Iran to Share her Experiences in Desertification control with Nigeria

Iran is to help Nigeria to implement a desertification control plan.

Ahman Shehu Mahmud Usman, Permanent Secretary of Nigerian Minister of Environment, arrived at Isfahan province at the head of a high ranking delegation comprised of 13 federal and provincial managers in the field of environment and natural resources management to visit desertification control projects.

The delegation visited Segzi and Kohpayeh projects in eastern Isfahan and exchanged views with Iranian counterparts about control measures of desertification and wind erosion in hotspots in the region.

Nigerian Permanent Secretary for Environment in his visit to Aran and Bidgol region in Kashan praised the achievements of I. R. of Iran in combating desertification, and described them as outstanding example of work that can be replicated in Nigeria to fight desertification and wind erosion phenomena.

Ahman Shehu Mahmud Usman said that there are more than 10 major deserts in Nigeria that require immediate management response. He invited the Iranian side to provide her expertise in the field of combating desertification.

In the field visits, the Nigerian delegation got acquainted with desertification control operation including water harvesting and plantation techniques and methods of desert control in eastern Isfahan.

There are 32 million hectares of deserts in Iran. FRWO has so far planted 2.5 million hectares of man -made forests of which 300 thousand hectares are located in Isfahan province.

It is noteworthy that Sagzi 10,000-hectare project started in November 2015. Desertification in eastern Isfahan annually incurs more than 8.5 million dollar damages on infrastructures and natural resources in this area.