The Department of Environment has studied, identified, and systematized a significant portion of the vertebrate paleontological reserves in the country, and has also prepared a map to protect valuable fossils.
Masoumeh Ghaffari-Shahir, an employee of the National Museum of Natural History and Genetic Resources affiliated with the Department of Environment, emphasized the importance of vertebrate fossils as part of Iran's geological and paleontological heritage. According to her, the rarity of these remains makes precise identification, specialized preservation, and scientific documentation extremely necessary.
Ghaffari-Shahir added that the Department of Environment's work in vertebrate paleontology began almost two decades ago, initially focusing on the city of Maragheh in the northwestern part of the country. In recent years, other areas with paleontological potential have also been included in research and study programs.
Northwestern and western Iran are among the richest regions in the country for vertebrate fossils. Fossil remains have been identified, extracted, and transferred from the provinces of Ardabil, Lorestan, Kurdistan, and Sistan and Baluchestan. The fossils found in Ardabil, Lorestan, and Kurdistan are estimated to be between seven and eight million years old.
She also noted the particular significance of southeastern Iran, especially the Makran coast, for marine vertebrate fossils. An approximately eight-million-year-old whale fossil was extracted in the Chabahar area.
The provinces of Hamadan, Khuzestan, and Ilam also possess significant potential for vertebrate fossils. Ensuring the necessary funding for research, excavations, and sample transfer from these areas is on the agenda of the Geological Group for the current year.
Biodiversity, Ecosystem, and Endangered Species
In February, the Department of Environment presented a report on the achievements and measures taken by the administration to protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and endangered species in the country. According to Hamidreza Zohrabi, an employee of the Department of Environment, the number of protected areas under the department's supervision increased from 327 to 330, accounting for 12 percent (19.8 million hectares) of the country's total area.
According to the IUCN Red List, there are a total of 213 endangered species in the country. Currently, the country has developed conservation plans for 25 endangered species, such as the Persian leopard, zebra, Asiatic brown bear, yellow deer, small white-faced goose, white-headed platypus, Persian salamander, blind cave bass, and Luristanica Sorbus (a rare plant species found in Iran). The Department of Environment is preparing another thirteen such plans.
The population of large herbivorous mammals in protected areas has increased from 227,000 to over 240,000, and the number of controlled invasive species has increased by 400 percent, covering five species, including the crucian carp, nutria, raccoon, and rainbow trout.
Another measure taken by the Department of Environment is the monitoring of pests and diseases, as well as forest fires in the Zagros habitats. This led to the identification of the Ghirgan cypress pest, the clumsy silkworm moth in Gilan province, and the Aras tree pest in Khorasan Razavi province.
Given the importance of protecting biodiversity and genetic resources, the Department of Environment plans to develop a plan to combat plant pests and pathogens as a primary threat to the country's unique ecosystem.
To protect caves, the Department of Environment has developed guidelines for cave classification and plans for their conservation and sustainable use in the country. The number of caves with protected status has increased from 7 to 41, indicating a growth of 490 percent.