On Wednesday, 23rd Esfand 1396 (March 14, 2018), the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s first birdwatching center, named “Isfahan Birdwatching Center,” was held. The event, which started at 10 AM, was attended by numerous city and provincial officials, including members of the Isfahan City Islamic Council and the Director-General of Environmental Protection of Isfahan Province.
Birdwatching is a segment of ecotourism where tourists, equipped with binoculars and guidebooks, enjoy observing and documenting birds in natural areas and urban green spaces. It’s worth mentioning that birdwatching is a recreational activity that, although established for years in some countries, is relatively new in Iran.
Iran, with 548 bird species, is rich in avian diversity. In the Isfahan province alone, there are 296 bird species, with approximately 150 species observable in and around the city of Isfahan. The city, with its varied habitats, favorable conditions, and a culture of animal welfare, is highly conducive to the development of birdwatching.
The Isfahan Birdwatching Center is a collaboration between the Sepahan Tourism, Cultural, and Sports Complex Development Company (affiliated with the Isfahan Municipality) and the Avaye Boom Birdwatching Association.
During the center’s inauguration, Mr. Ali Moeini, the respected head of the Sepahan Company, reported on the construction process of the complex and announced future plans for expanding birdwatching activities to other areas of the city, with the support of this company.
Ms. Mahsa Hashemi from the Avaye Boom Birdwatching Association provided explanations about birdwatching and introduced birdwatching towers, clubs, and active sites in Iran to the audience.
Mr. Mehdi Moghaddari, the esteemed spokesperson of the Isfahan City Islamic Council, expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration between government agencies and NGOs. He mentioned that the inauguration day of the Isfahan Birdwatching Center was one of his best working days in the current council period. He also stated that the council is open to criticisms and suggestions from environmental activists, and the center symbolizes the interaction between NGOs and the city municipality.
آقای مقدری، در سخنان خو خبر تعطیل شدن باغ وحش اصفهان را به فعالان محیط زیست دادند.
آقای ایمان ابراهیمی، مدیر عامل پرنده شناسان آوای بوم در ادامه از ظرفیت های ایران و اصفهان در زمینه توسعه پرنده نگری گفت. وی بیان کرد پرنده نگری میتواند پل ارتباطی بسیار مستحکم و زیبایی باشد میان مردمی که در زندگی شهری غرق شده اند و طبیعتی که هر روز بیش از پیش فراموش میشود. ایمان ابراهیمی در ادامه با بیان مثال هایی از دیگر کشور ها، توضیحاتی را در ارتباط با ظرفیت پرنده نگری برای جذب گردشگران، درآمد زایی و توسعه ارائه داد.
در انتها دکتر رحمان دانیالی، مدیر کل حفاظت محیط زیست استان اصفهان ضمن قدردانی از مجموعه شهرداری، شورای اسلامی شهر اصفهان، شرکت توسعه مجتمع های سیاحتی اصفهان و انجمن پرنده شناسان آوای بوم، ابراز امیدواری کرد که فعالیت های آموزشی و ترویجی پرنده نگری در شهر توسعه یابد. ایشان همچنین از داشته های طبیعی استان در زمینه تنوع زیستی گزارشی را ارائه دادند و بیان داشتند که حفاظت از گونه های زیستی، مسلزم شناساندن آن ها به مردم و جذب حمایت و علاقه شهروندان است.
In conclusion, Mr. Sepehr Salimi and Mr. Soltani, prominent activists in animal rights and environmental issues, officially inaugurated the “Isfahan Birdwatching Center.”
The Isfahan Birdwatching Center is in the Safa tourist area, next to the Safa cable car. It is open daily and offers half-day tours. Visitors can come early or before sunset to receive specialized birdwatching binoculars and, accompanied by a birdwatching guide, engage in birdwatching hikes.
