TEHRAN –The 11th international and the 23rd national Iranian Biology Congress (IBC) is scheduled to be held at University of Tehran from September 11 to 13.

Being held biennially, the congress is considered the most important biological science event in the country.  It serves as a platform for national and global scientists, researchers, students, and scholars to feature their latest scientific and research achievements, ISNA reported.

The 2024 congress will focus on six conferences including the Microbial Biology Conference; the Environmental Biology and Conservation Conference; the Plant Biology Conference; the Cell and Molecular Biology Conference; the Biennial Conference of Teachers; and the Animal Biology Conference.

Iran’s rich biodiversity, genetics

There are 11 types of ecosystems in the world, 9 of which are identified in Iran. Moreover, out of 42 types of wetlands, 41 types exist in the country. Therefore, Iran is one of the 20 countries rich in biodiversity and genetics.

Biological and genetic diversity in the country has caused many plants and animals to be native to Iran, currently, there are 2,100 endemic plant species in Iran.

Five ecoregions, rich biodiversity

Each region is defined by its characteristics that play a significant role in a land's biodiversity and richness, based on which, Iran shares five ecological zones with specific flora from the lowest to the highest parts, namely, Caspian, Iran-Turani, Arasbaran, Zagros, and Persian Gulf-Omani ecological zones.

The great difference between the two latitudes of the north and south of the country and the existence of different plains, altitudes, and climates have given a very diverse view of the vast land so that a variety of vegetation and plant species are grown across it.

The Hyrcanian ecological zone covers the green belt, the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, and the northern profile of the Alborz Mountain range. The forested areas of the region stretch to 2.4 million hectares covering Astara in Gilan province to Glidaghi in Golestan province.

The area of forests in the Iran-Turani ecological region, which covers most of the central plateau of Iran, is 4,666,941 hectares. Based on topographic and altitude conditions, this region is divided into two mountainous regions with a cold climate and a desert with a hot and dry climate.

Arasbaran forests, which are among the semi-humid forests of the country, are located in the province of East Azarbaijan and northwest of Ardebil province, which covers 174,838 hectares.

Some sources date the Zagros oak forests to 5,500 years. The creation and expansion of these forests are due to rainfall raised by the Mediterranean system and the Black Sea, which extends from the Sardasht area of West Azarbaijan to Firoozabad city of Fars province covering an area of 5,440,494 hectares.

The forests of the Persian Gulf-Omani ecological region include part of the southwest and all southern coasts, covering 2,039,963 hectares. Due to ecological differences, the main vegetation is divided into two territories: the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

Iran shines at IBO 2024

Iranian students won two gold medals and two silver medals at the 35th edition of the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from July 7 to 14.

IBO 2024 hosted more than 800 students, leaders, observers, and guests from over 80 countries.

Arash Samadi and Pourya Nouri-Niarki won gold medals, while Sepehr Chachi and Mohammad-Reza Yazdkhasti secured silvers, IRIB reported.

The IBO 2023 was held in the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian team ranked third winning two gold and two silver medals.

MT/MG