Who we are

About us

NRWO is a state agency responsible for natural resources management that comprises of four departments and six independent bureaus as well as a high council and a natural resources guard, with 32 natural resources administrations or General Directorates at provincial level.These four departments are as follows:

Forestry Department
Conservation and Land Affairs Department
Watershed Management, Range & Desert Affairs Department
Planning, Management and Resources Development Department

Vision

Conservation, restoration, sustainable development and exploitation of forests, rangelands, wooded lands, coastal areas and soil and water conservation based on sustainable development approach and through integrated watershedmanagement.

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The NRWO at a glance

- Formulation of policies and strategies for natural resources and integrated watershed management as well as implementation of development programs for natural resources and watershed management within the goals of sustainable development.

- Conservation, protection and sustainable utilization of forests, rangelands, deserts and watershed basins throughout the country.

- Determination and delineation of public and private lands to secure the state sovereignty over national property.

- Study the watersheds throughout the country aimed at planning and formulating integrated plans and implementation of natural resources and watershed management projects.

- Development of timber cropping and man-made forests and rangelands and restoration of degraded forests and rangelands, with emphasis on genetic resources and biodiversity conservation.

- Improvement of efficiency of executive activities through optimum planning and monitoring.

Chairperson

Dr. Reza Aflatouni
Deputy Minister of Jihad Agriculture and Head of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization

The Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization is the national authority responsible for the conservation, restoration, development and sustainable utilization of Iran’s forests, rangelands, deserts, natural woodlands, coastal lands and watershed basins. Its mission is based on the protection of soil and water resources, scientific watershed management and the principles of sustainable development.

Dr. Reza Aflatouni serves as Deputy Minister of Jihad Agriculture and Head of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization. He has previously served as Head of the State Lands Organization, Deputy for Conservation and Land Affairs, and Director General of the Legal Affairs Office of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization.

Under his leadership, the Organization pursues integrated and science-based management of natural resources, with a focus on forest and rangeland conservation, watershed management, desertification control, land degradation reduction, soil and water protection, land tenure security, restoration of degraded ecosystems and sustainable use of natural resources.

The Chairperson emphasizes knowledge-based management, public participation, inter-sectoral cooperation, institutional capacity building and field-based implementation. This approach is essential for addressing major national challenges such as drought, soil erosion, floods, desertification, sand and dust storms, degradation of rangelands and forests, and increasing pressure on natural ecosystems.

Through scientific planning, legal protection, community participation and coordinated national action, the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization seeks to safeguard Iran’s natural assets, strengthen ecological resilience, support sustainable livelihoods and preserve the country’s natural heritage for present and future generations.

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