Zagros Voice for Forest Conservation at Lorestan University National Conference

The opening ceremony of the National Conference on Iranian Forests, with an emphasis on the subject of social forestry in the Zagros region, was held at Lorestan University.

According to the Public Relations of Lorestan University, the opening ceremony of the seventh National Conference on Iranian Forests was held on Wednesday, December 5th of the current year, in the Shahid Soleimani Hall of Lorestan University.

Increasing the Participation of Universities and the Public

In this ceremony, Dr. Mehrdad Dadestani, President of Lorestan University, stated the following:

1_ Approximately 40% of the country's forests are located in the Zagros region; the Zagros forests are intertwined with the culture, art, and music of the people of the Zagros region.

2_ Holding such scientific conferences increases national sensitivity and responsibility for the protection of Zagros forests.

3_ All problems and challenges have solutions; the mission of universities is to provide scientific solutions to solve problems. Solutions must be operational.

4_ The role of universities and public participation in solving existing problems should be increased.

5_ Lorestan University has the readiness and ability to expand its participation in this path.

The Capacity of Universities and Local Communities

In this ceremony, Dr. Naghi Shabaniyan, advisor to the President of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, spoke about various topics:

_ Choosing Lorestan University to host this conference was an appropriate choice.

_ Efforts should be made to expand the sustainable and integrated management of the country's forests.

_ Social forestry with the approach of increasing the participation of people and local communities has been designed for all regions of the country.

_ The capacities of universities and local communities should be used more than ever in the direction of social forestry and the restoration of Zagros forests.

Preserving Ownership and Integrated Management of Forests

Dr. Seyed Ataollah Hosseini, President of the Iranian Forestry Scientific Association, in his speech, raised the activities of the association and some demands:

_ Preserving the ownership and integrated management of forests is one of the important goals of the Iranian Forestry Scientific Association.

_ The role of educating different segments of the population regarding the importance of protecting forests is important.

_ New scientific ideas for the protection of forests should be welcomed.

Intelligent Protection with Scientific Solutions

Engineer Seyed Emad Shahrokhi, advisor to the President of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, read the message of Dr. Reza Afshatouni, the President of this organization.

Part of this message states:

_ Intelligent protection of the country's forests is very important and should be expanded with scientific synergy and responsibility.

_ The achievements of such scientific conferences should be used to improve existing methods.

_ Emphasis on providing scientific and operational solutions and strengthening communication with the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization.

Explaining the Plan to Plant One Billion Trees

Dr. Reza Ahmadi, the implementer of the plan to plant one billion seedlings (trees), also in his speech, explained the coordinates and characteristics of this plan in detail.

Stating the Most Important Challenges

Dr. Hamidreza Afrand, a forest researcher, was also one of the main speakers of the conference, who in his speech, explained and clarified the most important challenges of the Zagros forests from a social perspective and examined illegal cultivation in the forests.

Respect for Nature from a Religious Perspective

Hojjatoleslam Valmoslemin Abdollah Fazeli, Deputy of the Representative Office of the Supreme Leader in Lorestan University, also in his speech, explained the topic of natural resources from a religious perspective.

_ Humans should be grateful for the blessings, including the blessing of forests and nature, and should not waste in using nature. Nature should not be destroyed.

_ Mountains, forests, natural resources, rivers, seas, land, sky, water, etc. are all blessings of God. A religious person never destroys a blessing.

Recommendations of the Father of Iranian Oak

Mr. Mozaffar Afshar, known as the "Father of Iranian Oak," was also among the speakers who shared his recommendations with the audience.

_ The land and nature are sick and not in good condition; everyone should think about natural resources, land, and nature.

_ I appreciate Lorestan University for holding this good national conference.

_ Environmental associations should be supported as much as possible; these associations and groups have always been and are passionately and voluntarily involved.

_ Equipment to combat forest fires should be strengthened; skilled human resources should also have appropriate equipment.

_ Educating people about the protection of forests and natural resources is a very important issue that should be expanded.

Corrective Suggestions

Dr. Rahim Maleknia, a faculty member of the Forestry Department of the Faculty of Natural Resources of Lorestan University and the scientific deputy secretary of the conference, in his speech, expressed some scientific criticisms and his corrective suggestions about the social forestry plan:

_ In Zagros, any plan whose main goal is not to preserve vegetation to provide water will be a threat. Let's not forget that 40% of the country's water is supplied from Zagros.

_ Zagros should not be sacrificed only for the sake of short-term and unsustainable livelihoods; Zagros should be preserved to provide the country's water; therefore, the social forestry plan should not tie the livelihoods of local communities to the "forest"; because the main issue should be the preservation of Zagros to provide water for the country.

Names of the Authors of the Selected Conference Papers:

First: Dr. Ahmad Beiranvand.

Second: Engineer Seyed Emad Shahrokhi.

Third: Dr. Omid Esmaeilzadeh.

Fourth: Dr. Reza Siahmansour.

Fifth: Dr. Maziar Heydari.

Sixth: Engineer Donya Rahmani.

Seventh: Dr. Elham Karimzadeh Jafari.

Eighth: Engineer Somayeh Heydarnajad.

_ Conference Executive Secretary: Dr. Seyed Vahid Seyedna (Faculty member of the Forestry Department).

It is worth mentioning that in the opening ceremony of the conference, a recitation (reading in the style of reading poetry) about the importance of protecting forests and natural resources was performed by one of the province's students (Ms. Hasti Dalvand) who was wearing the local dress of Lorestan women, which was welcomed and applauded by the audience.