FRW

Rangelan Management

Grasslands and Rangelands

Rangelands are among Iran’s most important natural resources and play a vital role in soil conservation, vegetation restoration, livestock production, biodiversity protection, rural and nomadic livelihoods, and ecological stability. Sustainable rangeland management is therefore essential for preventing overexploitation, land degradation, vegetation loss and irreversible damage to natural ecosystems.

In accordance with national laws and regulations, the legal use of national rangelands requires grazing permits until rangeland management plans are approved and implemented. All beneficiaries, including rural pastoralists and nomadic communities, are required to comply with relevant laws, regulations and official instructions. This legal framework helps regulate the use of rangelands and supports their sustainable management.

The Rangeland Affairs Bureau of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization works under the Deputy for Watershed Management, Rangeland and Desert Affairs. Its main responsibilities include the restoration, rehabilitation, development and sustainable utilization of national rangelands. These responsibilities are carried out through policymaking, regulation, rangeland inventory, issuance of grazing permits, preparation of rangeland management plans, and technical and legal consultation on rangeland affairs.

A major part of rangeland management is the development of integrated multi-purpose rangeland management plans. These plans consider the full range of rangeland ecosystem goods and services and aim to ensure sustainable utilization while improving the livelihoods of pastoralists. Key activities include grazing management, regulation of livestock movement and pastoral migration, biological and biomechanical measures for soil and vegetation conservation, and the development of forage, industrial and medicinal plants.

The Organization also identifies degraded rangelands and endangered plant species in order to prioritize them for conservation and rehabilitation. It monitors and supervises the implementation of rangeland plans and projects across the country, supports rural and nomadic livelihoods, preserves indigenous knowledge and traditions, and contributes to job creation through development plans, local employment, rangers, pastoralists, experts and related stakeholders.

Rangeland management also includes mapping, data collection, classification, analysis, preparation of qualitative and quantitative reports, documentation, online services and the development of a web-based rangeland information system. The Organization also manages technical and legal mechanisms such as the Commission under Clause 49 for resolving disputes and objections related to rangeland utilization, and the Rangeland Technical Committee for assessing proposed plans.

Looking ahead, the Organization seeks to achieve a balanced relationship between rangelands and their beneficiaries through reassessment of rangeland conditions and policies aimed at preventing overexploitation. Future priorities include expanding multi-purpose rangeland management plans, completing digital maps of customary rangeland units and rangeland management plans, supporting public investment in economic rangeland management programs, increasing the participation of women, youth and different sectors, and encouraging the establishment of rangeland stakeholders’ unions.

Agrifood System

Sustainable agrifood systems depend on healthy land, productive soil, reliable water resources, resilient rangelands, restored forests and well-managed natural ecosystems. Although the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization is not directly responsible for agricultural production, its mandate in conserving, restoring and sustainably managing natural resources provides an essential ecological foundation for food security, rural livelihoods and environmentally compatible production systems.

Rangelands are one of the main links between natural resources management and agrifood systems in Iran. They support livestock production, pastoral livelihoods, forage resources, medicinal and industrial plants, biodiversity conservation and soil and vegetation rehabilitation. The Organization promotes integrated multi-purpose rangeland management in order to ensure sustainable utilization, regulate grazing, manage pastoral migration, protect soil and vegetation, and improve the livelihoods of rural and nomadic communities.

Combating desertification, land degradation and drought is also directly connected with agrifood system resilience. Land Degradation Neutrality aims to maintain or increase the amount and quality of land resources needed to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security. In this context, the Organization’s actions in desertification control, wind erosion reduction, restoration of degraded lands, vegetation improvement and protection of soil resources help reduce pressure on productive landscapes and support more resilient rural areas.

Watershed management contributes to agrifood systems by reducing natural hazards and protecting the ecological functions of land and water. The Organization’s work on landslide identification and stabilization, gully erosion mapping and control, and watershed management projects in land subsidence areas supports soil conservation, water regulation and the long-term stability of landscapes that are important for rural development and land-based livelihoods.

Land capability assessment and sustainable land allocation also play an important role in supporting agrifood systems. The Organization reviews allocation requests for approved agricultural and non-agricultural projects, including requests related to wells and agricultural water storage pools, only within the framework of legal criteria and land capability. After assessing water, soil, vegetation, climate and other natural conditions, the most suitable land use or plan can be selected in line with sustainable development and the protection of national resources.

Forest-related actions also support agrifood system sustainability indirectly. Forest rehabilitation, production of quality seeds and standard seedlings, restoration of degraded natural areas, planting of native and multi-purpose species, and reducing pressure on natural forests help protect water resources, soil stability, biodiversity and ecosystem services. In the Hyrcanian forest landscape, the development of guidelines for different land uses, including forestry, agriculture and livestock, has provided an example of linking biodiversity conservation with sustainable land-use management.

Through rangeland management, desertification control, watershed management, land capability assessment, forest restoration and participatory natural resources management, the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization supports the ecological base of sustainable agrifood systems. This approach helps protect land and water resources, reduce degradation, strengthen rural and nomadic livelihoods, and support environmentally compatible development for present and future generations.

Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants are an important part of Iran’s natural resources, plant diversity and genetic heritage. Iran’s forests and rangelands provide natural habitats for a wide range of medicinal, industrial, forage and other valuable plant species. According to the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, more than 2,300 medicinal plant species exist in the country, which highlights the importance of conserving their natural habitats and managing their use responsibly.

Rangelands are among the main natural habitats of medicinal and industrial plants in Iran. The Organization’s rangeland management approach includes the development of forage, industrial and pharmaceutical plant cultivation, along with grazing management, pastoral migration control, and biological and biomechanical measures for the conservation and rehabilitation of soil and vegetation. This approach seeks to ensure that rangelands are used sustainably without causing irreversible damage to their ecological capacity.

Medicinal and industrial plants are also addressed in forest management programs, especially in forest areas outside northern Iran. The Center for Arid and Semi-arid Forests includes the development of industrial and medicinal plants, particularly trees and shrubs, among its key activities. These activities are linked to sustainable forest management, afforestation, forest development, forest nurseries, seedling production, forest parks and the management of non-timber forest products.

The sustainable use of medicinal plants requires careful planning, technical supervision and attention to ecological limits. In forest and rangeland areas, utilization must be compatible with conservation objectives, vegetation recovery, soil protection and the long-term stability of natural ecosystems. For this reason, the protection of habitats, restoration of degraded lands and prevention of unsustainable harvesting are essential components of medicinal plant management.

The Organization also emphasizes the protection of endangered species and genetic reserves. In line with official policy, harvesting permits are not issued for medicinal plant species that are at risk of extinction. This measure helps protect vulnerable species, conserve national genetic resources and prevent further degradation of natural habitats.

Through rangeland management, forest management, habitat restoration, development of forage, medicinal and industrial plants, regulation of utilization, public participation and technical monitoring, the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization seeks to conserve Iran’s medicinal plant resources while supporting sustainable livelihoods and responsible use of natural resources.

Rangeland Management

Rangelan Management