Tehran, February 25, 2008 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iran participated in the seventh international environment exhibition “Iran Enviro 2008” in Tehran’s International Exhibition Center from 12-15 February 2008. With this year’s more than 12,000 m² exhibition space and a wide variety of exhibitioners from Non-Governmental Organizations, municipalities, private sector, universities and governmental organizations, the event has become one of the larger environment expos in the Middle East and a meeting place for all interested environment actors in the country.

Several of UNDP’s projects, such as “Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros”, “Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah” and “Conservation of Iranian Wetlands”, were represented with own stands during the exhibition, and were together with the stand shared between UNDP and the Small Grants Programme (SGP) attracting a large number of curious environment enthusiasts throughout the four days. On the second day of the exhibition the UNDP and SGP stand was also honored by the visit of Dr. Fatemeh Vaez Javadi, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Department of Environment.

The exhibition constituted a good opportunity to introduce the public and the exhibitioners to UNDP and SGP support to the Government in promoting sustainable environmental development within such fields as biodiversity conservation, natural resources management, mitigation of ozone layer depleting substances and reduction of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The SGP took the opportunity to present products from some of its projects, among these fresh tomatoes and cucumbers produced in greenhouses without the use of any form for pesticides, and local handicrafts produced village women on the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf as an initiative to preserve sea turtles.

All fours days of the exhibition included seminars on the issues of “Religion, The Judicial System and Environment”, “Waste and Environment”, “Industry, Mine and Environment”, “Petroleum, Energy and Environment”, “Media and Environment” and “Ecotourism and Environment”.