The Latest Developments in FRWO's Programs and Policies

Massoud Mansour, Deputy Minister and Head of FRWO, in an interview with Iran Agricultural News Agency - IANA - briefed on the latest developments in the natural resources sector, including policies, programs, and activities taken by FRWO. 

He said that FRWO has implemented IWM projects in 30 million hectares, but due to water erosion in 125 million hectares throughout the country, it doesn't meet all needs and the current situation is not the desired situation. In this regard, to achieve a desired situation, FRWO should implement IWM projects in four million hectares annually.

Regarding the country's vegetation cover, he said: "Iran is an arid and semi-arid country, located in the southern part of the northern hemisphere on the arid belt of the world and on the whole, Iran is categorized as a low forest cover country.

"Currently, forests cover an area of 14.3 million hectares in five vegetation zones, in addition to 84 million hectares of rangelands, and 32.6 million hectares of deserts throughout the country," Mansour said.

He said that conservation of forests, including the Caspian forests and the Zagros forests, is a serious national priority that has prompted the government to introduce the Logging Ban Initiative. He emphasized the implementation of the logging ban initiative and added that conservation of forests must be taken seriously in the ban period. 

Head of FRWO said: A proposal from the Minister of Agriculture Jahad was reflected to the President, according to which a request was made to form a High Council for the Protection of Zagros forests, which the President agreed to, and FRWO is pursuing the formation of the high council.

Mansour stressed the completion of the cadastre mapping as the best way to manage natural resources effectively and noted: "It is anticipated that cadastre mapping of forested areas will be completed in all public lands by the end of current year."