Final Meeting Held to Draft the Implementing Regulations for the Country’s Biosphere Reserves
The final meeting to draft the implementing regulations for the country’s biosphere reserves was held on 6 September 2026, hosted by Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO, with the participation of Dr. Seyed Mehdi Alavi, Secretary of the Government Board’s Legal and Judicial Commission; Dr. Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO; Dr. Hamid Zohrehabi, Deputy Head of the Department of Environment for Natural Environment and Biodiversity; and representatives of relevant organizations and institutions.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Presidential Office for Parliamentary Affairs, the Vice-Presidency for Women and Family Affairs, the Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization, the Ministry of Petroleum, the Plan and Budget Organization, the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, other relevant organizations and institutions, and members of the academic community.
The meeting aimed to conduct a final review and consolidate the provisions of the implementing regulations for the country’s biosphere reserves, while fostering coordination among the relevant organizations on the protection, management and sustainable use of these areas. During the meeting, various aspects of the regulations were reviewed, and participants presented and discussed their views and proposals concerning its provisions.
The drafting of these regulations is particularly significant because, despite the country having 14 biosphere reserves, these areas have so far lacked a specific and independent legal and regulatory framework within the country’s legal system. For the first time, the implementing regulations for biosphere reserves define the legal and institutional status of these areas, as well as the procedures for their protection and management and the requirements governing them, within the country’s legal and executive framework.
The finalization and approval of these regulations could mark an important and lasting step towards addressing the existing legal gap and strengthening the mechanisms for the protection, management and sustainable use of the country’s biosphere reserves.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Presidential Office for Parliamentary Affairs, the Vice-Presidency for Women and Family Affairs, the Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization, the Ministry of Petroleum, the Plan and Budget Organization, the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, other relevant organizations and institutions, and members of the academic community.
The meeting aimed to conduct a final review and consolidate the provisions of the implementing regulations for the country’s biosphere reserves, while fostering coordination among the relevant organizations on the protection, management and sustainable use of these areas. During the meeting, various aspects of the regulations were reviewed, and participants presented and discussed their views and proposals concerning its provisions.
The drafting of these regulations is particularly significant because, despite the country having 14 biosphere reserves, these areas have so far lacked a specific and independent legal and regulatory framework within the country’s legal system. For the first time, the implementing regulations for biosphere reserves define the legal and institutional status of these areas, as well as the procedures for their protection and management and the requirements governing them, within the country’s legal and executive framework.
The finalization and approval of these regulations could mark an important and lasting step towards addressing the existing legal gap and strengthening the mechanisms for the protection, management and sustainable use of the country’s biosphere reserves.
