A
by-law has been enforced to check the illegal
transfer of fossil stones out of the country.
According to CHN, the Department of Environment (DoE),
Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Organization (ICHTO) and State Geology
Organization will henceforth coordinate actions to
check the illegal transfer of fossils out of the
country.
“Easy transfer of fossil stones has caused
concern among some researchers. DoE believes that
shortcomings in the protection of fossil stones
and the lack of information about fossils among
customs officers are among the reasons for the
illegal transfer of fossil stones, fossils of
animals and other precious stones.“
Director of DoE for legal affairs, Farhad Dabiri
said that the department has set up a committee to
monitor the transfer of fossil stones using modern
means. “The committee is made up of
representative from ICHTO and State Geology
Organization. The by-law for checking the transfer
of fossil stones is currently in effect,“ he
said.
Dabiri said the problems encountered in checking
the outflow of fossils are the extensive area over
which fossil stones and fossils of rare animals
are found and the fact that the Department of the
Environment does not have enough guards at border
points.
The official said that according to the by-law,
DoE is entitled to oversee the transfer of fossil
stones. “Sometimes fossil stones are being
transferred abroad as per certificate from
universities and customs officers allow the
transfer on the basis of such documents whereas
certificates should be issued by the DoE,“ he
added.
“We recommend that DoE personnel should be
increased to supervise the transfer of fossil
stones.“
The high council of DoE has declared Maragheh
fossil area as national zone and undertaken the
protection of the area. No protection was
exercised in the area so far, he added.
Several other areas at Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Dehe-e
Mallak, Charise, northern Isfahan, Hojdak,
northern Kerman, Parvardeh, Tabas, Mazino,
Rabatkhan, Khorasan province are rich in fossil
stones and have come under the supervision of
Department of Environment.
