Development of Wood Farming to Meet the Country's Wood Demand

Acting Head of FRWO reiterated that the production of 30,000 hectares of plantation for wood farming annually with due to our national capacity can meet country's need for wood.

According to FRWO’s website, Dr. Khosrow Shahbazi said in a meeting with Dr. Haghshenas, Governor General of Golestan Province on Wednesday that the country's annual wood demand is between 6.5 and 7 million cubic meters at the moment that part of it is supplied by logging from forests. Now with the implementation of logging ban initiative in Caspian natural forests, wood farming development can replace logging operation for the production of wood and can contribute to the successful implementation of the plan.

In this meeting, Dr. Shahbazi added: “Wood import can help the Government meet the remaining part of internal need to raw materials; however wood importation from abroad must be done with strict quarantine measures in such a way that do not allow pests to enter the country and damage our forests”.

In another part of his remarks, he referred to a memorandum of understanding signed between FRWO and Golestan Governorate and expressed hope that the Governorate would also earmark a co-financing to IWM projects from provincial budget.

He also cited the payment of salaries and benefits of forest guard staff as the main concern of FRWO, and said that budget would soon be allocated and the arrears would be paid at the soonest.

Dr. Shahbazi in his remarks referred to the management of Hyrcanian forests and the evacuation of coastal lands and said: “Cadastre mapping plan has been completed in 50 million hectares of national lands, with priority of forest and coastal areas.”

Governor General of Golestan emphasized the importance of preserving the Hyrcanian forests in this meeting and expressed readiness of the province for construction of a specialized port for wood importation.

Dr. Hadi Haghshenas added: “We are witnessing the massive efforts of FRWO for extinguishing forest fires, and there is a need for immediate action is taken to strengthen the firefighting capacities.”

After this meeting, Dr. Shahbazi visited some projects including “Flood Management project in Newkandeh”, “Cheshmeh Bulbul Buxus Reserve” and “Coastal Land Evacuation project” in Bandar Gaz City.