Iran (Islamic Republic of) - Country Profile

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Most of Iran is located in the Palaearctic realm and is considered the center of origin of many genetic resources of the world, including many of the original strains of commercially valuable plant species such as wheat, medicinal and aromatic. The southwest has some Afro-tropical features, while the southeast has some species from the Indo-Malayan sub-tropical realm... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

There are 131 protected areas, including 22 wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), and 9 Biosphere reserves, covering some 12 million hectares, or 8% on the national land surface.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Iran’s NBSAP is based on many workshops and studies that try to link research, uses and policies together. Five reports addressed different aspects of biodiversity and served as the bases for analysis. The topics were: a) intersection of social, political and economical issues in biodiversity assessment, b) land use in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, c) biodiversity status at ecosystem, species and genetic levels, d) links between cultural (traditional knowledge and religious beliefs) and biodiversity, and e) the study of sensitive ecosystems... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

The Islamic Republic of Iran has decided, in each on its programmes of work, to establish new activities and projects to help achieve the 2010 target. These include increasing the number of protected areas, adding wetlands to Ramsar List, cooperating with international bodies (UNCCD, GEF, IPF, etc.) for projects in dry and subhumid lands to study and protect fragile ecosystems... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

The protected areas network (PAN) is the main tool for conserving and protecting biodiversity and nature in Iran. However, protected areas suffer from human pressure, especially the outlying parts. Regulation implementation faces many problems, mostly due to inadequate size of protected areas, technical and administrative management inadequacies, and discouraging rigidity of protected area acts... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Iran uses Community Based Natural Management programs to implement and encourage the sustainable use of natural resources. Traditional knowledge and local communities are encouraged to manage their own environment. A working group has been created to integrate indigenous knowledge into existing legislation and intellectual property rights laws... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

H.E.Mr. Hamid Baeidi Nejad	CBD Primary NFP, ICNP ABS NFP (ONLY)
Mr. Shahabaddin Montazamy	ABS Competent National Authorities
Ms. Mahboobe Tohidi	SBSTTA NFP
Ms. Fariba Darvishi	GTI NFP
Mr. Habib Allah Haghi	CHM NFP
Mr. Naser Moghaddasi	Protected Areas NFP
Mr. Asghar Mohammadi Fazel	CHM Informal Advisory Committee

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Ms. Nasrin Sadat Esmailzadeh	BCH NFP
Dr. Jahangir Porhemmat	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP