مهار بيابان‌زايي

1.      Administrative actions and their outcomes:

1.1.          First steps:

Although the first step of organized management of Iran’s natural resources was taken by the establishment of Forestry Department in the Agricultural Organization (ex Cereals) more than 64 years ago (1939 A.D.) (Yekom Consulting Engineers Co., 1998), a step that created the ground for the establishment of Natural Resources Conservation Unit of Forestry Organization; however, the most important action in this regard was taken after the establishment of Soil and Water Conservation Committee within the Natural Resources Conservation Unit by the pronouncement of the Minister of Agriculture of that time in 1958 A.C. The purpose of the establishment of the said Committee was to study the control methods for preventing wind and water erosion. (Khold-e-Barin, et al, 1985). Subsequently, in September 1959 and within the framework of SENTO Treaty (Department for Sand Dune Fixation and Desertification Control, 1996), the first core for the assessment of methods for sand dune fixation in 40 hectares of sand dunes of Hamidieh, Albaravayeh and Albaji in Khuzestan Province (Report of Dadashzadeh, 1965) was formed which can be considered the beginning of organized and continued actions called Desertification control activities. After the concrete evidence of carried sediments reduction and the sand dune movements partial stop, the activities continued more hastily and extensively under the title of Desert Rangelands Improvement Plan, from 1961 (Sand Dune Fixation and Desertification Control Department, 1996). The Hares-Abad, Sabzevar, Desert Rangelands Improvement Plan was undoubtedly one of the first famous actions taken which was successfully implemented in 100 hectares of Northern Khorasan deserts in 1965. It should be noted that at the beginning not only the habitats of the area but also the people involved were doubtful about the successful implementation of the this programme, but the return of plantation cover and animal life to the region, fixation of sand dunes and noticeable reduction of dust particles and the possibility of sustained living and agricultural production in such away that after few years it was called a “miracle”, led to the extension of similar activities to 13 other provinces and 120 implementation stations.