Mountain Partnership

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Iran

Iran extends over a vast plateau that is one of the highest in the world and Iranians are essentially mountain people, their agricultural practices adapted to the particular constraints of the terrain and climate with seasonal migration still an important aspect of those practices. The average height of land surface in Iran is over 1,000 m and Tehran is situated at 1,800 m. Mount Damavand is the highest peak in Iran at 5,671 m.

The Iranian landscape is basically made up of an outer ring of periphery mountain chain surrounding a high plateau with scattered mountains - a complex of interwoven chains - and desert basins. The Alborz and Zagros Mountains and the North-Eastern Ranges are situated in the north and west, and to the south and east are the scattered upland massifs. Unfortunately, as a result of massive mine exploitation, road construction and over-grazing in the past decades, Damavand and other neighbouring regions have undergone significant degradation.

Mountains play a vital role in Iran which is situated within the dry belt of Asia, and Iranians are almost entirely dependent on water resources from the mountains (in the form of melting snow and spring rains descending from the mountains). However this dependency has been largely ignored and the government sector had not previously paid particular attention to mountain ecosystems.

The mountain environment in Iran is also dynamic and ever-changing with potentially massively destructive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and floods a constant danger. Some of the most severe earthquakes and largest landslides ever recorded worldwide have been reported in the Zagros and Alborz mountains. The destruction of villages, farms and even parts of cities through flooding is common in early spring. Hazard prevention and preparedness is therefore a pressing concern.

Objectives classified as priorities in Iran are land-use regulations, watershed management, awareness-raising and capacity building, the fostering of research projects and publications on mountain issues, the formulation of practical programmes and mountain laws. Iran is badly in need of legislation to protect mountain territories, as well as mountain communities. Mountain communities are often poor and isolated and should be involved in decision-making processes.

The Mountain Environment Protection Society (MEPS) was founded in 1993 by a group of mountaineers and mountain enthusiasts in Tehran. Since its inception, MEPS has striven for the protection and preservation of mountain ecosystems in Iran through public awareness and lobbying campaigns. This first environmental NGO in Iran has organized clean-ups and tree-plantings with the participation of the public. MEPS has constantly striven to promote sustainable mountain development and the mountain agenda with the Iranian Government.

MEPS is currently performing an environmental project in the northwest mountains of Iran within a GEF Small Grant Programme. The project aims to preserve and restore vegetative cover in the Bozghoosh mountains with the collaboration of local communities. Is also campaigning to have Mount Damavand, the highest peak in Iran designated a World Heritage site.

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