Iran’s biodiversity shapes cultural mosaic of a civilization
Iran’s extraordinary biodiversity has helped forge one of the world’s richest cultural landscapes, the head of the National Committee for Cultural and Natural Heritage at Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO said during a visit to the Pardisan National Museum of Natural History in Tehran, according to the Department of Environment (DoE).
Ahmad Mohit Tabatabaei said Iran’s cultural diversity has emerged from the country’s vast ecological variety, creating a shared heritage rooted in the natural environment. “The two fundamental assets of any civilization are cultural heritage and natural heritage,” he said. “Together they shape the identity of a nation. Without one, the other loses much of its meaning.” DOE reported.
He described natural heritage as nature’s interaction with human communities over centuries, a process that has given rise to traditions, literature, customs and distinct ways of life. Mount Damavand, he said, is not merely a natural landmark but a powerful symbol embedded in Persian mythology, poetry and collective memory. Likewise, the ancient Hyrcanian forests have influenced the music, traditions and cultural identity of communities along the Caspian coast.
Mohit Tabatabaei said modern museums have evolved beyond collections of artifacts and now serve as bridges between the past and the future. “The future belongs to nations that understand their past,” he said, stressing that such understanding must encompass both cultural and natural heritage.
He noted that national parks and protected areas increasingly function as “ecomuseums,” preserving living ecosystems while showcasing natural history in its original setting. Golestan National Park, Iran’s oldest national park, stands as “a living museum” where visitors can experience wildlife and natural history firsthand, he added.
Calling children, cultural heritage and natural heritage the three pillars of the future, Mohit Tabatabaei urged greater investment in education and public outreach. Museums, he said, act as mirrors reflecting Iran’s natural and cultural identity and can inspire stronger stewardship of these national treasures.
He also highlighted the establishment of the Pardisan Biodiversity Museum during the years of the Iraqi-Imposed War (1980-1988), describing it as evidence of a forward-looking vision that safeguarded Iran’s natural legacy even in the most challenging circumstances.