The threat of high-rises along the northern coastline of Iran has severely impacted the habitat of migratory birds. In the Tuesday, October 20, 2026 issue of 'Payam Ma', the consequences of these concerning changes, particularly in Mazandaran, have been the main focus of the reports.
High-Rises on the Coast, Birds in Habitat Crisis
Forough Fekri, the author of the front-page article titled 'High-Rises on the Coast, Birds in Habitat Crisis', examines the dimensions of land use change and high-rise construction in the cities of Sorkhroud and Fereydunkenar. Mehdi Goli, the Deputy of Environment in Mahmoudabad, warns that tall structures block the north-south wind paths, causing disorientation for birds that fly at low altitudes.
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The change in the use of water reservoirs and the prevalence of second rice crops have also significantly impacted the survival of these species. In the eastern Sorkhroud area, out of 37 grazing areas, only seven remain. Iman Ebrahimi, an environmental protection expert, emphasizes that alongside monitoring illegal hunting, structural preservation of the habitat must be prioritized in management programs.
Social Insecurities and Natural Crises
Furthermore, 'Payam Ma' addresses social insecurities affecting children. The cover photo of this issue titled 'A City Where Children Fear Its Parks' is dedicated to the narrative of the meeting 'Childhood Experience in the Harsh Land of Tehran'. In this meeting, experts such as Mehrnaz Attaran and Bahar Sirafi emphasized the need to enhance the security of urban parks. Experiences from civil institutions in areas like Atabak neighborhood show that insecurities stemming from social harms such as addiction have limited children's use of play spaces, and improving these areas requires social intervention and active involvement of mothers and educators.
In the realm of natural crises, Setareh Hojjati in a report titled 'The Tradition of Surprise in the Face of Floods' examines the consequences of heavy rainfall and flooding in Golestan province. The 147 mm of rainfall in Qaleh Qafeh resulted in the death of one citizen and the disappearance of two others in Minoodasht. This incident also led to the disruption of transportation routes for 14 villages and the power network for 19 villages, indicating a continued weakness in implementing comprehensive prevention and adaptation plans for climate change.
Other reports in this issue address the environmental impacts of coffee production and the status of the restoration of the statue of Shapur I. Negin Sharifi in her report discusses the hidden costs of coffee production, showing that the damages caused by soil erosion, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions far exceed the export value of this product. Additionally, Saba Rezaei reports on the lack of commencement of the execution phase for the restoration of the historical statue of Shapur I.
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