Lichens in Protected Areas of Iran

Lichens represent an essential yet underexplored component of biodiversity in Iran’s protected areas, encompassing national parks, biosphere reserves, and natural monuments. Their presence spans a wide range of ecological zones—from the humid Hyrcanian forests and subalpine ecosystems of the Zagros and Alborz Mountains to the hyper-arid regions of the Dasht-e Kavir and Lut deserts. Functionally, lichens are key contributors to ecosystem stability and resilience. In arid and semi-arid zones, crustose lichens form integral components of biological soil crusts (biocrusts), playing a pivotal role in reducing wind and water erosion, enhancing soil structure, and facilitating nitrogen and carbon fixation, thereby supporting primary productivity in nutrient-poor environments.

Moreover, lichens serve as highly sensitive bioindicators of atmospheric pollution and ecological disturbance due to their poikilohydric physiology and reliance on atmospheric sources for nutrients. Their distributional patterns and physiological responses provide critical insights into the impacts of climate change, land-use practices, and anthropogenic pollution—parameters that are especially relevant in conservation monitoring frameworks.

Iran’s protected areas, many of which encompass diverse geomorphological and climatic conditions, offer invaluable refugia for both widespread and endemic lichen taxa. These habitats are particularly important for saxicolous lichens colonizing historic stone formations, ancient tree trunks, and exposed cliff faces, where microclimatic variation facilitates niche differentiation. Despite their ecological importance, the lichen biota of many Iranian protected areas remains insufficiently documented, with numerous undescribed or cryptic taxa likely present. As such, these regions represent high-priority zones for lichenological exploration, molecular taxonomy, and conservation biology.

Integrating lichen-based assessments into environmental impact studies, protected area management, and long-term ecological research will enhance Iran’s capacity to safeguard its unique and often fragile ecosystems. Furthermore, lichens' roles in primary succession, nutrient cycling, and habitat complexity underscore their importance in maintaining ecological integrity across Iran’s biogeographic zones.