TEHRAN – Given the importance of protecting biodiversity and genetic resources, the Department of Environment (DOE) is planning to develop a pest management plan to combat plant pests and pathogens as the main threat to the country’s unique ecosystem, particularly forests.

“Since plant pests and pathogens are among the major threats to forests in the country, developing a management plan is essential to maintaining forests’ health,” IRNA quoted Hadi Kiadaliri, an official with the DOE, as saying.

The official made the remarks in a meeting held to discuss ways to minimize damage to forests from insect pests and diseases.

Keeping ecosystem balance alongside ecological goals is very crucial, he added.

Fostering coordination among the relevant organizations, such as Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, the center for Plant Conservation, the national Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, and the research institute of plant protection, to promote scientific and participatory pest management plans based on short-term and long-term measures, and to eliminate risk factors that contribute to the outbreak and emergence of pests were among other goals of the meeting.

Forest ecosystems are in very unstable and unsuitable conditions. The forest ecosystems are degrading due to numerous reasons, such as fires and uncontrolled livestock grazing. This has caused pests and diseases to dominate the ecosystem. Soil erosion has increased, with sand and dust storms becoming more prevalent.

The DOE is in charge of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The convention’s three main objectives include conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and equal sharing of biodiversity benefits, Hamid Zohrabi, an official with the DOE, said in May 2025.

The realization of these goals requires local communities’ participation. Environmental protection needs to be sustainable, and it has to consider social and economic factors in planning, the official noted.

MT/MG