The Department of Environment confirmed a long-mooted plan for turning Ashuradeh, the only Persian island in the Caspian Sea, into a tourist center, a deputy at DOE's Office of Habitats and Protected Areas Affairs said.
"After years of delay, the Ashuradeh tourism project was officially approved and it will soon go operational," Reza Eqtedar said on Sunday in an interview with ISNA.
Ashuradeh is located on the eastern end of the Miankaleh peninsula, a narrow, long stretch of land in the extreme southeastern section of the Caspian.
The plan was initially introduced under former DOE head Masoumeh Ebtekar to launch tourism projects on the island. It failed to gain DOE's approval due to potential threats to the area's natural environment.
Following several years of studies, revisions were finally made to guarantee the safety of wildlife and their habitats.
The revised initiative underwent DOE's strict scrutiny and environment experts were consulted before approving the final draft.
"The former plan included projects spread across the area which were likely to ultimately cover the whole protected zone," Eqtedar said, adding that the revised version confines the scope of project to a corner of Ashuradeh.
The facilities are set to be installed in a particular zone which is of less importance in terms of habitat.
"Besides, tourism plans in DOE-protected zones must abide by different regulations. Therefore, the installations should be eco-friendly and inspired by local lifestyle," he said.
Ashuradeh is under environmental protection and has a considerable wildlife population; it is home to migratory and nesting birds and is a critical place where fishes and shrimps spawn.
