Environment
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DOE's Crucial Role to Protect Marine Ecosystems

DOE's Crucial Role to Protect Marine Ecosystems
DOE's Crucial Role to Protect Marine Ecosystems

As 65% of Iran's development projects are underway in coastal regions, the role of the Department of Environment in preventing damage to marine ecosystems has become more essential.

Over the past two years alone, three plans for the development of marine industries, marine technologies and marine tourism have been devised by relevant officials.

Parvin Farshchi, deputy for marine environment at the DOE, highlighted the importance of DOE's active engagement in the projects to prevent ecological consequences, ISNA reported.

"At present, the DOE is closely collaborating with 18 maritime organizations [to ensure their operations do not violate environmental regulations]," she said while addressing a workshop on marine environment and the role of media in raising awareness held in Tehran on Tuesday and Wednesday in cooperation with the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment.  Pointing to DOE's involvement in the development of the Makran coastal strip in southeastern Iran, she said the first phase of environmental studies has been completed and the second phase will be initiated soon.

"The zoning phase is complete and the second stage will determine the type and size of the industries that can be stationed in specific zones so as to inflict no damage to the area's environment," she said.

Makran development plan is aimed at creating conditions for the settlement of five million people on the coasts of Makran over a 10-year time frame.

  Japan's Assistance    

The comprehensive plan to manage and preserve Iran's southern coasts is also underway with Hormozgan Province as the pilot location.

Farshchi explained that the plan was put forward over two years ago as a joint-venture with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the project was officially launched three months ago.

"One of the objectives of the plan is to develop Iran's coastal region in a way that the marine environment is protected from degradation," she said.

Japan has already given Iran a helping hand in the preservation of Anzali wetland and Qeshm Island's mangrove forests. Hormozgan province which accounts for about 43% of Iran's total coastline is more vulnerable to national development plans than other coastal provinces.

"Given the high potential of southern coasts and the current speed of destruction from the projects there, we began the conservation plan in this region to achieve sustainable development, but intend to expand it to all coastal provinces in the future," Farshchi explained.  

The two islands of Lavan and Shidvar are currently under study. The plan is scheduled to be fully implemented by 2020.

Iran is party to international marine conventions, the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (aka Tehran Convention) and Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution.

Farshchi hoped that the DOE will be able to perform its duties under the convention more effectively.

 

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