TEHRAN – Habitat losses exacerbated by climate change are the main cause of species’ population decline, the head of the Wildlife Conservation Agency said.
Climate change is one of the factors contributing to the serious destruction of habitats, particularly aquatic ecosystems, which are under severe threat from droughts and declining water resources.”
The Ministry of the Environment (DOE) is taking different measures to address these challenges and protect endangered species, Ebdali noted.
The measures focus primarily on tackling illegal hunting, boosting international cooperation and developing action plans to conserve species, officials added.
Conservation efforts
Aside from modifications caused by human-driven activities such as habitat destruction, fragmentation, industrial and housing development, logging, crop agriculture, livestock grazing, mining, and road and dam buildings, pesticide use is at a extreme cost to the threatened population of endangered species of wildlife.
The DOE has already developed an action plan for the conservation of 25 endangered species, and the plan is being implemented domestically. It also plans to organize a committee on the conservation of critical species of endangered species, including cheetahs, black bears and Great Bastards.
Currently, around 128 species of animals and vertebrates in the country are at risk of extinction, some of which are not in good condition and amphibians are the most vulnerable in the region. Persian zebras, Asian cheetahs, black bears and yellow deer are at risk of extinction.
Penalties for crimes like illegal killing of wildlife, fishing and hunting without permission are increasing to have a major deterrent effect on wildlife crimes.
For the past few years, conserving animal species in their original habitats and increasing the number of rangers in protected areas has been considered one of the main tasks of the DOE.
Several meetings and consultations were held with several other countries to benefit from the scientific and experimental capabilities in the conservation of species such as Asian cheetahs, Great Bastard, Leopard, and Hobara Bastard.
Among other important measures, hosting several workshops and training courses on knowing reptiles, amphibians, leopards, aquatic animals, and existing challenges, and diagnosing those diseases and ways to prevent them.
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