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ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
MDG7
Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability
Preserving biodiversity has been one of Iran’s main environmental priorities.
As the national authority responsible for safeguarding the environment, the
TURKMENISTAN
Department of Environment has selected some of the country’s virgin lands and untouched natural habitat rich in
ecological value to further protect and promote ecological diversity.These include national parks,natural sites,wildlife
refuges, and protected areas. In 2002, there were 94 protected areas, 33 wildlife refuges, 13 natural sites and 16 national
parks, covering nearly 7.11% of the country’s total land surface area. This ratio is promising, as it is expected to reach
the international standard of 10% coverage by 2015, thanks to some successful environmental policies by the
Government.
The average rainfall in Iran is estimated to be 250 mm annually, which is lower than the world average and also that of the Asian
Continent. As a result, Iran’s plant coverage is limited. Population growth along with overexploitation of natural resources over the
past decades has exacerbated deforestation, making it one of Iran’s major environmental problems. Per capita carbon dioxide emissions
have jumped up from 4,002 Kg in 1996 to 4,681 Kg in 2001. The consumption of ozone-depleting CFCs has increased from 4,500
tons in 1995 to about 6,179 tons in 2001. The percentage of the population having access to improved sanitation has significantly
increased from 64.3% in 1990 to 82.8% in 2000.
IRAQ
KUWAIT
SAUDI
ARABIA
AZE.
Caspian
Tabriz Sea
Tehran
Persian
Gulf
Isfahan
QATAR UAE
Mashhad
IRAN
Bandar Abbas
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
QUICK FACTS
CURRENT PORTFOLIO BUDGET
Total UNDP-GEF and Co-Finance: $73,073,800
Total UNDP and Co-Finance: $775,000
Total MPU and Bilateral: $5,963,918
Total: $79,812,718
Cumulative Total ODS Phased-Out: 1,002.1 ODP tonnes
Despite real progress in some crucial areas, certain constraints are
making it difficult to enhance environmental development in Iran.
For instance, there is no comprehensive environmental information
system and adequate equipment to continuously monitor environmental
trends and progress. Moreover, there are some difficulties in
confronting governmental industries that cause pollution and
thereby impede efforts towards environmental sustainability.
Notwithstanding these challenges, and although there is limited
availability of information in some areas, such as data on the number
of slum dwellers, Iran is on a steady track towards attaining the
MDG targets by 2015. 1
SPOTLIGHT
Integration of Biodiversity Conservation into National Planning 2
Although Iran has already lost some of its most spectacular carnivores, the Persian Lion and the Caspian Tiger, as a result of
uncontrolled hunting and habitat destruction, other threatened species such as the Asiatic Cheetah, and important habitats
such as the Zagros mountains and Caspian forests, continue to demonstrate the urgent need for biodiversity conservation measures
in the country. In the past however, insufficient inclusion of environmental considerations in macro policies, and a lack of
consensus in executing environmental legislation, regulations and monitoring programmes hampered biodiversity protection.
UNDP supported Iran in fulfilling its obligations to the CBD through a Biodiversity Enabling Activity project in 1998, with funding
of US$ 350,000 from the GEF, to prepare a biodiversity inventory, and a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
The project’s intensive stakeholder consultation processes enabled the building of institutional capacity, and helped to establish
partnerships across key government agencies, where past sustainable development efforts had been hindered by institutional
fragmentation.
As a result of the project, the NBSAP has been adopted by the Government and included in the Law of the 4th Five-Year National
Development Plan (2005-2009), the first time that biodiversity conservation has been accorded such high priority in Iran. In
addition, the cross-sectoral approach adopted during the development of the NBSAP is now reflected in the multi-institutional
arrangements established for its implementation.
The implementation of the NBSAP now enjoys substantial governmental commitment for over 200 action items, and has been
financed through the regular governmental development budget since 2002.The total funding to be mobilized over the course
BIODIVERSITY
of the 4th Five-Year Plan for biodiversity conservation-related actions is estimated at US$ 12 million.The NBSAP now represents
a strong national platform for biodiversity conservation and for mobilizing additional non-governmental resources.
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