Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Masoud Faryadi

Associate Professor, Department of Public International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

Abstract

Introduction

Iran’s forests are at risk of destruction due to uncontrolled tree cutting. For this reason, after enacting several protective laws over the past century, the legislature ultimately decided to prohibit the harvesting of forest trees. The Plan to Cease Forest Logging (PCFL) was first introduced in Article 38 of Law on the Sixth Development Plan and more recently reiterated in Article 36 of Law on the Seventh Progress Plan. Under the PCFL, the logging of wood from natural forest trees is prohibited, and the wood industry must meet its needs through damaged trees and plantations. On the one hand, implementing PCFL helps protect the country’s vulnerable forests and encourages industries to seek alternatives to cutting down natural trees.
On the other hand, the legal system and the method of implementation face challenges that must be identified and solved. Since PCFL has not yet been examined from a legal perspective, a preliminary discussion is necessary to identify legal challenges and offer recommendations. In this respect, the present research aimed to examine the legal foundations of PCFL and to propose regulatory solutions aimed at protecting the nation’s forests and promoting sustainable development.

Literature Review

Very few legal studies have examined the legal issues surrounding Iran’s forests or the sustainable development of the wood industry. Likewise, the legal dimensions of PCFL have not yet been the subject of serious research. However, the article titled “Legal Gaps in the Development of Wood Farming in Iran” (Faryadi, 2023) is the only relevant research which explored the legal challenges related to halting tree-logging plans and supplying wood for industry.

Materials and Methods

The current study used the descriptive–analytical and legal pathology methods to examine the 2024 Law on the Seventh Progress Plan, along with other relevant laws and regulations. The analysis focused on the significance of PCFL, forest conservation, and the legislative and implementation challenges involved.

Results and Discussion

The analysis examined the advantages and challenges of Law on the Seventh Progress Plan and its approach to cease forest logging in light of the principle of sustainable development. It proposed the adoption of a comprehensive and integrated legal framework to establish a new legal order for protecting the country’s forests, the approval of detailed executive regulations to regulate the new forest management plan, and the sustainable supply of wood. It is essential for the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, in collaboration with other relevant institutions, to prepare a draft executive bylaw for Article 36 of Law on the Seventh Progress Plan. This draft should be grounded in scientific studies and clearly outline institutional responsibilities, forest restoration and development measures, sustainable management of timber cultivation, and the mechanisms for meeting industrial wood demand. Once prepared, it should be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval. However, before taking these steps, a long-term strategy for forest protection—one that simultaneously addresses the country’s wood needs—is needed to establish a coherent framework for forest management. It is thus advisable to review Law on the Seventh Progress Plan alongside Law on the Protection and Exploitation of Forests and Rangelands, and to amend and update both laws in accordance with new requirements, particularly the cessation of forest logging and the future provision of the country’s wood needs.

Conclusion

The study concludes that legal ambiguities, conflicts, and the lack of detailed regulations and long-term strategies for forest management pose serious obstacles to the effectiveness of this legal mechanism. If these legal challenges are not addressed in subsequent laws and regulations, and if the status and application of previous forest-related legislation remain unclear, Iran’s forests will continue to face the threat of unauthorized cutting. Moreover, the implementation will encounter difficulties, and the wood industry will struggle to secure the wood it needs. Such conditions may create opportunities for criminal activity and increase the likelihood of illegal logging for economic gain.

Keywords

• Plan to Cease Forest Logging
• Iran’s Forests
• Forest Law
• Sustainable Management of Forests
• Wood Farming

Main Subjects

• Environmental law