I write about conservation as it is practised: in field projects, communities, institutions, and policy. My essays and commentary explore human–nature relationships, conservation durability, and the lessons that emerge when practical conservation meets social and institutional realities.
The pieces collected here were published in external outlets and reflect different parts of that work, from birds and wetlands to conservation policy, institutions, and the experience of working through change and disruption.
Selected writing
After the Lion, a Bird
Current Conservation · 2026
A field-based account of how the Ruddy Shelduck became a new conservation symbol for Arjan Wetland after the disappearance of the Persian lion, and how community participation, local memory and a shared connection with a living species helped renew wetland stewardship.
The shortcut that introduced feral cats to an island
WildHub · 2026
A field-based reflection on how a single human decision introduced 17 feral cats to Shidvar Island, what it took to remove them, and what the episode revealed about the vulnerability of island ecosystems and the value of sustained conservation presence.
Can conservation change how the world sees the Strait of Hormuz?
Mongabay · 2026
A commentary on the Strait of Hormuz as both a geopolitical chokepoint and an ecological corridor, arguing for a regional conservation perspective on a shared and highly vulnerable marine system.
When fewer birds may not mean what we first think
WildHub · 2026
A reflection on winter waterbird counts in the Caspian region and on how climate-driven redistribution can complicate the interpretation of monitoring data, local declines, and conservation outcomes.
When a village asks for a sign
LinkedIn · 2026
A reflection from Arjan International Wetland on what small community requests can reveal about conservation durability, local ownership, and the way conservation becomes embedded in everyday social life.
A Reminder from Iran: When Conservation Becomes Too Dependent on Digital Connectivity
WildHub · 2026
A reflection on how internet disruption exposed the fragility of conservation systems built around continuous digital connectivity, and why local relationships, trust, and social ownership matter for resilience during crises.
Without transformation, bird conservation in Iran is bound to fail
Payam-e Ma · 2025
Originally published in Persian. A commentary on the structural changes needed for bird conservation to move beyond fragmented efforts and develop stronger, more durable systems for conservation practice.
Ellen Vuosalo-Tavakoli: Love, Loss, and the Lessons of Conservation in Iran
WildHub · 2025
A reflection on the life of Ellen Vuosalo-Tavakoli, her decades-long commitment to the Siberian Crane, and what her story reveals about persistence, failure, and the limits of individual dedication in conservation.
A Victory Against Power Line Collisions: Conserving Asian Houbara in Iran
WildHub · 2025
A field account of the Abbas Abad power-line mitigation project, from identifying collision hotspots to installing spiral diverters and monitoring the intervention’s results.
How a Duck Saved a Wetland: The Ruddy Shelduck as a Flagship for Conservation
WildHub · 2024
The story of how the Ruddy Shelduck was selected as a flagship species for Arjan International Wetland and became part of a broader community-based conservation programme.
Does lighting trees at night harm birds?
Isfahan Ziba · Persian
Originally published in Persian. A short public-facing note on artificial lighting in urban trees and its potential effects on birds.