In the winter of 2015, a group of Iranian NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) collaborated to establish the first cultural award independent from the government in order to appreciate the ones working in the national heritage field.
National heritage, based on what UNESCO has defined, contains visible backgrounds such as buildings, memorabilia, art and literature works and invisible ones, i.e. folklore, traditional ceremonies and local dialects.
This award was founded at the suggestion of Bahram Roshan-Zamir, a researcher in history and Iranian culture with the cooperation of Iranian Cultural Organization (Afraz NGO).
Currently, the body of Persian Cypress Foundation in its third period involves:
Jamshid Cultural Foundation, Iran’s Shahnameh’s Researchers Club, Mehrgan Cultural Heritage NGO (Shiraz City), Iranology Center of Beheshti University, Iranology Center of University of Tehran, History Scientific Community of University of Tehran, Iranian Studies Scientific Community of University of Tehran, Ancient languages Scientific Community of University of Tehran, Ancient languages Scientific Community of Alameh Tabatabai University and History Scientific Community of Chamran University (Ahvaz City)

From Persepolis to Iranian miniatures, rugs and post-Islamic era’s tiles, cypress has been a signature for Iranian artists and most of the poets and prominent figures of Persian literature. Ferdowsi, Saadi and Rumi all have used it as an ornament and symbol in their works.

The sculpture of the shadow casting cypress, designed and built by master Abdulreza Qomashchi with his own style and method, will be awarded to two winners every year. On the surface of this statue, the word Minoo (Paradise) is engraved in Pahlavi Script, referring to the divinity and sacredness of the cypress tree in Persian mythology and Philosophy.
The Persian Cypress Award has two divisions: Junior and Senior. The first includes the people under 40 and the latter above 65.