Hashem Shakeri Documents Climate Crisis and Resilience in Iranian Wetlands

Iranian photographer Hashem Shakeri is creating an ongoing photographic series titled 'The Kahur Does Not Fall Unless the Earth Wills It' (2018–present) focusing on the drought-stricken Balochistan region. The work centers on two native symbols: the kahur tree, representing resilience in arid conditions, and the gando crocodile, viewed locally as an indicator of water availability and considered sacred. Shakeri, who is self-taught in photography with a background in architecture and theater, has pursued long-term projects on climate change effects in Sistan and Balochistan for nearly a decade. His series captures the intersection of environmental degradation and human endurance, with images including a red-hued kahur tree featuring a silhouetted figure, which Shakeri connects to regional protests during Iran's 2022 Women, Life, Freedom movement. The photographs document daily life in an area where drying wetlands have pushed communities into poverty.