2300 Medicinal Plants Species in Iran’s Natural Habitat

The director of Dry Land Forestry Center of Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization of Iran stated that 2300 medicinal plants species exist in the country’s natural habitat and according to 1404 Perspective Document, five hundred thousand hectares of lands will be cultivated with these plants.
In an interview with Mehr News Agency, Fariborz Gheibi Abkhizdari referred to the emphasis of the Supreme Leader concerning the necessity to help maintain the natural resources of the country and turn away from the possessions of these resources, and added, “The natural resources, especially the forests, do not just belong to the present generation, but the future generations too, have a share in the forest resources of the country.”
He referred to the forestry in all parts of Iran, as a priority of Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization of Iran, and said, “The guaranteed purchase of medicinal plants and marketing to encourage the cultivation of these plants are of great significance.”
Also, referring to the two thousand, three hundred medicinal plants species in the natural habitat of Iran, The director of Dry Land Forestry Center of Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization went on to say, “One hundred and twenty plants species with high medicinal and industrial value exist in Semnan Province, and with plans made in the horizon of 1404 Perspective Document, exploitation and usage of medicinal plants in medicine will rise up to 20 percent.”
Stressing that Arasbaran region has an abundance of medicinal plants, Gheibi stated, “Medicinal plants cultivation has an immense economic value and by exporting them, more foreign currency can be brought to our country.”
He indicated that forestry must become a social affair, and the public should be involved in reviving of the forests and maintaining them. He then stated, “If people knew that forest maintenance is for their own good, and they are the ones who benefit from forests,they would never destroy them.”
The director of Dry Land Forestry Center of Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization of Iran stressed the necessity to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants considering water shortage, then added, “According to the National Document of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine, and with people’s assistance, more than 100 thousand hectares of the public cultivation areas and 50 thousand hectares of the country’s natural resources are annually devoted to the cultivation of medicinal plants.”
Gheibi continued to say, “Semnan province is one of the main provinces of the country, in term of medicinal plants’ cultivation, and 50 thousand hectares of forests and rangelands of this province is allocated to the cultivation of Ferula gummosa that will help boost the economy of Semnan.”
He further specified the new policies of Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization of Iran and added, “Partnership in forestry, and delegation of the implementation of the aforementioned plan to the public for thirty years will prepare the ground for maintenance of forests and the increase of medicinal plants’ cultivation.”