International cooperation is an essential part of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization’s approach to sustainable natural resources management. The Islamic Republic of Iran actively participates in international processes related to natural resources and the environment, particularly in the fields of sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, climate change, combating desertification, watershed management, rangeland management, land degradation control and ecosystem restoration.
Iran is a member of major international environmental conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Within these frameworks, the Organization contributes to national reporting, implementation of international commitments, preparation of national strategies and action plans, and coordination of programs related to biodiversity, climate change, desertification, drought mitigation and land degradation neutrality.
The Organization also plays an active role in international forest-related processes. Iran has participated in United Nations forest forums and has emphasized the needs of low forest cover countries and countries with unique forest ecosystems. In this context, the Tehran Process was established to follow up international forest issues and represent the perspectives and priorities of low forest cover countries in global forest-related discussions.
The Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization has a long record of cooperation with international organizations and development partners, including FAO, UNDP, UNEP, GEF, IFAD, JICA and other regional and international institutions. These partnerships have supported technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge exchange, financial cooperation and the implementation of joint projects in natural resources management, forest and rangeland rehabilitation, watershed management, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, desertification control and sustainable land management.
Several international projects have provided practical models for future cooperation. The Carbon Sequestration Project supported participatory and community-based natural resources management in arid and semi-arid areas. The Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Lands Project contributed to the restoration of lands affected by wind erosion and salinity. The Hyrcanian forest landscape project promoted multifunctional management, land-use planning, zoning, monitoring, law enforcement and clarification of local community roles and rights for biodiversity conservation. The Caspian Tree Seed Production and Improvement Center, implemented with FAO and UNDP, strengthened forest genetic resource conservation, seed quality control, seed processing, storage and expert training.
Through international cooperation, the Organization seeks to strengthen institutional and technical capacities, mobilize financial and technical support, exchange successful experiences, promote participatory and ecosystem-based management, and address transboundary environmental challenges such as desertification, drought and sand and dust storms. By linking national priorities with international commitments, the Organization works to protect Iran’s natural resources, improve ecological resilience and support sustainable development for present and future generations.
The Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization has implemented several completed international projects in cooperation with international organizations and development partners. These projects have supported sustainable natural resources management, restoration of degraded lands, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, forest genetic resource conservation, wind erosion monitoring and community-based management in different ecological regions of Iran.
One of the important implemented projects is the Carbon Sequestration Project, officially titled the Empowerment and Participatory Management of Natural Resources Project. This project was a joint initiative between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Nations Development Programme. It began in 2003 in Hosseinabad, Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan Province, with the aim of developing a participatory socio-economic and ecological model for restoring degraded natural resources, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. The project focused on local community capacity building, increasing atmospheric carbon absorption, strengthening rural organizations, improving livelihoods, supporting rural product marketing, increasing resilience to drought and promoting renewable energy and rural development.
The Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Lands Project was another major international project implemented with the support of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Global Environment Facility and FAO. The project was implemented in Rigan, Kerman Province, and Sarayan, South Khorasan Province. It began in mid-2010 and ended at the end of 2023. The project introduced coordinated rural development planning at the watershed level, strengthened inter-sectoral cooperation, supported the restoration of degraded natural resources, and established the first wind erosion measurement stations in the country.
The Caspian Tree Seed Production and Improvement Center is another completed international project. The project document was signed by FAO and UNDP in October 1990 and by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in November 1990. The project began in September 1991 and was completed in November 1993, with a short extension visit in November 1994 to finalize work on tree improvement and genetic resources. The project established the Caspian Tree Seed Production and Improvement Center in Koludeh, Mazandaran, including laboratory facilities, germination rooms, office facilities, seed research programs and areas for tree improvement activities.
The Caspian Tree Seed Production and Improvement Center contributed to the identification, recording and classification of more than 6,000 hectares of seed collection areas in the Hyrcanian forests. It also supported seed collection, processing and storage, quality testing of forest and rangeland seeds, training of seed supply experts and the provision of quality seeds for afforestation, restoration and seedling production. The Center remains an important technical asset for conserving forest genetic resources and supporting the restoration and development of forests.
The project for establishing multifunctional management in the Hyrcanian forest landscape to preserve biodiversity was implemented in cooperation with the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It began in 2013 and ended in 2018. The project focused on biodiversity conservation in the Hyrcanian forest landscape through land-use planning, zoning, monitoring, law enforcement, clarification of local community roles and rights, and participatory decision-making for managing different land uses.
The Hyrcanian project promoted a shift from sectoral management toward multifunctional landscape-based management. It supported community-based forest management, protected approximately 120,000 hectares of project areas, helped conserve important species and habitats, created income-generating opportunities for local communities, reduced forest degradation caused by agriculture, illegal logging and grazing, and brought at least 30,000 hectares of forest under community management with clear legal status.
Through these completed international projects, the Organization has gained valuable experience in technical cooperation, community-based natural resources management, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, seed resource management, wind erosion monitoring and integrated landscape planning. These experiences provide a practical foundation for future national and international cooperation in natural resources and watershed management.
The Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization pursues a range of ongoing projects and priority actions in the fields of forest development, rangeland management, desertification control, watershed management, land capability assessment, land governance, natural resources protection and ecosystem restoration. These activities are designed to support sustainable natural resources management, reduce land degradation, strengthen ecological resilience and protect soil and water resources.
