Iranian media reported that the Noshahr Municipality has destroyed the northern wall of the Noshahr Botanical Garden and removed 1,500 square meters of the garden. ISNA news agency wrote that last night, the supervisory agents of the Noshahr Municipality, without obtaining permission, demolished more than 200 meters of the northern wall of this garden and leveled 1,500 square meters of its area with 'loaders' and 'bulldozers.' This news agency announced that the Noshahr Botanical Garden, one of the oldest botanical gardens in Iran known as the Ecology Garden, was established over 90 years ago on a land area of more than 35 hectares and was registered as a natural monument in the list of national heritage of Iran in 2006. It is recognized as the second oldest ecological garden in Iran and the Middle East and one of the most important genetic reserves of rare trees and plant species. This action by the Noshahr Municipality and the destruction of part of a national garden was carried out for urban development purposes. ISNA reported that various government agencies were involved in this destruction, as repeated phone calls to the prosecutor and some representatives of the district to follow up on the issue were fruitless. Over a decade ago, in March 2013, reports and images of the destruction of parts of this garden were published, which at that time was justified by the construction of a bypass road for the port of Noshahr based on a resolution by the provincial security council of Mazandaran. The destruction of gardens under various pretexts is not new in the Islamic Republic, and in recent years, various reports have emerged regarding the destruction of gardens and even historical and national sites for construction and change of use. In the latest case, on October 25, 2023, the head of the Forests and Rangelands Research Institute sent a letter to the heads of the three branches of government requesting the prevention of the destruction of the National Botanical Garden of Iran following the issuance of a permit for the construction of 22 towers of 38 floors with more than 5,600 residential units adjacent to the northern side of this garden by the Tehran Municipality.
Noshahr Municipality Destroys Part of the City's Botanical Garden
The Noshahr Municipality has demolished part of the city's botanical garden, destroying its northern wall and leveling a significant area without permission. This action, aimed at urban development, has sparked outrage and highlights ongoing issues of environmental degradation and historical site destruction in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Noshahr Municipality has demolished part of the Noshahr Botanical Garden, including its northern wall and a significant area, without proper authorization. This action is part of a broader trend of urban development that often disregards environmental and historical preservation.
- The Noshahr Botanical Garden is over 90 years old and is a registered natural monument.
- This incident follows a pattern of similar actions against green spaces in Iran for urban development.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a rich history of botanical and ecological sites, but urban development pressures often lead to the destruction of these areas. This incident is not isolated and reflects ongoing conflicts between development and conservation.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%