Statements after Planting a Sapling on the Occasion of Natural Resources Week

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God that this year we have also had the opportunity to participate in the extensive and public tree planting of the Iranian nation. I often plant pine, cypress, or plane trees—plane trees are very necessary, useful, and important—but one person wrote to me in the public notes that come to me every day, asking why I do not plant fruit trees? Therefore, this year we planted fruit trees; one is an apple tree and the other is a cherry tree; we hope, God willing, that they will bear fruit and that we will benefit from their produce.

The issue of plants, trees, greenery, and preserving the space resulting from living nature is very important for the country. Many of the problems we have regarding air quality, dust particles, and the unhealthiness of city air, among other things, stem from a lack of vegetation; plant cover can greatly assist the country. Moreover, fruit-bearing trees have the advantage of providing the delicious fruits specific to Iran to the people. Our fruits—of which there are many varieties—differ from those in other countries; as I have been told, our fruits are sweeter, tastier, juicier, and more desirable; although I have now heard that, unfortunately, fruits are also being imported; among the wrong actions, one is importing fruit, which should be prevented by officials except in cases of necessity and to the extent of necessity.

In any case, the issue of green space, trees, greenery, pastures, forests, and the plant cover of the land is very important in our country. In our country, it is even more important than in some other countries; because our country has deserts, is low in water, and has climatic diversities such that we need to preserve our vegetation. Officials responsible for forests, pastures, or agricultural lands must give great importance to their work and strive to preserve this immense national wealth and divine blessing that is in the hands of the people and in this country.

We even have green spaces around the large city of Tehran where various medicinal plants exist; the diversity of medicinal plants in our country is very high; in some provinces, the number of medicinal plants is very high; in Tehran itself, in the valleys to the east of Tehran, under the mountains known as the small Alborz, as specialists have diagnosed and stated, there are many medicinal plants. In any case, all of these are immense national treasures and divine blessings, and they must be valued and not allowed to be destroyed; as I have been informed, I have heard that the forests of Iran—especially the northern forests—are among the rarest types of forests in the world; today in many countries that have forests, there is no forest of the type we have in the north; well, these must be preserved, they are very valuable. A number of profiteers, seeking material gain, do not consider national interests and prey upon these pastures or forests or other natural resources of this kind, only considering their own profit. We hope, God willing, that this day and this tree planting ceremony—which is a respect for the greenery of our dear country—will become a symbol of respect for nature and for the green and lush nature, and that everyone will appreciate it and that officials will also fulfill their duties in this regard.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings