Ibtikar: Many Lands in Various Provinces Have Reached an Irreversible Point

The head of Iran's Environmental Organization has reported the death of the wetlands of "Bakhtagan", "Jazmourian", and "Gavkhouni" and announced that 30% of vegetation cover in Iran is on the verge of destruction, with many lands in various provinces nearing an "irreversible point." Masoumeh Ibtikar, in an interview published on Thursday, April 10, on the "Khabar Online" website, also warned about the environmental consequences of "land subsidence" and excessive water extraction in different regions of Iran. According to her, land subsidence in Iran is "irreversible" and "many lands in various provinces have approached the irreversible point due to excessive water extraction and illegal well drilling." She also stated, "Tehran, like other provinces, is at risk of excessive extraction from groundwater tables, and dam construction has caused rivers that used to flow into wetlands to dry up." Ibtikar also cited the four to fivefold grazing of livestock and rising temperatures in Iran as two other factors exacerbating the environmental crisis in the country. The head of the Environmental Organization elaborated on the organization's performance over the past four years, stating that the environment has been a priority for the eleventh government. She also referred to attacks and criticisms of Hassan Rouhani's government regarding the environment, saying that some individuals use environmental issues and problems to "discredit the government." Ibtikar mentioned the recent environmental crisis in Khuzestan province as one such example, stating that "this wave inflicted serious and severe damage to the spirit, beliefs, and expectations of the people." She also criticized the dual approach of some representatives from Khuzestan regarding the "Hoor al-Azim" wetland, saying, "We faced a situation in Hoor al-Azim that had been created in the previous term, and apparently no one protested during that time, and silence prevailed." She referred to the issue of oil waste being released into the "Hoor al-Azim" wetland, stating, "The parliament representatives who were present during that time were aware of what was happening to Hoor al-Azim, but why did no one protest back then? God knows." According to this official, in the previous government, oil companies took over Hoor al-Azim for exploration and oil activities and partitioned the wetland, which led to necessary orders being issued by the Minister of Oil following warnings and follow-ups from the Environmental Organization. She added, "We faced many struggles and resistances from some individuals who opposed the restoration of the wetland because it was easier for them to let the wetland dry up so they could work more easily." Criticism and attacks on Masoumeh Ibtikar, the head of the Environmental Organization, have been one of the main focal points of conservative critics of Hassan Rouhani's government over the past four years. This group of conservatives has repeatedly used environmental issues and problems in various provinces as a pretext to attack the eleventh government. In another part of her remarks, Ibtikar referred to the upcoming council elections in Iran, stating, "If these councils are to be merely ceremonial, it is regrettable." Ibtikar also stated that if council members are to "get involved in deals and their own businesses," this is also a regrettable issue. She added, "Some thought they would take a position and then seek to generate income and compensate for their lack of funds." Ibtikar concluded, "Someone who has entered into a deal cannot stand against the municipality and oppose it; they cannot fiercely defend the rights of the people."