The Situation in Ahvaz is Dire

Residents of Ahvaz have been starting their days with news of yet another week of dusty weather, a phenomenon that envelops the city like thick fog and makes breathing difficult. The World Wetlands Day, linked to the Ramsar Convention, was marked under conditions where the status of wetlands in Iran is critically alarming. This week's program on Radio Farda discusses the impact of dust storms on the lives of Ahvaz residents and the critical situation of Iran's wetlands. Winter, typically a season of snow and rain, has turned into a time of sky color changes due to dust storms and respiratory distress for the people of Khuzestan. The winter winds in Ahvaz, known as one of the most polluted cities in the world, have turned the sky a dusty hue, erasing the beauty described by poet Mehdi Akhavan Sales. Local and national news outlets are filled with reports of reduced visibility, school closures, flight delays, and increased illnesses due to unprecedented dust storms. For years, Ahvaz residents have become accustomed to the news of dusty weeks ahead, but this time the dust is so severe that it has infiltrated homes. Advisories for pregnant women, children, and the elderly to avoid exposure to this harmful dust have become meaningless. Photos and videos shared by residents on social media show dust settling on school benches, kitchen shelves, and every corner of their living and working spaces, indicating that they are no longer safe even indoors. The dust and particulate matter have reached 66 times the permissible limit, making visibility nearly impossible and giving everything a taste of dirt. Where does it come from? The head of the Environmental Protection Organization states that 55 billion rials have been allocated to combat this phenomenon in Khuzestan. Hamid Pouran, a senior environmental researcher at the Middle East and Africa Studies Institute at University College London, points out that the source has long been identified as a country with a deteriorating environmental management system, shaped by three decades of war, as one of the main sources of these dust storms: "Dust storms primarily originate from Iraq and enter Iran from the direction of Ahvaz and Khorramshahr. These particles are so fine that gravity has no effect on them, and the lack of moisture means they do not settle. The origin of these dust storms has been discussed to the extent that President Hassan Rouhani states that dust storms are the most significant topic of discussion with Iraqi officials. The head of the Environmental Protection Organization mentions that Iran has requested all neighboring countries to develop a joint plan to combat dust storms. Ahmadreza Lahijanizadeh, the director of the Khuzestan Environmental Protection Organization, told IRIB that many plans have been prepared and are awaiting implementation, but there seems to be no priority for these actions. Hamid Pouran, who holds a PhD in environmental engineering and a postdoctoral research degree in environmental nanotechnology, says there are known methods to reduce or eliminate these dust storms that have not yet been implemented in Iran: "Iran can identify sources that contribute more to dust storms in Iraq using available resources." A very short-term plan, according to this expert, could involve the use of "malch" or dust cover, which is a non-living cover used to stabilize loose sands in desert areas; this is one of the plans that, according to Masoumeh Ebtekar, has been developed alongside planting resilient species to stabilize soil in these areas but has not been executed due to insecurity and changes in government and recent events in Iraq. Hamid Pouran states that this stability is not ecological but artificial and man-made, yet it will yield positive results. He continues: "In the medium and long term, creating suitable vegetation cover that forms a biological glue in the soil will help bind particles together. This method creates a barrier against wind flow at ground level. In the long term, there should also be planning to maintain vegetation covers sustainably in various regions. This acts like a filter that is created from natural sources." Hamid Pouran warns that this issue will soon affect other cities in Iran and must be addressed promptly: "For decades, this has been happening in this region, but the intensity and frequency of these storms have significantly increased." The impact of dust storms on human health has also become a concern for the Ministry of Health, as the unprecedented dust storms in Ahvaz this February have prompted the formation of specialized committees, and the President has tasked several key ministries with investigating the conditions in Khuzestan and Ilam this week. Experts say that these dust storms are not just particles of soil, and rather than inciting fear, people should be made more aware of them. Hamid Pouran, who has researched soil science and pollutant measurement for years, explains: "One of the results of years of war and instability in Iraq is the contamination of dust particles with substances like lead and mercury, which chemically affect human health. These particles can be likened to grains of sand coated with a thin, sticky layer of very fine pollutants. In this situation, we are dealing with dust that not only makes breathing difficult but also irritates the eyes." He advises that, as much as possible, people should avoid exposure to this dust: "Not only should masks and protective coverings for the mouth and nose be used, but eye protection should also be worn. Additionally, low-adhesion skin protectants should be used. If creams are not available, wet wipes should be kept on hand to clean the skin frequently and wash with water quickly." Mehdi Akhavan Sales once remarked that when the Karun River was full and the wetlands of Khuzestan shone under the sun, even the "fertile soil of Khuzestan" would be ashamed. But today, this very soil has halted life, work, and education in Khuzestan, and not even gold can breathe. Iran, once a leader in wetland registration, is now grappling with a wetland crisis. 44 years ago, Ramsar, one of the important coastal cities of Mazandaran in northern Iran, transformed from an ordinary city into a place associated with an international treaty. The "World Conference on Wetland Conservation and Migratory Birds" was held when Lake Bakhtagan, Hamun, and Urmia were full of water, and the Anzali, Parishan, and Hoor al-Azim wetlands, with their stunning nature and hosting dozens of bird and mammal species, were vital for local plants. Back in 1970, when wetland, river, and lake conservation was not a priority for many governments, Iran announced its readiness for ecological research in preserving and maintaining wetland ecosystems. The ratification of this convention for the preservation of globally significant wetlands was, for its initiator, Iskandar Firouz, then head of the Environmental Protection Organization, an astonishing achievement. Iskandar Firouz recalls: "A few years earlier, we had implemented an extensive program to study and protect Iran's wetlands. Success in this program led global nature and wildlife protection organizations to wish to hold a conference on the protection of important international wetlands in Iran. Thus, we chose Ramsar, and a convention that had not reached a conclusion for several years was successfully completed, and with the help of the 'Ramsar Convention,' Iran gained special recognition in the field of environmental protection worldwide." Iskandar Firouz describes the ratification of this convention, which resonated with the name Ramsar and added a list for countries to register their important wetlands, as a significant and unexpected success. According to this convention, countries would receive technical and financial assistance to preserve their wetlands. In that year, Iran registered 18 wetlands, but now, after 44 years, little remains of them. But what is the significance of these wetlands that their drying has become a top environmental news story in Iran? Azam Bahrami, a master's student in environmental science and renewable energy physics in Turin, Italy, has researched these wetlands: "Wetlands, in addition to being hosts for migratory birds, indicate the health of the surrounding nature and are a natural resource for their vicinity. Through wetlands, one can predict the environmental conditions of a region. Wetlands in Iran are both diverse and widespread and are extremely important." She states: "Wetlands not only regulate water sources dependent on natural resources, such as rainfall and groundwater levels, but they are also dependent on human resources." February 2nd, the day after the signing of this treaty, was designated as World Wetlands Day. However, now on such a day, while 24 wetlands in Iran are listed in Ramsar, officials have announced that at least 70 to 80 percent of Iran's wetlands are experiencing severe water shortages or are on the verge of complete drying. Azam Bahrami, an environmental researcher, explains how this trend has developed: "With the extraction of soil from wetland areas, traditional agriculture, and inappropriate drainage around them, along with the destruction of vegetation cover in their catchment areas and the influx of wastewater, waste, and garbage, they are rapidly being destroyed." Wetlands that, when named in the Ramsar Convention, bring pride and tourism attractions to any country, have now become a problem in the ecosystem of the region from north to south and east to west Iran due to reduced water levels and increased pollution from excessive damming and unsustainable agriculture.