Asghar Mobaraki, in an interview with Mehrnews, highlighted the unique environmental capacities of Sistan and Baluchestan province, describing it as having a strategic position and a central role in the sustainable development of the country. The advisor to the Director General of the Environment for Sistan and Baluchestan stated that the province’s proximity to neighboring countries, its waterways, the Makran coast, its vast expanse, and its geopolitical significance, especially its role in recent conflicts, underscore its national importance. These capacities are rooted in natural blessings that are exemplary not only in Iran but globally, and they can be transformed into large national projects for job creation and income generation.
Mobaraki emphasized the distinction between the concepts of mere protection and care, stating that the International Union for Conservation of Nature defines conservation through three actions: care, restoration, and sustainable use. Therefore, if we fail to develop a cohesive conservation program, the issue lies in our approach, not in the principle of conservation itself. The biodiversity of the province is unparalleled; nearly a thousand fish species have been recorded in the Sea of Oman, not to mention corals, seagrasses, and other aquatic life. Additionally, there are 1,200 plant species in the province, which represents a significant share compared to the total of eight thousand species in the country, and the livelihood of the local community is heavily dependent on these resources.
He noted the existence of 11 protected areas and three hunting prohibited zones, which cover six percent of the province’s area, reminding that this falls short of the global target of 30 percent. These areas have played a crucial role in preserving unique species that are found nowhere else in the country, such as the black mullet, specific reptiles, and birds that are only seen in this province and significantly influence national biodiversity. The province’s emblematic animal, the short-nosed crocodile (Gando), is also a charismatic species, threatened and deeply rooted in the local culture, having entered the central plateau of Iran from the Indian subcontinent, making this province the gateway for such species.
The advisor to the Director General of the Environment for Sistan and Baluchestan underscored the importance of a green economy and natural resources, citing the Hamoun Wetland as an example of ecosystem services, which, when dried up, imposed heavy costs for dust control and livelihood support. He also referred to the province’s fisheries status, adding that Iran ranks second in Indian Ocean fishing after Indonesia, and if this ranking declines, it would result in significant financial losses for the country and the province; thus, proper protection of these resources is essential.
He provided an analysis of the province’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, identifying marine-based economy, the development of the Makran coast, and industry as valuable opportunities. The strategic priorities include habitat protection, sustainable water resource management, climate change mitigation, green economy, community participation, research and monitoring, species protection, and integrated coastal management. Mobaraki reported on the actions taken in the past year with the support of the head of the Environmental Organization and the provincial budget, including securing funding for vehicles and equipment and the renovation of environmental protection posts. He called for greater attention to the high wear and tear of equipment under the province’s specific climatic conditions.
He proposed that a national and provincial working group be established for better coordination, a provincial assessment working group chaired by the governor to expedite the issuance of development project permits, a revision of the provincial zoning document in line with economic, climatic, and environmental changes, equipping posts with modern technologies, organizing the forest park with a biodiversity museum, and resolving the status of pending industrial projects should be prioritized to appropriately utilize these unparalleled capacities for sustainable development and economic contribution of the province.
