Dust storms burden Iran $2 billion annually
The Secretary of the National Headquarters for Policy and Management of the Dust Phenomenon of the Department of the Environmnet, Ali Mohammad Tahmasebi Birgani, underscored the escalating cost of dust damage, which he said amounts to more than $2 billion annually, affecting six provinces.
Tahmasebi made the remarks during a meeting held on the International Day for Combating Sand and Dust Storms, themed “Sand and dust storms: Warning for everyone,” at the research institute of Iran’s Meteorological Organization, according to ISNA.
The event was organized in response to the severe dust effects experienced in Iran last spring, which led to the formation of numerous committees, bilateral agreements with neighboring countries, and a summit on bilateral cooperation for a better future. The outcomes included Tehran’s statement, a regional joint fund to combat dust, a regional working group, and the establishment of a dust convention.
Tahmasebi also revealed plans for an international conference on dust management, scheduled for September, 2023, with invitations extended to 54 countries and 19 international organizations. The proposal for the conference was made during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
The DoE official highlighted the multifaceted impact of dust on Iran, with approximately 270 active high-intensity centers identified in 21 countries. He noted that sub-regional measures are underway to address indoor dust centers.
He further praised the significant strides made in understanding and mitigating the effects and damages of dust, with numerous publications on the subject. He emphasized the need for awareness about the consequences of dust, particularly its impact on agriculture. Domestic dust centers, he said, cause $50 million of damage to agriculture, and also especially beekeeping.
Mehdi Rahnama, the head of the meteorological research institute, noted that dust is not a new phenomenon and that its impact will likely increase due to climate change. He highlighted the importance of cooperation with the National Dust Headquarters of the DoE in identifying domestic and foreign dust centers and their effects on Iran. He also mentioned a project carried out in collaboration with the National Dust Headquarters of Kharazmi University, which resulted in an action plan in the field of sand and dust storms.
Rahnama stressed that all projects are based on field and operational measures in the DoE and Natural Resources Organization and are not merely meeting-oriented.