Mozaffari Protected Area

Mozaffari Protected Area is one of the valuable areas managed by the Department of Environment in South Khorasan Province. It lies in Ferdows County and parts of Boshruyeh County and covers about 92,808 hectares. The area is roughly 40 kilometres west of the city of Ferdows and combines desert landscapes, rolling hills and low-lying highlands, which makes it one of the important environmental reserves in the east of the country.

The vegetation of the Mozaffari area includes native drought-resistant species such as saxaul (taghagh), Zygophyllum (qeych), wormwood (artemisia), thyme, wild almond, wild barberry, asafoetida, black cumin, yarrow and camel thorn. These plants have adapted to the arid and semi-arid climate and provide a suitable habitat for desert wildlife. Notable animals living here include the sand cat, wolf, Rüppell's fox (sand fox), gazelle, wild sheep (urial), ibex and wild goat, caracal (wild cat), houbara bustard and birds of prey. The recorded breeding of rare species such as the sand cat shows the ecological importance of this habitat.

To reach Mozaffari Protected Area, travel west from the city of Ferdows until minor roads and dirt tracks lead to the entrances of the area. Given the size of the area and how widely the habitats are scattered, a local guide or GPS is recommended. The best time to visit these natural habitats is spring and autumn, when the weather is milder and conditions are better for wildlife watching and nature tourism. Visiting the area responsibly requires following environmental protection rules, including not lighting fires, not disturbing animals and not leaving litter in nature.