new approaches to environmental governance. This needs to include sustained, science-led conservation, supported by international collaboration and local participation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium mt-4\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Conversation<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/phys.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  This article is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/irans-nature-is-under-threat-heres-how-better-environmental-stewardship-can-save-it-260458\" target=\"_blank\">original article<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/260458\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIran&#8217;s nature is under threat\u2014here&#8217;s how better environmental stewardship can save it (2025, August 18)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 18 August 2025<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-08-iran-nature-threat-environmental-stewardship.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2025-08-iran-nature-threat-environmental-stewardship.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain From arid deserts and alpine meadows to dense wetlands and temperate forests, Iran&#8217;s natural landscapes give rise to rich native wildlife. This country is home to over 8,000 species of plants, nearly 500 bird species and 194 mammals. The UN has listed 13 special ecological areas, including salt lakes and marshlands,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":685765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/siberian-crane.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-685764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685764"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685764\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}