Iran has officially joined the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES) as its 18th member, committing to conservation action plans for 40 wildlife species. Hamid Zohrabi, deputy head of the Department of Environment (DOE), signed the membership document, marking a new phase of international environmental cooperation.
The coalition was unveiled on October 16 at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Yerevan. Colombia and Armenia launched the initiative alongside 17 founding governments, aiming to coordinate global resources and halt biodiversity loss.
Expanding Conservation Commitments Under Sanctions
By joining the initiative, Iran gains access to technical, scientific, and financial support from the coalition, which is supported by the Reverse the Red Action partnership as secretariat. Hamid Zohrabi emphasized the necessity of an equitable distribution of resources and technology, noting the specific domestic challenges Iran faces in protecting its threatened fauna.
Oscar-winning Hollywood actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio has praised Armenia for co-leading a new international coalition to save endangered species, recognizing the commitment of 16 founding countries. The initiative was launched in Yerevan on October 16,… pic.twitter.com/5udpzQv4ud
On the sidelines of COP17, Zohrabi met with Vivek Menon, chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC). Their discussions centered on targeted restoration programs for vulnerable native species, including the Asiatic cheetah, the great bustard, and the Persian zebra, onager, alongside habitat management for the Persian fallow deer. Menon voiced optimism that ongoing partnerships between Iranian specialists and IUCN officials would secure the persistence of vulnerable animals like the Asiatic cheetah.
Various organizations have pledged upwards of $500 million over the upcoming five-year period to halt extinctions and rebuild the planet’s most endangered wildlife. Iran’s inclusion opens formal pathways for Iranian experts to tap into these global funds and scientific networks, navigating technical hurdles often exacerbated by economic sanctions.
The Domestic Ecological Stakes
The urgency of the partnership is underscored by domestic environmental assessments. Based on the latest IUCN Red List findings, roughly 154 vertebrate species and about 25 percent of the nation’s plant species face extinction risks, with the national roster designating 117 of those species as critically endangered.
Historical losses already loom large over the region. Both the Hyrcanian tiger and the Persian lion have disappeared forever in the country. However, targeted interventions demonstrate that recovery is possible. Scientific measures and local community participation have resulted in the recovery of the Persian zebra and the Persian yellow deer.
| Species | Conservation Status | Active Management Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Asiatic cheetah | Threatened | Habitat protection and genetic profiling |
| Persian zebra (onager) | Recovering | Inbreeding prevention and kinship tracking |
| Persian yellow deer | Reintroduced | Natural habitat restoration |
| Levant viper | Monitored | Genomic diversity and phylogeny studies |
To build on these recovery efforts, the DOE is developing a genetic map of endangered wildlife. Leila Ezzeddinlou, head of the National Museum of Natural History and Genetic Resources, explained that molecular studies are now underway to manage small populations, prevent inbreeding, and preserve genetic diversity.
The DOE, Gorgan University, and the University of Tehran’s College of Agricultural and Natural Resources have finalized research pacts focusing on the genomic variance within local viper populations, alongside tailored genetic profiling for the black bear, Persian yellow deer, and Asiatic cheetah. These scientific frameworks ensure that future conservation decisions rest on precise molecular data.
Diplomacy and the Broader Environmental Framework
The Yerevan talks take place under the umbrella of the Convention on Biological Diversity, running concurrently with CP-MOP-12 (the Twelfth meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety) and NP-MOP-6 (the Sixth meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization). The two-week summit featured a leaders’ summit where President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered an address.
Pezeshkian utilized the international platform to advocate for “peace diplomacy” in environmental protection, condemning the ecological devastation caused by wars of aggression as ecocide. His presence marked a historic milestone as the first time an Iranian president attended a Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, underscoring a commitment to link domestic conservation goals with wider global frameworks.
