National Tree Planting Day (Arbor Day) is celebrated every year just ahead of the advent of the Persian New Year, which starts on March 21. The day marks the beginning of National Week of Natural Resources (March 5-12). The first day of this week is dedicated to planting saplings.
The nationwide tree plantation event is the day when Individuals and groups throughout the country are encouraged to plant and care for trees. Every year, just before the Iranian New Year, millions of Iranians plant trees to mark the tree-planting week and hail the coming of spring.
The event was marked on Friday morning by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei who, after planting two saplings, delivered a short speech in which he warned against the great blight to the ongoing process of environmental degradation, urging both people and officials to resist natural resource destruction.
He stressed the need to prevent incidents such as forest fires, noting that those in charge who are not committed to their duties should be held accountable.
Environmental activities are of a “religious and revolutionary nature” and should not be regarded as luxurious or ornamental, the Leader emphasized.
MM/FM