Iran marks National Arbor Day
Leader calls on Iranians to join tree planting movement
Iranian officials including Leader of the Islamic Revolution, president and the parliament’s speaker planted saplings on Wednesday to mark the National Tree Planting Day.
Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called on all people to actively participate in a tree planting movement that started during the previous government as he planted saplings on Wednesday.
Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of the move, describing it as a “profitable investment, forward-thinking action, and a means of wealth generation.”
The initiative to plant one billion trees over four years, which began last year, is practical and government institutions must help materialization of the goal, the Leader said.
Describing his move as symbolic, the Leader stressed that, “Planting trees is not just for young people but all people of different ages should show enthusiasm for this important, great, necessary and beautiful work.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian also marked the day by planting saplings at the presidential compound.
Pezeshkian said that clean air and a healthy atmosphere is possible if “we try to protect our living environment, prevent its destruction, and develop green environment.”
The president further expressed hope that the people’s participation in the move will help improve environment for themselves and their progeny.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Tehran’s mayor Alireza Zakani also participated in the symbolic move elsewhere in Tehran.
National Tree Planting Day is annually celebrated on the fifteenth day of Esfand, the last month on the Iranian calendar. The day also marks the beginning of the National Week of Natural Resources.
Iranians have always paid special attention to nature. They believe planting saplings will make the world a better place to live in for us, our children and the generations to come.