Parvin Farshchi: I choose the Caspian Sea!
In March 2019, the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran (the Iranian Parliament) approved a project to transfer water from the Caspian Sea to arid central Semnan Province for the needs of people, agriculture, and industry. The construction of a desalination complex and the laying of a 200-kilometer pipeline from coastal Mazandaran Province were estimated at $650 million. ‘At the same time, even one-tenth of the amount planned in the state budget would be enough to implement programs for recycling available fresh water in Semnan Province,’ the Caspian Herald Portal quoted experts, citing Iranian Financial Tribune.
The pumping out of seawater in colossal volumes and the discharge of salt concentrate after its desalination into the sea – all this, without a carefully developed technical and economic justification, an objective scientific assessment of the impact on the shallowing Caspian Sea and its inhabitants, threatened an environmental catastrophe, especially in the coastal areas of Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan Provinces.
One of the first to harshly criticize the project was Dr. Parvin Farshi, Deputy Minister of Environment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. All that was required of the scientist and stateswoman, famous in Iran and many other countries, was to meekly agree, signing the government document… ‘But how can you live with the thought that you refused to protect your beloved Caspian Sea and allowed Iran to violate its obligations to partners under the Tehran Convention for the sake of your own well-being?’ recalls P. Farshchi. ‘Despite everything having been through, I strongly believe I had to resist and stop them. And I do not regret anything.’
Parvin soon accepted the minister’s offer to resign from the Department of Environment. She refused to leave the country to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Finland. Currently, Dr. Farshchi teaches students biology, environmental science, and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Dear Parvin, you are a ‘Teacher with a capital T’, and a great role model for young scientists.
Our Earth and its “Grey Caspian” exist thanks to such selfless people as you!
Biographical note about Parvin Farshchi
In addition to having advanced academic degrees such as a PhD in Marine Science and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Coastal Zone Management, Parvin Farshchi has completed various professional training courses in the following areas: “United Nations Convention-The Law of the Sea, its Implementation and Agenda 21”. “Comprehensive Coastal Zone Management”, “Environmental Impact Assessment”, “Strategic Environmental Management in Central Asian Countries”, “Globalization and Water Management”, “Modeling and Monitoring of Coastal and Marine Processes”, “Environmental Economic Valuation”, “Ocean Governance”, “GIS Data and Remote Sensing” and “Environmental Diplomacy”. Parvin has participated in many fishing and oceanographic research vessels in the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and Caspian Sea. She has worked in a variety of capacities over the past 20 years with extensive experience at national, regional and international levels.
Dr. Farshchi has played a leading role in shaping coordinated actions of various stakeholders including governments, scientists, businesses, non-governmental organizations, public institutions, media, private sector and indigenous people’s organizations towards addressing transboundary environmental issues, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, working in various positions as: the Director of the Regional Centre for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (1998-2007); Senior Advisor to the Department of Environment (1998-2007); National Focal Point for two Regional Seas Program such as the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) and Regional Environmental Cooperation in the Caspian Sea (1998-2009 and 2012-2019); Senior Technical Advisor and Project Manager of the GEF/UNDP supported project “CASPECO” in Kazakhstan (2009-2012); Deputy Minister of Environment of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2012-2019), and Member of the Board of Directors of Qeshm Island Free Trade Zone (2016-2021).
In 2018, Dr. Farshchi was accredited as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Finland, even though she did not resume the position.
Parvin has played a vital role in promoting national and regional intersectoral cooperation in the effective implementation of integrated coastal zone management, protected areas and wetlands management, marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management (1999-present). P. Farshchi has been a professor at Azad Islamic University since 1998 and has written more than 65 scientific articles in Persian and English languages. So far, she has guided more than 70 Master and PhD-thesis in different environment related subjects. Parvin has been a faculty member of the training program on “Regional Ocean Governance for the Mediterranean, Baltic, Black and Caspian Seas” of the International Ocean Institute (IOI), Malta headquarters, since 2006 to present.