Researchers from the university and environmental activists at the meeting "Examining Environmental Challenges in Fars Province from the Perspective of Elites" at Shiraz University warned about land instability in the mountains and the urgent need to protect this natural area. The meeting focused on examining the environmental capacities and functions of the mountains and emphasized the importance of scientific and integrated management of this region.
Challenges and Protection Necessities
Ali-Hossein Samadi, director of the Governance and Legislation Think Tank of Fars Province, at the beginning of the meeting, explained the mission and structure of the think tank and said: The think tank was established to play a consultative role for the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. He pointed to the importance of elite participation in the decision-making process and said: "Our effort is to convey the scientific ideas and viewpoints of elites to policymakers."
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Shahsavar Karim-Aghaei, a physician and environmental activist, emphasized the features of the mountains, saying: "This mountain, in addition to its biodiversity, plays a key role in temperature moderation and providing clean air for Shiraz." He pointed to the importance of preserving this area as a model for protecting other natural areas.
Actions and Follow-ups
Karim-Aghaei further emphasized the necessity of NGO participation in environmental policymaking and said: "Experience from other countries shows that NGOs play an effective role in managing natural resources." He referred to the follow-ups conducted for the protection of the mountains over the past two years and added: "This issue has been pursued through various institutions such as the City Council, the Environmental Protection Organization, and the Governor's Office."
He also pointed to the importance of groundwater resources downstream of the mountains and said: "Drinking water wells downstream of this mountain are vital for supplying water to part of the city of Shiraz." This environmental activist emphasized the need for geological studies before any intervention in this area and said: "Any plan should be based on expert and environmental considerations."
Suggestions for Protecting the Mountains
Misbah, a retired faculty member of the Shiraz Agricultural Research Center, emphasized the importance of the mountains as a natural asset and suggested that this area be converted into an "urban protected natural park." He pointed to global challenges in ecosystem protection and said: "A simplistic view of the ecological values of natural areas is one of the main problems."
At the end of this meeting, the necessity of increasing cooperation among scientific and academic institutions in protecting the mountains was emphasized. Experts and elites called for the creation of a comprehensive program for the protection of this natural area, which could serve as a model for other cities. Given the environmental challenges and land instability in this region, immediate and scientific actions for the protection of the mountains seem essential.
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