Another Service and Achievement from the Revolutionary Government / Felling and Suppression of Roadside Trees in Dareh Shahr-Armu

Attention, Gentlemen:

• "Mohammad Ali Nikbakht," Minister of Agriculture Jihad
• "Ahmad Vahidi," Minister of Interior
• Head of the "Natural Resources and Watershed Organization of the Country"
• "Ali Selahejeh," Head of the "Environmental Protection Organization"

A video has been obtained by "Abdi Media" showing that the roadside trees along the Dareh Shahr-Armu highway have been felled and suppressed in the worst possible manner.

These trees are annually made available for sale to matchstick factories and sawmills by certain individuals, but this is the first time they have been cut down in such a way.

The length of the area where the trees have been cut spans 17 kilometers, with over 10,000 trees cut down and removed from both sides of the paved road.

In this context, the Public Relations Department of the "Natural Resources and Watershed Organization of Dareh Shahr County" issued a statement to a local website that, when compared with the received video and images, reveals a blatant contradiction and lies by this organization.

In this statement, while confirming the sale of trees in an auction, they mention regarding the trees that were cut from the base:

1. Eucalyptus trees are fast-growing and, under favorable conditions, must be pruned once every five years to prevent breakage by wind and storms.
2. It is part of the mandate of the Natural Resources Department to supply the country's required timber through planted and designated trees like eucalyptus.
3. Young trees that have experienced desiccation due to various factors are pruned for rejuvenation.
4. Proper pruning of eucalyptus trees, conducted under the technical supervision of the Natural Resources Department, ensures that the trees remain robust and healthy continuously.
5. In some parks, trees are pruned and trimmed to ensure the safety of tourists, secure power transmission lines, etc.

In all these points, they speak of pruning and trimming, not uprooting. Perhaps, from their perspective, uprooting is considered a new method of pruning.

Will the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of the Revolutionary Government and the Natural Resources and Watershed Organization address this blatant violation and environmental crime? Or is addressing these issues not a priority and...?