سازمان منابع طبیعی و آبخیزداری کشور

The Supreme Leader in a recent meeting with producers and economic activists stressed the need to prevent soil degradation. In this report, we will discuss why this is the case.

According to FRWO’s website quoted from Tasnim News Agency, "Watershed Management Miracle Case"; as one of the important issues that the Supreme Leader emphasized in a meeting with producers and economic activists is the need to preserve the country's soil resources and prevent the degradation of this vital element. In previous years, he emphasized the need to protect the soil from degradation and combat soil erosion, saying:

"Soil erosion in the country due to negligence, misuse and ignorance; It is not something that can be easily compensated later. The issue of soil is more important than the issue of water". (Statement dated March 8, 2015)

Why soil is more important than water and soil protection from degradation is significant, says Manouchehr Gorji, Head of Iran's Soil Science Society: "Soil is the largest distributor of water in the world, and scientific studies show that soil moisture is more than eight times that of all rivers and it is the soil moisture that causes the development of vegetation cover and rangeland, so solving the country's water problem is not possible without considering the soil issue. Therefore, soil should be considered as a vital element to contribute to solve the water problem, while there is no management organization in the country to study and address soil issues."

The faculty member of the University of Tehran, stating that the reduction of crop production in agricultural lands, water loss, filling of dams with sediment, endangering people's lives due to flood sediments and water pollution are just some of the damages caused by soil erosion, reiterated:"One of the most important problems of the country's soil is the loss of fertile agricultural lands near cities, growing cities and constructions, expansion of residential areas even within the city cause the most damage to the soil".

Based on his remarks, all soil problems should be written and reviewed, and effective solutions should be considered for each challenge in order to prevent the occurrence of soil-related crises in the country aimed at reducing the damage caused by soil problems.

The final point is that the prosperity of the economic sector in the country, stability and food security of the country depends on soil protection and prevention of the damage to this vital element and the basic strategy to prevent and combat soil degradation in the country, watershed management and Integrated Management Watershed (IWM) is in the country and this is the basic strategy that is emphasized by experts and specialists.