The Iranian Department of Environment (DOE) traces its roots to the Hunting Club of Iran, founded in 1956 to regulate hunting practices and protect wildlife. Over time, the increasing awareness of environmental challenges led to a broader mandate. In 1967, the club evolved into the Game Council, and just four years later, in 1971, the modern Department of Environment was established. That same year, Iran hosted the historic
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, positioning the DOE as a pioneer in international environmental governance in the
Global South. Throughout its history, the DOE has been closely tied to the Iranian political structure. Its head is appointed as a vice president and member of the Cabinet, reflecting the department’s elevated position in national decision-making. The DOE has been led by a diverse range of directors, including scientists, technocrats, and former military officers, indicating shifts in political priorities and approaches to environmental governance. A key figure in the institutionalization of environmental governance in Iran was
Eskandar Firouz, who is widely regarded as the architect of the country’s modern environmental system. As the founding director of the Department of Environment, Firouz played a central role in transitioning the Hunting Club into a national agency with legal authority to protect natural areas, regulate hunting, and oversee environmental planning. His scientific background and global perspective helped shape Iran’s early environmental policies, including the drafting of laws that placed Iran among the first countries in the region to adopt modern conservation frameworks. Firouz’s efforts were supported by
Prince Abdolreza Pahlavi, the brother of
Mohammad Reza Shah and head of the Hunting Club, whose political influence and interest in wildlife conservation were instrumental in securing royal support for the creation of the Department. This collaboration between Firouz’s expertise and Abdolreza’s political backing laid the foundation for the DOE’s formal establishment in 1971. The mission of the DOE is to protect and improve the environment of Iran for present and future generations. This includes the conservation of biodiversity, management of natural resources, environmental education, pollution control, and coordinating with international environmental agreements. The department also oversees the designation and management of Iran’s protected areas, including
national parks,
wildlife refuges, and
natural monuments, and works to ensure sustainable development in harmony with ecological principles. In recent years, the DOE has emphasized
climate change adaptation, dust storm mitigation, water resource protection, and community participation in conservation. As of the 2020s, there has also been a growing focus on
environmental justice, the role of local communities, and integrating traditional ecological knowledge into national environmental strategies. ==Organization==