TEHRAN- The conservation of natural resources is crucial to ensuring the survival of all creatures across the globe to the extent that using them wisely will protect the vibrant ecosystem and enhance the well-being of humans.

Protecting nature as a habitat for various animal species is of great importance, but in the past few years, the impact of climate change and humans' unwise and selfish exploitation of nature has almost destroyed it.

If it goes on like that, soon there will be no habitat or animal left on the earth. Finding shelter to live in, breed, and raise children is the basic need of not only humans but all the other creatures on the earth, whether on land or in the sea.

The animals need security, but humans pursue their work failing to see them considering the whole earth as their own inheritance. While the earth belongs to all its inhabitants, humans' intervention in nature has made the habitat of animals unsafe and more and more cramped, a real challenge for the environment and its creatures to meet.

Iran, having a diverse climate, is home to many plant and animal species which increases the importance of habitat protection. The vertebrates include 165 species of mammals, 517 species of birds, 209 species of reptiles, 174 species of fish, and 22 species of amphibians.

However, issues such as indiscriminate construction, mineral exploration, road construction agricultural land development, and climate change have all caused habitats of animals and plants to be reduced year after year. Eventually, their disappearance and extinction will be inevitable because of their disturbed habitat.

The Iranian lion and the Mazandaran tiger, which no longer exist, are typical examples of disappeared animals that cannot be brought back.

Bringing subspecies of them into the country, they will face the challenge of being in an improper habitat

We live on a planet that is rich in biodiversity. About two million species have been identified across the globe, but scientists estimate that there are over 10 million species. They all need a dynamic nature for life and breeding, but we humans have destroyed a large part of it throughout history, especially in the last few decades, at a shocking pace.

The preservation of the habitats guarantees the protection of the country's genetic reserves, food security, and the reduction of the country's natural hazards.

However, the destruction of natural habitats will affect the lives of humans, as well as animals, since a large amount of water, food (fertile soil), and air needed is provided by nature.

If habitat destruction does not stop, many plant and animal species are predicted to become extinct in the next 50 years.

World Habitat Day history

In 1985, the United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. 

The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns. In 1986, the first World Habitat Day was celebrated in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of that year's World Habitat Day was – Shelter is my right.

 For this year, the theme is - Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery. "Given the size of the contribution of cities to the national economy, the future of many countries will be determined by the productivity of their urban areas. Cities are the engines creating the value that boosts economic recovery. 

For this economic growth and recovery to be sustainable, we need cities that can absorb, recover, and prepare for future economic shocks [OECD, 2023]. It is crucial that this is also packaged under the green recovery framework that scales up private and public investments to finance the transition to a climate-neutral economy in a post-COVID world," wrote a press published by the United Nations website.