Iran to plant 1 billion trees to reduce carbon emissions

The Iranian government has plans underway to produce one
billion saplings in biodegradable pot containers and plant them across the
country over the course of four years, executor of the One Billion Trees
Program said.

“We have the capacity to produce 250
million saplings in pot containers every year with the participation of
people,” Reza Ahmadi said.

Noting that Iran is the world's seventh highest emitter of
carbon dioxide, he said that the program would help the country reach its
international climate change commitments, increase its biodiversity, enhance
its natural landscapes, and contribute towards reducing carbon emissions.

Indigenous species particular to each area and climate will
be produced in lush and fecund areas across Iran, Ahmadi said.

Trees are among the most important species on the planet due
to offering over 30 useful services to the ecosystem, such as oxygen
production, wildlife species protection, soil and ground water resources
preservation, most importantly reducing air pollution by absorbing the
particulate matters.

Each tree produces 2 kilograms of oxygen annually, so one
hectare of trees can produce 2,500 to 3,000 oxygen which help 10 people to
breathe oxygen, while they can reduce the area’s temperature by 11 degrees.

As forests play a significant role in the carbon cycle, when
are cut down, not only does carbon absorption cease, but also the carbon stored
in the trees is released into the atmosphere as CO2 if the wood is burned or
even if it is left to rot after the deforestation process.

According to climateandweather.net, forests store up to 100
times more carbon than agricultural fields of the same area, it is estimated
that more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide are released to the
atmosphere due to deforestation, mainly the cutting and burning of forests,
every year.

Over 30 million acres of forests and woodlands are lost
every year due to deforestation.

Despite all these advantages the trees can bring us, they
are taken for granted even in Iran as 2 million hectares of northern forests
have been depleted since past 30 years.

In Zagros Mountains forest steppe (located in the country's
western border), 30 percent of its 6 million hectares (3.5 percent of Iran) is
wiped out, and 18 million oak trees died of pest and diseases.

During the past five years, 4 to 5 million trees in northern
forest have died.

Iran is ranked 17th among countries around the world
regarding its wide land area, which constitutes 1.2 percent of the whole
world’s land area.