National Report of I.R. of Iran
By
Forests, Rangelands & Watershed Management Organization (FRWO)
To
International Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Illicit International Trafficking in Forest Products
Jakarta – Indonesia, 26-28 March 2008
Introduction:
Conservation of renewable natural resources including combating and preventing illicit trafficking of forest products is one of the important duties that Forests, Rangelands & Watershed management Organization (FRWO) is mandated to carry out besides the development and management of these resources.
Undoubtedly, illicit trafficking of forest products is deeply rooted in the socio-economic statues of the communities living in and around forests as well as ignorance and cultural weaknesses of individuals engaged in such activities.
FRWO believes that the only way out this crisis is to adopt and implement integrated programs based on the sound feasibility and legal and institutional arrangements.
Objective:
Although the main objective of combating trafficking of forest products is to protect forest cover and resources however there are other objectives that can be taken into account as follows:
- Surveillance and round the clock control of forest areas
- Control and evolution of the volume of authorized forest cargos
- Detection and confiscation of illicit forest cargos
- Detection of origin of illicit trafficking
- Detection of illicit trafficking routes
- Identification of sources of illicit wood consumption
- Identification of types of illicit trafficking
Illicit trafficking agents:
- Needy and poor individuals
- Greedy individuals
- Ignorant individuals
Individuals mentioned in type 1 normally engaged in trafficking just to make a modest living. Individuals mentioned in type 2 engaged in trafficking in order to make utmost benefits from trafficking and are divided into 2 subtypes:
- Individuals who engaged in two or more jobs that trafficking is one of these jobs
- Individuals who engaged in trafficking in free seasons
The above types of agents can be distinguished as follows:
1- Forest dwellers
- Scattered forest dwellers
- Centralized forest dwellers
2- Rural dwellers
- Villages around forests
- Villages inside forests
3- Urban dwellers
These individuals either directly engaging trafficking or purchase illicit forest products.
Individuals mentioned in type 3 are those who engaged in trafficking due to ignorance and social and economic weaknesses.
Trafficking Routes:
- Roads inside forests
- Roadsended toforestentrances
- Main roads
- Earth roads inside forests
Illicit trafficking routes are not restricted to main roads between provinces but also include roads in rural urban and forest areas therefore FRWO has recently established check points to control transportations.
Methods of Illicit Trafficking in Forests:
1. Hiding illegal woods under other commodities in the trucks
2. Hiding illegal woods by covering them under tents
3. Transporting illegal woods by public vehicles
4. Transporting illegal woods through the secondary roads
5. Transporting illegal woods through rivers inside forests
6. Direct illegal trafficking through intimidating and threatening forest guards
7. Transporting illegal woods through surprise attacks on forest guards
Time of Illicit Trafficking:
1. Some of the illicit agents engaged in trafficking in day time with forcing forest guards and relying on good chance
2. Some of the illicit agents engaged in trafficking at nights not relying only on chance
Motivations for Illicit Trafficking:
1. Historical Motivations
2. Economic Motivations
3. Social Motivations
Undesirable Effects of Natural resources degradations:
- Occurrence of flood episodes
- Overcharging reservoir of dams
- Soil erosion
- Land slides
- Reduction of livestock products
- Desertification and land degradation
- Environmental degradation and climate change
- Extinction of wide lives
- Outbreak of pests and diseases
- Extinction of forest and range species
Legal Arrangements:
The Islamic Republic of Iran commits itself to the conservation and protection of base resources including water, air and vegetation cover especially forests based on article 50 of the Constitution, Forests and Rangelands Nationalization Law (1962), Forests Conservation and Exploitation Law (1967), Conservation and Protection of Forests and Natural Resources Law (1992), Outlook Program of I.R. of Iran (2000), Third and Fourth Development Plan (1999 & 2003) as well as Stockholm Conference (1972) and Rio Summit (1992).
Measures Taken by I.R. of Iran to Control Illicit Trafficking:
1. Elimination of livestock from forests and centralizing forest sporadic villages out of forest areas
2. Balancing livestock with range capacity
3. Resolving the rural energy production dependent on forest resources by changing consumption patterns and replacing other alternative sources of energy
4. Reduction of exploitation of natural forest within management plans and supply of woods through tree imports
5. Exploitation of non-wood products by cooperatives of local CBO s under direct supervision of government
6. Development projects and activities are consistent with ecosystem approach aiming to preserve equilibrium and sustainability of nature.
7. Implementation of land use planning
8. Enhancing the role of private sector and cooperatives through rendering consultations
Actions Taken by I.R. of Iran to Control Illicit Trafficking:
1. Establishment of Forest Guard under FRWO
2. Approval of emblem and uniform of Forest Guard
3. Procurement of service vehicles for Forest Guard
4. Establishment of wireless system
5. Operating Emergency telephone line
6. Formulation of security belt projects to protect national resources
7. Formulation and submitting new legal amendments against illicit trafficking agents
8. Employment of volunteers’ guards (10000 people per year)
9. Formulation of guidelines and directives
10. Contracting with police forces against illicit trafficking
11. Coordination with Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Oil for supply of fossils fuels
12. Collection of data for production of Reports and statistics
13. Formulation and control of Grazing Management project
14. Insurance of forest guard staff and voluntary guards
15. Coordination with Ministry of Industry and Mines for issues related to mines
16. Organizing training courses for forest guard staff and voluntary guards
17. Construction of Forest Guard Stations throughout the country
18. Establishment of special courts for prompt investigation of cases of illicit trafficking