Tehran, Iran – 15 June 2026 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture Jahad and national partners, has launched a new project aimed at empowering local communities to conserve and sustainably develop endangered indigenous livestock breeds in northwestern part of the Islamic Republic of Iran.The inception workshop for the project, titled “Empowering Local Communities to Conserve and Develop Endangered Indigenous Livestock Gene Pool in the Northwest of Iran,” brought together government officials, technical experts, researchers, breeders, and local stakeholders to discuss strategies for safeguarding valuable animal genetic resources while strengthening rural livelihoods.Opening the workshop, FAO Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Farrukh Toirov, emphasized the critical role of indigenous livestock breeds in building resilient agrifood systems and addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.“Conserving these genetic resources is not only essential for protecting biodiversity but also for ensuring sustainable food production and resilient rural livelihoods in the future,” Toirov said.Northwest Iran (the Islamic Republic of) is home to several valuable indigenous livestock breeds, including the Bactrian camel, Sarabi cattle, Mahabadi goat, and Markhoz goat. These breeds represent an important component of the country’s agricultural biodiversity and provide livelihoods, cultural identity, and resilience for rural and pastoral communities.“According to FAO’s latest assessments, more than 8,800 local and transboundary livestock breeds have been reported worldwide, more than 70 percent of them are classified as being at risk of extinction, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts and stronger support for livestock keepers who safeguard these resources.”Highlighting that sustainable conservation cannot succeed without the active involvement of local communities, the project places community empowerment at the center of its approach. Over the next 18 months, it will support the establishment of community-based breeding programmes, pedigree registration and performance recording systems, conservation of genetic materials.”The initiative will also invest in the rehabilitation of grazing areas, strengthen milk and mohair processing facilities, and provide extensive training and capacity-development opportunities for livestock keepers, technical experts, and policymakers. In parallel, efforts will be made to enhance value chains and create new market opportunities for products derived from indigenous livestock breeds, helping improve incomes and economic resilience in rural areas.The project aligns with international efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems. It contributes to the objectives of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, which recognizes the vital role of pastoral communities in biodiversity conservation, food security, and ecosystem stewardship.A key feature of the initiative is its strong focus on rural women’s economic empowerment. Women play an essential role in livestock production systems across the target areas. Through support for processing facilities, value-chain development, and targeted capacity-building activities, the project aims to strengthen the economic participation and leadership of rural women while supporting the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous livestock breeds.Building on FAO’s previous conservation initiatives in the country, including successful projects supporting Bactrian camel conservation and innovative mobile veterinary and reproductive services for nomadic herders, the new programme expands conservation efforts to multiple indigenous breeds and reinforces the link between biodiversity conservation and rural development. 

 Salam,
My name is Christine Weigand, and I have been recently appointed as United Nations Resident Coordinator in Iran.
Yesterday, I had the honour of presenting my credentials and thereby formally beginning my tenure as the representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
I would like to share my greetings with you – a moment that I have been waiting for ever since arriving just a few weeks before the start of the conflict in February.
Throughout the difficult days and weeks that followed, my colleagues in the UN team here in Iran and I were here in the country, continuing our work and supporting impacted civilians and communities.
I know that last year, and of course this year, have been a particularly challenging period, and I would like reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Iran.
For me very personally, coming back to work in Iran holds special meaning.
Between 2015 and 2019, I had the privilege of living and working here in a different capacity within the UN.
Together with my family, we came to know this beautiful country, its rich culture and its people, and it truly warms my heart to be back.
In the months and years ahead, I look forward to meeting many of you, to listening and to learning, as we work together towards creating a more peaceful, a more prosperous and also a more sustainable future for all.
Merci!
 

“Local community participation and synergy between domestic and international experts is key to prevent irreversible environmental destruction and protect this treasure for future generations,” the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iran, Farrukh Toirov said in national event marking the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026.Organized by the Department of Environment, the event took place on Saturday, 23 May in Sari, Mazandaran Province. It brought together senior government officials and United Nations representatives, including Shina Ansari, Head of the Department of Environment; FAO Representative in Iran; and Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representative in Iran.This year's event was held under the global theme “Acting locally for global impact” – a message that FAO Representative placed at the center of his address.Biodiversity: not an environmental issue aloneSpeaking at the opening ceremony, Toirov stressed that biodiversity must not be treated as a standalone environmental concern. “Biodiversity is the living foundation of agrifood systems, food security, livelihoods, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable development,” he stated.He highlighted alarming global trends: of more than 6 000 plant species cultivated for food throughout history, fewer than 200 contribute substantially to global food production today – and just nine crop species account for 66% of total global crop production. Toirov also noted that 75% of the world’s most productive crop plants depend at least in part on pollinators, which contribute to roughly 35% of global crop production. “Without biodiversity and ecosystem services, food production itself would be at risk,” he warned.Toirov recognized Iran as a country of significant global biodiversity importance, noting its remarkable climatic, topographic, and ecosystem diversity – home to more than 8 200 plant species, around 197 mammal species, 535 bird species, and globally important and endangered species such as the Asiatic cheetah and the Persian leopard.He underscored, however, that these valuable assets face increasing pressures from climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, and habitat loss – making strengthened conservation and sustainable management efforts all the more urgent.FAO’s partnership with Iran: local action, global impactThe FAO representative highlighted the breadth of FAO-supported interventions in the Islamic Republic of Iran that contribute – directly or indirectly – to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience. These include the conservation of endangered indigenous livestock genetic resources in north-western Iran, such as the Sarabi cattle, the Marakhoz goat, and the Bactrian camel; long-standing engagement in the Lake Urmia Basin to reduce environmental pressures through improved water efficiency; and integrated pest management, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience initiatives supported through the Green Climate Fund.“Biodiversity conservation in Iran is inseparable from sustainable agriculture, water security, climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, dryland management, and rural livelihoods,” Toirov affirmed.Closing his remarks, Toirov reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to its strong partnership with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing that while FAO and the United Nations system play a key facilitating role – bringing global knowledge, technical expertise, and innovation – the primary leadership rightly rests with national institutions.“Biodiversity action begins locally: in farmers’ fields, in rangelands, in watersheds, in wetlands, in forests, and within communities. But when local action is sustained and coordinated, its impact becomes national – and global,” he concluded.

In just the last month across the Middle East, thousands of civilians have been killed and injured. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, many multiple times. The numbers continue to rise and essential services are increasingly difficult to access. Health workers, hospitals and ambulances have been targeted. Schools have been struck. Civilian infrastructure – including bridges, residential buildings, houses, water facilities and power plants – has been destroyed. This leaves us especially concerned about women and children and others with specific needs. Global supply chains are also impacted, with food and fuel prices on the rise.Our humanitarian colleagues have been caught up in the hostilities. This year alone, 14 aid workers have been killed or injured in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, eight in Iran and five in Lebanon. This is an alarming toll, not least for national staff and local organizations, working courageously on the humanitarian front lines every day.We strongly condemn all attacks on civilians, including humanitarian and health workers, as well as civilian objects. We demand that all parties – whether Member States of the United Nations or armed groups – respect their legal obligation to protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure. All violations must be met with accountability. Even wars have rules, and these rules must be respected.