One of the major ongoing national priorities is the expansion and restoration of vegetation cover. Within this framework, the Organization follows programs related to forest development and afforestation, rehabilitation and enrichment of northern forests, production of standard forest seedlings, establishment of seed collection areas, selection of forest reserves, development of forest parks, wood farming and the promotion of tree planting. These actions are closely linked to the National Plan for Planting One Billion Trees and the broader objective of increasing ecosystem goods and services.
In desert and dryland areas, ongoing actions focus on combating desertification, controlling wind erosion and reducing sand and dust storm sources. In the Seventh National Development Plan, reducing wind erosion and critical wind erosion hotspots by 20 percent has been defined as a national target. Based on the identified extent of lands affected by wind erosion, large-scale desertification control operations have been planned through measures such as seedling plantation, runoff management, sediment traps, living and non-living windbreaks, enclosure, mulching where appropriate, seeding and management of planted forests.
Watershed-related ongoing priorities include integrated studies on landslide hazard reduction, updating national gully erosion inventory maps, and studying and implementing measures to reduce land subsidence risks from the perspective of integrated watershed management. These actions help reduce natural hazards, improve watershed resilience, support soil conservation and strengthen the role of watershed management in adapting to climate variability.
Rangeland management is another important field of ongoing work. The Organization pursues the balance between rangelands and beneficiaries through reassessment of rangeland status, prevention of overexploitation, development of multi-purpose rangeland management plans, preparation of digital maps of customary rangeland units and rangeland management plans, promotion of public investment in economic rangeland management programs, and wider participation of stakeholders, including women and youth.
The Organization also continues actions related to land capability assessment, land allocation and digital land governance. These include land-use planning, studies for identifying land capability and suitability, planning for the most appropriate use of land based on water, soil, vegetation and climate conditions, and the development of the Land Management Single Window System. This system aims to centralize land-related services and support the protection of national resources using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence tools.
Protection-oriented ongoing priorities include modern fire management, pest and disease monitoring, and the use of new technologies. The Organization follows the use of artificial intelligence and advanced equipment for detecting, monitoring and managing fires in natural resource areas, the operationalization of a comprehensive fire management plan, restoration of burned areas with native mixed species, use of remote sensing and drones for identifying pest and disease hotspots, development of biological control methods, and the establishment of an integrated plant protection system.
Through these ongoing projects and priority actions, the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization seeks to improve the effectiveness of natural resources management, enhance public participation, strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation, reduce environmental risks and protect Iran’s forests, rangelands, deserts, watersheds and national lands for present and future generations.
The Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization has developed several best practices in sustainable natural resources management, ecosystem restoration, forest and rangeland rehabilitation, desertification control, biodiversity conservation, seed resource management, watershed-based risk reduction and community-based conservation. These practices are based on field experience, technical planning, public participation and cooperation with national and international partners.
One of the most important best practices is the Carbon Sequestration Project, officially known as the Empowerment and Participatory Management of Natural Resources Project. This project introduced a participatory socio-economic and ecological model for restoring degraded natural resources, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. It focused on local community capacity building, increasing atmospheric carbon absorption, strengthening rural organizations, improving livelihoods, marketing rural products, increasing resilience to drought, promoting renewable energy and supporting rural development.
The Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Lands Project is another important model. Implemented in Rigan, Kerman Province, and Sarayan, South Khorasan Province, the project promoted coordinated rural development planning at the watershed level and strengthened inter-sectoral cooperation. It also supported the restoration of degraded natural resources, community participation, empowerment, employment creation and rural development. One of its technical achievements was the establishment of the first wind erosion measurement stations in the country.
In forest ecosystems, the Hyrcanian forest landscape project provided a valuable best practice in multifunctional and landscape-based forest management. The project promoted land-use planning, zoning, monitoring, law enforcement and clarification of the roles and rights of local communities. It also supported community-based forest management, helped protect about 120,000 hectares of project areas, reduced pressures caused by agriculture, illegal logging and grazing, and brought at least 30,000 hectares of forest under community management with clear legal status.
Seed resource management is another successful technical experience. The Caspian Tree Seed Production and Improvement Center contributed to the conservation of forest genetic resources by identifying, recording and classifying more than 6,000 hectares of seed collection areas in the Hyrcanian forests. The Center also supported seed collection, processing, storage, quality testing of forest and rangeland seeds, expert training and the supply of quality seeds for afforestation, restoration and seedling production.
Best practices in forest development include rehabilitation and enrichment of degraded northern forests, planting native and endemic species, production of standard forest seedlings in government nurseries, establishment of seed collection areas, enclosure and maintenance of forest reserves, development of forest parks and wood farming to reduce pressure on natural forests. These activities support biodiversity conservation, genetic reserve protection, employment creation and the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems.
In rangelands and desert areas, successful practices include integrated multi-purpose rangeland management, grazing regulation, pastoral migration control, biological and biomechanical measures for soil and vegetation restoration, development of forage, industrial and medicinal plants, conversion of low-productivity rainfed lands into environmentally compatible rangelands, seedling plantation, runoff management, sediment traps, windbreaks, enclosure, seeding and management of planted forests. These measures help reduce land degradation, control wind erosion, support livelihoods and strengthen ecological resilience.
The Organization also promotes emerging best practices in protection and monitoring. These include fire prevention, creation of firebreaks, training and awareness programs, preparation and distribution of fire management equipment, cooperation with knowledge-based companies, restoration of burned areas with native mixed species, identification and monitoring of pest and disease hotspots, biological and environmentally compatible control methods, remote sensing, drones and the development of an integrated plant protection system. Together, these best practices provide practical models for future natural resources and watershed management programs in Iran.