Iran's Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization needs a stronger mandate in protecting the natural resources in the face of pressure from vested interests, the head of FRWMO said.
"Anyone intending to do any activity involving the natural resources is required to obtain a license from the FRWMO. This is while some entities, mostly semi-governmental, put our organization under pressure to allow them to go ahead with their illegal projects," Khalil Aqaei told a ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday to mark the World Ranger Day.
He said the FRWMO's authority is under challenge mainly from two groups. One group includes people who depend on forest resources for their livelihood and illegally cut down the trees to produce coal for sale, the official said.
The FRWMO's local offices are responsible for identifying dead, fallen, hollow and sick trees and introduce them as a source of fuel or coal production to prevent the illegal felling of healthy trees. But the other group involves those semi-governmental bodies that plunder the natural resources on the pretext of conducting business to generate income and jobs, Aqaei said.
"I am under pressure from certain organizations and I cannot be more open about the issue," he was quoted as saying by ISNA. "The FRWMO should have such authority that it can confidently say 'no' to certain requests for an operating license and deter any defiance."
Protection Efforts
A budget of $200 million from the National Development Fund's resources has been allocated for environmental protection schemes. Of that amount, Aqaei said, $23 million will be used to finance a biological project to revive and boost the vegetation cover across the 135 million hectares of land under the FRWMO's protection.
Colonel Qasem Sabzali, commander of the protection unit at FRWMO, also addressed the ceremony, saying his organization would be unable to deliver on its responsibility without the cooperation of other organizations.
"All relevant bodies are bound to help the FRWMO conserve the environment and natural resources," he said.
"Part of the serious challenges facing the environment sector in terms of water, soil and air can be blamed on our failure to seek the public's active participation in promoting a culture of respect for the environment," Sabzali added.
