TEHRAN –Some 8,000 plant species have been identified so far in the country, which, in terms of their diversity and number, equals 80 percent of the plant species of the European continent.

Plants are unique organisms. They can produce sugars just from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. This ability to directly synthesize their own food has enabled plants to successfully colonize, adapt to, and diversify within almost every niche on the planet and biologists estimate the total number of plant species to be about 250,000.

These abilities make plants the primary producers of biomass providing animals and humankind with food, medicine, and an enjoyable landscape.

They create a variety of living conditions in different parts of the country. Many plants in the country have medicinal, economic, and ornamental value.

Despite the fact that plants are important for the survival of humans and animals, they have been neglected in recent decades so many of them are on the verge of extinction.

To remind the people of the importance of plants, the International Fascination of Plants Day is celebrated every year on May 18.

The day aims to get more people around the world fascinated by plants and learn about the importance of plant science in agriculture and sustainable food production, horticulture, forestry, and the production of medicinal plants as well as other products such as paper, timber, chemicals,  energy, and medicines.

Fascination of Plants Day is a biennial celebration initiated by the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO) to highlight the importance of plant science in addressing global challenges.

Since 2012, the day has grown into a global movement, engaging communities worldwide in activities that promote an appreciation for the diverse world of plants.

The diversity of plants in Iran is unique in West Asia to the extent that the country ranks second following Turkey. In addition to native plants, there are also some other species in the country known as endemic species which are much more limited than native species. Out of 8,000 native species, some 1,800 are endemic. These species are found only in a certain geographical area.

Indiscriminate harvesting of plant species and climate change, particularly drought, have led to the destruction of many of them.

Plants, depending on their species,  genetic and physiological structure, and the type of geographical region, show different resilience to drought.

Among the effects of drought on plants, the reduction of plants’ resistance to environmental stresses such as pests, high temperatures, and biological competitors can be named.

While certain species can tolerate extreme climatic and drought conditions or fluctuations, rare endemic species (native or species that are specific to a geographical area) are more sensitive and vulnerable.

The loss of these plants is one of the biggest damages caused by drought.

Drought also creates the potential for invasive and opportunistic species to grow faster, increase in diversity, and gradually take the place of native species.

Several measures can be taken to mitigate the impacts of climate change, particularly drought, on the destruction of plants, such as managing the exploitation of natural resources and preventing the destruction of ecosystems to prevent severe conditions and lessen pressures on plants.  

In addition, it is essential, for all countries, to reduce greenhouse gases by making comprehensive, decisive, and coordinated decisions.

Raising public awareness to protect nature is also a very important step that helps governments to preserve nature.

Low vegetation

Considering that Iran is one of the countries with low vegetation and only seven percent of its total area is covered with forests, the need to increase the country's green space is very important.

One of the very important reasons for increasing the country's vegetation is that Iran is the seventh carbon-producing country in the world and in terms of carbon absorption, Iran has a very low rank.

Due to the importance of the per capita increase in Iran's green spaces, a campaign titled "Green Iran, Strong Iran" and a national program for planting one billion saplings over the course of four years were launched.

Experts say tree planting is a climate change solution that doesn’t require scientists to come up with technological solutions to draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. It is available now. It is the cheapest one possible and every one of us can get involved.

The national budget bill for the past Iranian calendar year (March 2023-March 2024) has allocated a special line of credit for planting trees.

MT/MG