Urban green spaces need to be planted with drought-resistant native species to cut back on water consumption for irrigation, at a time the country is struggling with an acute water crisis, an environmental expert said.
Findings from a recent study by the Iranian Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands identified about 1,788 plants endemic to Iran, which is larger than the whole population found in Europe, Mohammad Darvish, a prominent member of the institute said in a talk with IRNA on Saturday.
"The question is why we are not choosing the right plant species in green spaces in Tehran and other cities. The same species used in green space covers in Tehran are seen in Kerman or Rasht," Darvish said, referring to Iranian cities with distinct climates.
"We should use our indigenous plants that have adapted to Iran's ecological environment over millions of years," the expert said.
He blamed the problem on green space authorities who tend to merely focus on the aesthetic features of plants and fail to duly consider the technical and scientific aspects of their job.
"We should develop sustainable green spaces in urban areas so they need as little irrigation, care and pesticide application as possible."
He advised against planting fruit trees as they require frequent irrigation and are highly prone to infestation.
Located in one of the world's most water-stressed regions, Iran's average precipitation rate has been lower than the global average for at least 10 years.
The country's nearly two-decade struggle with drought, combined with high consumption and waste, has led to renewable water resources dropping to under 120 bcm, and by some accounts to nearly 88 bcm.
