Wildlife refers to animals and plants that live in their natural habitats without human interference. It encompasses various species spread across the globe, playing a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance and biodiversity. Preserving wildlife is crucial for the future of both humanity and nature.

This article is not about the factors and policies that have led to the catastrophic crisis facing Iran’s wildlife. It is not about the soil crisis, which, as Mohammad Darvish puts it, “no one notices, and no one hears its cries.” It is not about how it takes 400 to 800 years to produce a single centimeter of soil, yet Iran loses 2 billion cubic meters of soil annually. (1) It is not about the biodiversity crisis in Iran, where the establishment of the Department of Environment once coincided with the existence of 1.3 million gazelles, deer, wild sheep, and ibexes, a number that has now plummeted to less than 110,000—meaning Iran has lost over 90% of its wildlife in just four decades. (2)

This article is not about the water crisis or the two-meter decline in groundwater levels. It is not about the fact that we are experiencing the worst desertification crisis of the century. It is not about air pollution, the death of 18 million oak trees in the Zagros region, or the loss of 43% of Iran’s forests since the beginning of the 20th century, leaving virtually no pristine forests today.

It is not about how the health of the earth, environment, and wildlife is linked to the health of its inhabitants. As Iran’s Minister of Health points out, “10.2 billion tomans (approximately 60 times the environmental budget) are spent annually on anti-cancer drugs.” It is not about the felling of 1,050 oak trees in the Zagros region when only 500 were supposed to be cut.

This article is not about the disappearance of large herbivores in parts of Bistoon in Kermanshah, where their numbers were in the thousands before the revolution. It is not about the 128 species of wildlife—including the Asiatic cheetah, houbara bustard, Asiatic black bear, and Iranian mugger crocodile—that are critically endangered.

Instead, this article discusses how, despite environmental challenges worldwide, countries have tackled these issues by utilizing the potential of women. Women, as half of the population, are deeply connected to nature and bear the brunt of environmental degradation.

Women and the Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change

Research clearly shows that women are disproportionately affected by climate change and are more likely than men to lose their lives in environmental disasters. Women are 14 times more at risk of dying in climate-related disasters and constitute 80% of those displaced due to climate change. The feminization of poverty exacerbates women’s vulnerability, as they rely heavily on natural resources and are responsible for providing food, water, and fuel for their families, especially in rural agricultural communities. (3)

The Case of Iran

In Iran, as in other countries, economic development has caused detrimental impacts on nature and climate under both the former regime and the Islamic Republic. Key impacts include deforestation for agriculture, urbanization, and industrial projects, which accelerate greenhouse gas emissions and carbon release, destroy natural habitats, and displace wildlife.

Industrial pollution, waste disposal, and transportation linked to development projects pollute the air, water, and soil, harming ecosystems and human health. Overextraction of natural resources, such as timber, minerals, and fish, depletes ecosystems. Unsustainable agriculture and land mismanagement lead to soil erosion, desertification, and reduced land productivity. Development often increases energy demand, primarily met by fossil fuels, further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Specific consequences include rising global temperatures, extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves, rising sea levels, disrupted rainfall patterns, biodiversity loss, and ecological imbalances. Food insecurity due to declining agricultural productivity and water scarcity resulting from changing rainfall patterns and increased demand exacerbate these issues.

This array of challenges represents a “poly crisis,” a term used to describe overlapping crises. In Iran, ineffective policies, corruption, and the exclusion of experts from environmental management have intensified these crises. According to environmental lawyer Mohammad Dasmeh, “18,000 hectares of natural resources were exchanged for a single candy stick by a former minister.” Meanwhile, the budget allocated for wildlife conservation in 2022 was a mere 12 billion tomans, only meeting 10% of the Department of Environment’s needs. (4)

Women, Nature, and Ecofeminism

Ecofeminism is a philosophical and activist movement examining the link between the oppression of women and the exploitation of nature. It argues that systems of domination, such as patriarchy and capitalism, lead to both the subjugation of women and environmental degradation. According to ecofeminism, women’s liberation and environmental protection are interconnected goals.

This movement emphasizes traditional values associated with women, such as care, empathy, and respect for natural cycles, in contrast to exploitative and dominative worldviews. Originating in the 1970s and developed by thinkers like Vandana Shiva and Carolyn Merchant, ecofeminism calls for reexamining values, human relationships, and interactions with nature to build a sustainable and equitable society.

Across the world, ecofeminists and women conservationists, such as Rachel Carson, Wangari Maathai, Jane Goodall, and Iran’s own Mahlaqa Mallah, have been pivotal in addressing environmental challenges and advocating for the conservation of wildlife. Iranian society, however, has failed to fully harness the potential of its women to combat the intersecting crises of gender inequality and environmental degradation.

Iran’s rich biodiversity, encompassing various animal and plant species, faces irreversible threats. Women in Iran can play vital roles in conservation through education, raising awareness, conducting research, leading NGOs, and advocating for policies that support sustainable development. Gender equality provides women with the opportunity to protect nature and create a future where sustainable, nature-aligned development replaces the exploitation of Mother Earth. (5)

Jane Goodall: An Inspirational Example

In 1900, about one million chimpanzees lived in the wild; today, that number has dwindled to 340,000. In July 1960, 26-year-old Jane Goodall traveled from England to what is now Tanzania to study the lives of wild chimpanzees. Driven by her love for these endangered creatures, she developed a conservation approach that improved the lives of people, animals, and the environment by emphasizing their interconnectedness.

Equipped with only a notebook, a camera, and her passion for wildlife, Goodall entered uncharted territory, offering the world a glimpse into the lives of endangered chimpanzees. She not only highlighted the urgent need to protect chimpanzees but also redefined conservation to include local communities and environmental health. At age 90, she continues to travel 300 days a year, advocating for wildlife and urging collective action to save our shared planet.

Goodall’s legacy endures through the Jane Goodall Institute, founded in 1977, which promotes her vision of collective action to preserve the world we all share. (6)

The Way Forward

In times of economic, political, and social strain, catastrophic environmental crises amplify existing inequalities and injustices. Yet Iran possesses brave and committed women dedicated to gender equality, human dignity, and the conservation of wildlife. Achieving gender equality unlocks women’s potential to protect wildlife and opens pathways to sustainable development.

Numerous “Jane Goodalls” are on their way, and I can hear their footsteps.

References

1. 90% of Iran’s Wildlife Destroyed in Four Decades, Mehr News Agency, December 2, 2015.
2. Ibid.
3. Women Constitute 80% of Climate Change Victims, Mizan News Agency, February 1, 2024.
4. Budget for Wildlife Conservation Only 12 Billion Tomans, Tasnim News Agency, November 25, 2022.
5. Ecofeminism: A Philosophy Linking Nature and Women, Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), June 2, 2023.
6. Jane Goodall: The Woman Who Lived Among Chimpanzees, Bartarinha News Agency, August 15, 2019.