Government Week Unveils 250+ Innovative Natural Resources Projects!
In a significant move towards enhancing natural resources and watershed management, the head of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, Ali Teymouri, has announced the launch of over 250 natural resources projects during the Government Week, which runs from August 24 to 30. With an impressive budget allocation of more than 5,847 billion rials (approximately six million dollars), these initiatives aim to bolster various sectors, including watershed management, conservation, and environmental sustainability.
Teymouri emphasized the vital importance of these projects in promoting sustainable land management and improving biosecurity. The primary goals of these initiatives are:
- Reducing soil erosion
- Controlling sediment
- Strengthening groundwater resources
- Safeguarding and enhancing the nation’s vegetation
- Reducing dust levels
- Increasing green space per capita
The projects encompass critical activities such as:
- Building forest reserves and wildlife protection stations
- Equipping existing plant nurseries
- Completing the construction of fire stations
- Distributing solar water heating systems to decrease firewood consumption
- Constructing semi-circular bunds to harvest rainwater and prevent soil erosion
- Building earth dams
- Restoring and improving pastures
- Conducting flood spreading operations
In a recent statement, Teymouri revealed that the budget for watershed management has seen a remarkable increase of fifteenfold from the previous year. This substantial boost is part of the national budget bill for the current Iranian calendar year (March 2025-March 2026), signifying a robust commitment to environmental sustainability.
Implementing effective watershed and aquifer management projects is crucial for:
- Enhancing rainfall penetration into land
- Establishing strong vegetation cover
- Reducing soil erosion
- Improving land dynamics
While addressing the challenges posed by reduced rainfall and rising global temperatures, which contribute to sand and dust storms, Teymouri highlighted the need for a holistic approach to territorial sovereignty. He stated that natural resources, vegetation, biodiversity, fauna, soil, and air must be viewed as interconnected elements. Ignoring the rate of water evaporation can lead to inefficient decision-making regarding remaining water resources.
Out of the approximately 400 billion cubic meters of annual rainfall, around 280 billion cubic meters evaporates, leaving only 110 to 120 billion cubic meters of manageable water. Alarmingly, the Ministry of Energy reports a decline in this figure to 66 billion cubic meters this year, marking a 20 to 30 percent decrease compared to last year.
Teymouri emphasized that if just 10 percent of the evaporated water could be effectively managed through watershed and aquifer management techniques, it could lead to numerous positive changes in the region.
Currently, approximately 6,500 villages and 450 cities face the risk of flooding. Managing runoff upstream in these areas is a key responsibility of the Natural Resources Organization. Teymouri noted that about 25 to 28 million hectares of critical lands have been identified in the country, which are well-suited for implementing watershed management projects. These areas are prioritized in the organization’s agenda.
According to the seventh national development plan (2023-2027), watershed management projects are set to cover 20 million hectares of land over the next five years, translating to four million hectares annually. This ambitious plan underscores the organization’s commitment to restoring and enhancing the country’s natural resources.
With these initiatives, Iran aims to pave the way for a sustainable future that balances environmental conservation with development needs, ensuring that natural resources are preserved for generations to come.