Document Type : Article extracted From phd dissertation
Authors
1
PhD in Student, Geography and Urban Planning, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2
Professor, Department of Geography, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/jiga.2025.2064487.1421
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In recent decades, the rapid population growth of Tehran and the horizontal expansion of the city, along with extensive migration to peripheral areas, have led to significant changes in land use within the urban fringe. These changes—often manifested in unauthorized construction and the conversion of agricultural lands into residential or industrial areas (Jafarpoor Ghaleh Teymour, 2025: 32)—have endangered the environmental sustainability and ecological resilience of the region. According to the 2016 national census, the official population of Tehran’s fringe was around 11 million, and it is projected to reach approximately 14 million by 2026. This population growth, together with increasing pressure from the demand for land for housing and economic activities, has created complex challenges in managing the fringe. On the other hand, policies established to protect and sustainably develop the fringe—such as creating a green belt, restricting construction in mountainous and agricultural zones, developing new towns like Pardis and Parand, and strengthening public transportation infrastructure—have encountered numerous implementation barriers. Tehran’s urban fringe, as the physical and functional boundary between the city and its surrounding areas, plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance, controlling spatial development, and managing land-use conflicts. In recent decades, rapid population growth, urban sprawl, and migration pressures have created complex challenges in preserving and sustainably developing this area.
Methodology
Given that data collection in this study was performed through fieldwork, library research, online database searches, interviews, and the preparation and completion of questionnaires, this research can be considered survey-based in terms of nature and method. Furthermore, the study can be classified as descriptive-analytical: descriptive, because the current situation is presented using tables and charts, and analytical, because relationships between variables are also examined. Therefore, the present study is applied in terms of purpose; field-based in terms of the level of control; and descriptive, non-experimental in terms of data collection.
In this research, all policies aimed at protecting and sustainably developing the urban fringe of Tehran—approved and issued by official authorities in upstream documents over the past three decades—have been extracted and categorized into two groups: protective and developmental.
Results and Discussion
It appears that, within policy-making processes, the capacity for consensus-building, data processing, facilitation, coordination, mediation, networking, public awareness-raising, empowerment, avoidance of patronage, establishment of effective communication systems, local thinking, and adopting an inter-sectoral perspective are among the essential components of policymaking and fringe management that require greater attention.
The protection and development of Tehran’s fringe is a strategic and multi-dimensional endeavor that necessitates a cross-sectoral, forward-looking, participatory, and technology-driven approach. Without effective policymaking, Tehran will face the expansion of informal settlements, environmental degradation, and reduced ecological resilience.
Therefore, adopting precise, coordinated, and transparent policies at both national and local levels is urgently needed to manage this vital zone. Ultimately, revising institutional structures, strengthening legal capacities, and establishing inter-agency coordination are essential to ensure that Tehran’s fringe development policies achieve their true role as a key tool for securing urban quality of life and environmental protection.
Conclusion
It appears that, within policy-making processes, the capacity for consensus-building, data processing, facilitation, coordination, mediation, networking, public awareness-raising, empowerment, avoidance of patronage, establishment of effective communication systems, local thinking, and adopting an inter-sectoral perspective are among the essential components of policymaking and fringe management that require greater attention.
The protection and development of Tehran’s fringe is a strategic and multi-dimensional endeavor that necessitates a cross-sectoral, forward-looking, participatory, and technology-driven approach. Without effective policymaking, Tehran will face the expansion of informal settlements, environmental degradation, and reduced ecological resilience.
Therefore, adopting precise, coordinated, and transparent policies at both national and local levels is urgently needed to manage this vital zone. Ultimately, revising institutional structures, strengthening legal
capacities, and establishing inter-agency coordination are essential to ensure that Tehran’s fringe development policies achieve their true role as a key tool for securing urban quality of life and environmental protection.
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