Manouchehr Gorji, the head of the Iranian Soil Science Association, has stated that at least 10,000 hectares of land in the country are converted annually, and if this trend continues, Iran will face 'famine' in the next 20 years. On Sunday, December 29, he warned the Mehr news agency about the declining amount of fertile soil in the country and the conversion of agricultural land to residential, urban, industrial, and other uses. According to him, in some areas of Iran, 30,000 hectares of agricultural land have been converted, which he described as 'a disaster in the making.' Gorji cautioned that 'if this trend continues, the country's food security will be compromised, so officials must seriously prevent this.' He added, 'The main problem is that there is no authority responsible for soil in our country, and it is unclear who is responsible for soil quality.' On December 22 of this year, Kambez Bazargan, head of the Soil and Water Research Institute, announced that 'between 1955 and 2001, around six metropolitan areas of Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Ahvaz, Shiraz, and Mashhad lost about half a hectare of agricultural and natural resource land to urban and industrial use every hour.' Bazargan stated that 'the conversion of agricultural land remains at the forefront of threats to the country's soil resources despite the emphasis from high-ranking officials.' On September 25 of this year, Qobad Afshar, head of the Land Affairs Organization, announced that over the past half-century, more than one million hectares of agricultural land have been converted. The Land Affairs Organization published a report on its two-year performance this September, indicating that 'illegal' land use changes in agricultural areas decreased by '40 percent' during the eleventh government. For the first time, the Land Affairs Organization has initiated agricultural land use preservation patrols in collaboration with the private sector, and currently, 'more than 130 special patrol teams are working to protect agricultural lands.' According to the Land Affairs Organization's statistics, nearly 90,000 hectares of 'illegal' land use changes have been identified over the past 18 years. In recent years, Iran has faced significant environmental crises, including drought and the destruction of plains and wetlands. Hamid Chitchian, the Minister of Energy, warned that '609 plains in the country are on the verge of destruction and gradually moving towards death.'
Current Land Use Change Trends Will Lead Iran to 'Famine'
Manouchehr Gorji warns that Iran is losing fertile land at an alarming rate, with 10,000 hectares converted annually, potentially leading to famine in 20 years. The issue is compounded by a lack of oversight on soil quality and land use changes, which threaten food security. This situation is critical as it highlights the urgent need for effective land management policies.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Manouchehr Gorji has warned that Iran is losing agricultural land at an alarming rate, with 10,000 hectares converted annually, which could lead to famine in the next two decades. This trend is exacerbated by a lack of oversight and responsibility for soil management.
- Over 1 million hectares of agricultural land have been converted in the last 50 years.
- 609 plains in Iran are on the verge of destruction due to environmental crises.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has faced significant environmental challenges, including drought and land degradation, which threaten its agricultural capacity. The conversion of farmland to urban and industrial uses is a pressing issue that has been ongoing for decades.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%