Indigenous Plant Species from the Drylands of Iran, Distribution and Potential for Habitat Maintenance and Repair - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 340

Chapter 17
Indigenous Plant Species from the Drylands
of Iran, Distribution and Potential for Habitat
Maintenance and Repair

G. Ali Heshmati

Synopsis This chapter presents an overview of the main vegetation types within
the drylands of Iran and discusses the implications for biodiversity conservation
and the role that indigenous plants can play in rangeland rehabilitation. Examples
are presented of successful re-vegetation efforts.

Key Points

• Environmental (topography, climate) features have an important role on plant

diversity and richness of Iran. On the basis of environmental factors, four
ecological zones were established on the basis of specific plant richness from
lowest area to highest area (Hyrcanian, Khalij-O-Omani, Zagross and Iran-O-
Touranian zones) respectively. Elevation is from -28 m which is close to Caspian
Sea to 5,678 m which is located in the Alborz mountains. Two mountains (Alborz
and Zagros) play a role as a wall that does not allow the moisture to go to the
center of Iran (rain shadow effect). About 8,000 plant species of Iran, the most
of them with different life forms (Herb, Grass, Shrub and tree), are distributed in
Hyrcanian zone that is located in the northern part of Iran. In contrast, the lowest
plant diversity is in the southern part of Iran (Khalij-O-Omanian zone), which is
a flat area.

• The highest vast area (Iran-O-Touranian) is distributed in the center of Iran which

is divided into two divisions with mountain part and plain area. The western part
of Iran (Zagros zone) is affected by Mediterranean and Black sea moisture which
has snow in the winter and low plant species with herb, grass, and tree life forms.
Topography and climate factors have important affect on plant distribution and
richness of Iran and they play an important role on ecological biodiversity of this
country