The Department of Environment and the High Council of Provinces signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday to enhance the protection of natural resources in line with the Article 50 of the Constitution that describes environmental protection as a public responsibility.
The document was inked during the eighth general session of the High Council of Provinces on Thursday between Morteza Alviri, head of the council and Isa Kalantari, the DOE chief, the council's news portal reported.
The six-article MoU underlines the two sides' responsibility to prepare long-term plans to protect biodiversity, water, soil and air, manage waste material and preserve natural resources to uphold the environmental rights of future generations.
Public Participation
The two sides also agreed to take measures to improve public participation in environmental protection while avoiding overlapping operations.
Besides, establishing an environmental committee within the High Council and cooperation in training urban and rural communities were among other tasks outlined in the agreement.
Based on the terms of the contract, the two organizations will keep a closer eye on operations to address pollution in urban and rural areas and engage in joint projects to combat the issue.
The contract will be in effect for three years and could be extended by mutual consent.
Alviri said during the session that the High Council can help the DOE in different ways such as issuing directives on polluting vehicles or water consumption.
"This will hopefully be a prelude to better public cooperation with the DOE," he said. The High Council of Provinces is an assembly made up of provincial representatives of city and village councils of the country.
