The provincial conference on unity for the preservation of natural resources was held at the Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University.

On the occasion of Natural Resources Week, the provincial conference "Empathy and Consensus for the Conservation of Natural Resources" was held at the Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University.

According to the Public Relations of Lorestan University, this conference was held on Monday, March 11th of this year, with the presence of Dr. Mehrdad Dadestani, Head of Lorestan University, the heads of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Lorestan University, faculty members, students, and a group of experts and general managers of the Natural Resources, Environment, Regional Water, Fisheries, and other departments and organizations in the conference hall of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Lorestan University.

In this conference, students and selected activists of natural resources and the environment of Lorestan province were honored.

Utilizing the University Capacities of the Province to Enhance Capacities

The Head of Lorestan University, in his speech at this provincial conference, said: "One of the important capacities of Lorestan province is the presence of forest cover, especially oak forest cover, rich and valuable natural resources and environment; to enhance these capacities, we must make the most of the scientific capacities of the province's universities."

Dr. Mehrdad Dadestani explained: "Climate diversity and biodiversity in Lorestan province are among the important potentials that indicate the important position of natural resources and the environment of the province."

He added: "The existence of these capacities indicates that the university and organizations related to natural resources and the environment should have a close relationship with each other and cross-sectoral cooperation should be expanded."

Dr. Dadestani stated: "If we want the province's capacities to grow and flourish sufficiently in the direction of the province's progress, we should make good use of the important capacities of universities, science and technology parks, and knowledge-based companies."

The Necessity of a Sustainable and Practical Relationship Between the University and Provincial Organizations

The Acting Vice-President for Research and Technology of Lorestan University, in his speech at this conference, said: "We must try to expand the practical and sustainable relationship between the university and the organizations and departments of natural resources and the environment of the province."

Dr. Hossein Hatami explained: "The university is ready to carry out the research projects of the province's organizations and departments based on joint practical cooperation, with the approach that the projects are in the direction of solving the province's problems."

In another part of his speech, Dr. Hatami asked the departments and organizations of Lorestan province to expand cooperation between their research and development units with Lorestan University based on the provisions of the Law on the Leap in Production of Knowledge-Based, in order to use the exemptions and tax incentives included in the law.

He emphasized: "The more scientific the approach to solving problems is strengthened, the faster the progress will be."

The Necessity of Attention to Governance Based on Future Studies and Artificial Intelligence in Natural Resources

The Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, in his speech at this conference, said: "Natural resources is a cross-sectoral issue, therefore, helping to preserve natural resources is both a cross-sectoral and public mission, based on integrated management."

Dr. Ali Haghi Zadeh explained: "We have problems in the province; for example, soil erosion in Lorestan province is twice the national average, or there are problems such as a 29% reduction in the water capacity of dams and the dangers of drought, floods, etc. in the province."

Dr. Haghi Zadeh stated: "In my opinion, the main cause of these problems is two factors: 'climate change' and 'the type of macro-policy making' in the discussion of natural resources; what is the solution? We must seek desirable governance in natural resources, based on future studies based on artificial intelligence; today, old and traditional solutions are not responsive; in governance, we must seek economic valuation of natural resources."

He noted: "40% of fresh water production is due to the existence of forests; the forest can absorb 68 tons per hectare of dust and other benefits of the forest for humans, which indicates the very high value of forest cover and other important resources, such as water; should the economic value of one cubic meter of water be 200 tomans?! Should water be provided free of charge in the agricultural sector?! Should we demand one hundredth of the economic value of water from the industrialist in the industrial sector?! Does the economic value of one cubic meter of water only mean that we produce rainbow trout and do not pay enough attention to reducing the quantity and quality of water?! Therefore, the economic value of natural resources and the economic value of an important resource such as water should be much higher than the current economic value."

The Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, emphasized: "If we move towards the economic valuation of natural resources, then our approach to the type of natural resources policy will also change; the infrastructure of sustainable development in all countries is natural resources; preserving natural resources does not mean not using natural resources; rather, it means the correct and logical use of resources; in the subject of forests, we not only have problems in preserving forests, but we have not been able to make optimal use of forests."

Dr. Haghi Zadeh explained: "The macro-management of natural resources is a comprehensive and cross-sectoral management and is not an island management; natural resources have a cross-sectoral, national, and international value; the work should not be of a parallel type; the Faculty of Natural Resources of Lorestan University, with its specialized groups, has the ability to create synergy, brainstorming, and convergence at the level of executive agencies on the subject of natural resources."

He stated: "The employment of natural resources graduates should be seriously considered; it is a negative point that a graduate of the Faculty of Natural Resources is unemployed; a natural resources student should not have concerns about a job in the future."

It is worth mentioning that in this conference, Dr. Hossein Mirzaei, the General Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Lorestan Province, also, in his speech, while expressing some points about the importance of natural resources, answered the questions of faculty members and students.

Also, Engineer Kamran Farmanpour, the General Director of Environment of Lorestan Province, also answered the questions of academics about issues related to the environment of Lorestan Province.