Vienna - Iran has called for stronger international action to boost the resilience of dryland forests in the face of drought, climate change and land degradation, Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization (NRWMO) chief said at the 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO28).

 

Speaking on the fourth day of the meeting, Reza Aflatooni, who also serves as deputy agriculture minister, outlined Iran’s priorities for cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under its 2022–2031 Strategic Framework.

 

He welcomed FAO’s forestry priorities and highlighted their alignment with Iran’s national efforts to protect dryland forests, adapt to climate change and promote sustainable land management.

 

Aflatooni called for greater emphasis on forest ecosystem restoration, particularly in dryland areas, as well as afforestation, integrated forest and agricultural management, and strengthening institutional capacity and human resources.

 

He underscored FAO’s role in advancing global forest initiatives, including the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Global Biodiversity Framework and cooperation with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

 

Highlighting the scale and vulnerability of Iran’s dryland forests, Aflatooni said greater technical support from FAO was needed to improve forest resilience and address threats including drought, pests, climate change, land degradation and wildfires.

 

He also called for stronger regional cooperation to tackle dust and sandstorms, alongside expanded technical assistance for forest and rangeland restoration.

 

Aflatooni urged FAO to facilitate countries’ access to innovative financing mechanisms to support ecosystem restoration and sustainable livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable dryland communities.

 

He reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to deepen cooperation with FAO and its member states, emphasizing the country’s commitment to sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation and greater resilience of dryland ecosystems.