TEHRAN – There are five private protected areas across the country measuring some 275,000 hectares.

The protected areas started activity in the Iranian calendar year 1392 (March 2013-March 2014). Three of the protected areas are located in the central province of Yazd, one in the southeastern province of Kerman, and one in the northcentral province of Semnan.

The population of species such as goats, rams, and sheep in these areas has increased by three to eight times, IRNA reported.

Throughout the year, the conditions of the habitats and the wildlife are monitored. The wildlife population in the protected areas is counted twice a year, in spring and winter.

Private protected areas do not receive any government grants or funds, their income comes from issuing hunting licenses, which are issued by the Department of Environment after the census and approval of the wildlife population.

Accordingly, legal hunting permits are issued every year proportionate to the increase in the population of each species.

The Department of Environment tends to develop the number of private protected areas as one of the successful methods of people's participation in preserving biodiversity.

The increase of these areas is on the agenda, and 36 areas have been considered for this purpose, which will be given the needed license following legal steps.

320 protected areas

In December 2023, the number of protected areas increased from 309 to 320 as 11 new sites were added to the previously registered areas by the Department of Environment.

The history of Iran's first protected areas dates back to 1967 when the proposal for the establishment of two national parks and 15 protected areas as the first protected sites in Iran was approved, ISNA reported.

In 1976, there were more than 65 protected areas covering an area of 6.7 million hectares in the country, which has now extended to 309 areas with an area of 19 million hectares.

In the last 60 years, the world's protected areas have increased by 2.6 times, compared with 4.7 times in Iran.

In West Asia, an average of 5.3 percent of the land surface of the countries is allocated to protected areas, but this figure is 10.4 percent in Iran, almost twice the average. It should be noted that Iran has a much wider biodiversity compared to other countries in the region.

Based on the latest report, there are 183 protected areas, 32 national parks, 54 wildlife refuges, and 40 national natural monuments in Iran.

Protected areas rise 18% in two years

In September 2023, Hasan Akbari, deputy head of natural environment and biodiversity of the Department of Environment said that during the last two years, the number of protected areas under a comprehensive management plan has increased, indicating a growth of 18 percent.

"The comprehensive plan studies the condition of wildlife, vegetation, water, and soil. Based on that, the land is classified into several zones," IRNA quoted Akbari as saying.

In these zones, parts of the area are considered only for protection, parts for recreation and nature tourism, and small parts for administrative activities, he explained.

“In fact, zoning and management are done based on specific conditions and the use of land."

A series of restrictions are imposed on these zones. For example, road construction or mining are banned. These limitations will ultimately lead to better management and preservation of the region, Akbari concluded.

MT/MG