Current Challenges of Laws for Preservation of Forest and Rangeland, Iran

Abstract

In some cases, law acts and regulations problems and shortcomings have been considered as a factor in the forests and rangelands grabbing in Iran. Therefore, it was necessary to analyze this problem in a scientific framework. These questions were raised which of the forest and rangeland related acts and regulations are in shortcoming and problem? And which acts and regulations of other sectors conflict with the protection of these resources? To answer these questions, a research study was conducted using the Delphi method, which is based on a survey of experts. According to the results of the research, the 19 acts and regulations on the illegal acquisition and grabbing of forests and rangelands have problems and shortcomings. "The Organization, Duties, and Selection of Islamic Councils of the Country and the Selection of Mayors" act of 1996 was recognized as the most problematic law act in the field of forest and rangeland conservation. Some reasons for the problems of acts and regulations were mentioned as the ignorance of natural resource offices in some of the lands allocations, disrupting the national status of the forest and rangeland, the non-deterioration of the penalties of some of the acts due to the low level of penalties, the unfair allocation of forest and rangeland for other landuses, the permission to the illegal constructions in the forests and rangelands, allowing national lands free allocation for government debt relief, and the establishing conditions that facilitate the allocation of forest and rangeland for other uses. As a result, if related laws were not properly approved, they would also cause degradation of forests and rangelands. A periodic review of the efficiency of forest and rangeland laws is recommended to preserve these resources at the national level.