Tehran - The Secretary-General of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO says soil is far more than a physical resource - it underpins environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, peace, and global food security.

 

Speaking at the International Symposium on World Soil Day, hosted by Iran’s Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, Hassan Fartousi stressed the need for integrated watershed management amid growing environmental pressures.

 

He noted that many UNESCO World Heritage landscapes are built on respect for soil and sustainable land use. Despite its vital role in regulating water cycles, supporting biodiversity, and enabling food production, soil has come under severe strain from rapid urbanization, pollution, and poor land management.

 

The official highlighted that “healthy soil” goes beyond physical and chemical quality.

 

It can store water, filter pollutants, and strengthen cities against floods and droughts. Mismanagement, he warned, leads to intensified flooding, water contamination, erosion, and the decline of urban green spaces.

 

He pointed to the UNESCO-affiliated International Center for Integrated Watershed Management in Iran as a key platform for research, capacity building, and regional cooperation, helping connect national experience with global expertise.

 

Fartousi added that innovative land-restoration approaches can revive degraded areas, support local communities, and even encourage reverse migration.

 

He concluded by emphasizing that humanity’s future depends on protecting this “thin but vital layer” of the biosphere, reaffirming the National Commission’s readiness to expand cooperation on sustainable land and soil management, and expressing hope that the symposium’s discussions lead to concrete action.