The Sports and Environment Commission held its fourth session of the year, convening with Mr. Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, the President of the National Olympic Committee and mountain sports experts to finalize protocols for waste management in Iran’s natural recreational areas and mountains.
Iran NOC; Tehran: The session, led by Commission Chair Mehrafza
Manouchehri, highlighted the critical need for actionable waste management
strategies. Dr. Saeed Motahari, project manager for the waste management
protocol, presented a proposal emphasizing the need for a designated authority
to oversee these efforts. Reports from the national federation highlighted 9.5
tons of waste were collected from Mount Damavand’s four routes this year alone,
driven by a surge in climbers and a lack of public awareness regarding
environmental preservation.
To address these challenges, participants including NOC President
Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa and federation officials agreed that restrictive
regulations must be paired with extensive education. Key resolutions included
the promotion of the “Leave No Trace” guidebook, the implementation of
nationwide environmental training programs for athletes, and collaborative
outreach with student and youth to foster a cross-institutional culture of
environmental stewardship.