Ministry of Agriculture Jahad and Tehran Municipality Sign a MoU on Forest Parks Management and Green Space Development

Ministry of Agriculture-Jahad and Tehran Municipality signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday, October 6, 2019 for green space development in urban areas as the lungs of Tehran city in pursuant to Note 1, Article 2 of the Forests and Rangelands Nationalization Law (1962) and the Article 3 of the Conservation and Protection of Forests and Natural Resources Law (1992) and its subsequent amendments.

According to FRWO’s website, Mahmood Hojjati, Minister of Agriculture-Jahad, said on Saturday at the signing ceremony: “Our common concern is to preserve national lands for the next generations.” He expressed hope that the programmes of Tehran Municipality would provide a thriving green environment and atmosphere for the citizens in Tehran, and could be used as a model for other cities.

In the ceremony, the mayor of Tehran said: "This agreement covers the development of green spaces and forest parks in Tehran's metropolitan area, to be used by the public for their leisure time, especially during the weekends."

Pirouz Hanachi said that the memorandum will enable Tehran municipality to provide quality services to citizens and there are plans to develop the parks' services to the public.
Referring to the issues of air pollution and heavy traffic as the gravest problems in Tehran metropolitan, he expressed hope that the agreement would be effective in modifying Tehran's air quality.

The Mayor of Tehran stated that according to this agreement, management and protection of 22 thousand hectares of forest parks in Tehran are given to Tehran Municipality for a period of 30 years.

In this ceremony, Mr. Khalil Aghaee, Deputy Minister and Head of Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization (FRWO) said: “The present Memorandum of Understanding is concluded based on the sixth development plan that stipulates the transfer of parks' management to private sector. He added" The ownership will not be transferred and any land use change in forest parks is prohibited by law. In other words, FRWO exercises its sovereignty over the properties in line with protection and development of natural resources”.

Khalil Aghaei said: “There are 18 scattered forest parks in Tehran city with an area of 22 thousands hectares that will be managed by Tehran municipality in the framework of this agreement.