The study of Administrative and legal Challenges of the Protected Areas of Zanjan Province

The protection of environment, in which the present as well as the future generations have a right to flourish social existence, is regarded as a public duty in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Economic and other activities which inevitably involve pollution of the environment or cause irreparable damage to it are therefore forbidden. To protect environment, as the related rules provide, some areas in Iran that have environmentally prominent aspects are recognized as protected areas to prevent the mankind to encroach in these areas. These areas are subject to special rules and regulations that are provided in the form of environmental protection and conservation rules, hunting law, etc. Increasing population and industrial development in Iran which are not based on sustainable development, has led to environmental challenges including natural habitats destruction, environmental pollution, uncontrolled hunting and consequently resulting in soil erosion, soil nutrient deficiency, destruction of virgin forests that are a few million years old, animals and plants extinction, decreasing surface and ground water resources, waste of surface water due to pollution etc. These problems actually endanger the physical and social welfare in the community. This research aims to recognize strengths and weaknesses of management in these areas and present the relevant legal strategies, studying environmental status of the areas protected in Zanjan Province. It covers two protected areas and one wild life shelter, studying legal status of the areas and legal and executive challenges. This research follows a practical purpose, because decision makers, planners and senior and middle managers involved in environmental issues may use the results obtained. The study tries to analyze judgments issued by courts, using current references in the field of recognition of environmental status of the protected areas in Zanjan Province. It also studies legal status of the area by using field method and visiting places and surveying current files from 2006 to 2010 to obtain applied suggestions for applying optimal management in the above-mentioned areas.