Folks, this section is under construction in a big way. I have a lot of plans for the ecology section, so big, in fact, that it sits here a jumble. Other things are much easier to fix. But the thing that is the most important...that takes time. Especially if you want to do it right.

"Culture" is all good and well, but think what has enabled the culture. Location, Ecology. If Iran wasn't where it is it wouldn't have been there for the jump start of civilization. Read Guns, Germs, and Steel for a provocative perspective on this. Then read Holistic Resource Management for a surprising perspective on desertification and livestock.

Iran, because of its location and ecology, is one of the oldest areas of long term human cultivation and civilization. This has taken its toll on the land and likewise, "empire". The challenge for the sons and daughters of this land is to figure out ways to make civilization and nature sustainable - nay vital! Thriving! Abundant! - in this area in perpetuity. There's a lot to do. Oil! Water! Salt! Flora! Fauna! Corruption! Mines! Earthquakes! Economy! The mind boggles.

Here are some notes on wildlife.

Wildlife

What happened to the tigers in Iran? Apparently there was such a thing as a Caspian Tiger. "According to E. Firouz in “A Guide to the Fauna of Iran, 1999”, the last tiger was killed in 1947 near Agh-Ghomish Village, 10 km East of Kalaleh, on the way to Minoodasht-Bojnoord. No one knows it really for certain."

OK, so we lost the tigers, but the Caspian Horses are still around. Click here for more information on their preservation.

I only mention this here because I always marvel at those old miniatures with all the wildlife shown, the hunting of abundant creatures, the trees everywhere. The place looks like a big desert to me now.  

But now that I look into it, allegedly the land is still lush and abundant and hunting is still going on. You can go with the "Hunt Today" hunting outfitters.   Or try the "Iran Wildlife Experts Organization", IWEO. They do hunting trips and eco-tours. Clearly this bears some investigation.

Sad, I was looking up "Persian wildlife" and found hunting above all else. Breaks my heart. At least they seem to indicate that there is still a lot of wildlife. The IWEO site says "Iran itself is an amazingly beautiful country with an abundance of species to hunt. These include the seven types of sheep and mauflons found in Iran and above them all, the Urial sheep, bear and Ibex. You can choose from one of our existing packages or we can custom design a hunting package to fit your wants and needs, we cater for all budgets and lifestyles." Great.

Here are some eco links.

Ecotour of Iran

Green Front of Iran

Ultimately, I want a clearer picture of the environment in Iran, the past, the present, the future. What did it look like in the past? It seems that Takhteh Jamsheed had HUGE trees as beams for the roof. Have you seen the size of those pillars? We're talking sequoia-sized monsters for the roof beams. Where did the trees go? Climate change? Maybe there's nothing we can do, but maybe there is. I want some ideas. Some serious terraforming. Get this salt out of the ground, and coax the rain to fall in a more orderly manner, fill up those aquifers, etc.

Why not?

How?