Imam Khamenei: Forests, green spaces should be protected

On the third day of the national Week of Natural Resources in Iran, Leader of the Islamic Revolution underlined the importance of protecting the environment, and urged all Iranian people and officials to pay more attention to safeguarding the country’s green spaces.

After planting a sapling in the Iranian capital on Tuesday to mark the Natural Resources Week, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei highlighted the necessity for protecting the plants and trees, which "are blessings to human life".

“All people and authorities should work hard to protect the green spaces, particularly the forests and meadows, as a duty,” the Leader noted in the ceremony, which was also attended by Iran’s Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati and Mayor of Tehran Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Imam Khamenei further deplored the destruction of native plant species because of certain encroachments on Iranian forests, saying, “Incursion into the jungles and gardens is against the (country’s) interest.”

“It is feared that some of these native species are destroyed,” the Leader warned, adding that it is thus upon everyone to protect and safeguard the green spaces.

Back in November 2015, in a letter to heads of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Iranian government, Ayatollah Khamenei had outlined 15 environmental policies developed in consultation with the Expediency Council in line with implementing the first paragraph of Article 110 of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution.

Development of an integrated national environmental system and the necessity for comprehensive, coordinated and systematic management of the country’s vital resources (including water, soil, air, and biodiversity) are among the most important policies underlined in the letter.

The general policies call for criminalization of destruction of the country’s environment and punishment for polluters and destroyers of the environment.

Management of climate change and countering environmental threats including desertification, dust pollution, drought, and bacterial and radioactive transmission factors as well as the study and management of emerging environmental phenomena are also among the key points in the general policies.

They necessitated the expansion of "green economy" by laying emphasis on the use of clean energies, organic agriproducts, and waste management as well as the promotion of green public transportation system.

They also urge the reinforcement of Iran’s environmental diplomacy through establishment of regional bodies to counter dust and water pollutions, and the reinforcement of bilateral, multilateral, regional, and international collaborations in the field of environment.

Effective use of international opportunities and incentives on the path toward low-carbon economy and facilitation of the transfer and development of related technologies and innovations are also among the policies outlined by the Leader in the letter.

Earlier in March 2015, Ayatollah Khamenei had called for the formulation of Iran’s national document on environment, and urged national efforts to protect the environment.

“Formulating a national document on environment and annexed environmental documents for all constructional, industrial, trade and refinery projects, reviewing the law to criminalize damage to the environment, and strengthening indiscriminate supervision are among the most important ways to protect the environment and confront profiteers and lawbreakers,” the Leader said at the time.



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