MPs Scrap Anti-Forest Measure

Members of the Iranian Parliament scrapped an article in the sixth five-year economic development plan (2017-22) on Tuesday, which allowed felling certain trees for development projects. Article 48 of the plan permitted the cutting down of old, dried, broken, hollow and diseased trees pending approval from the Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization, ISNA reported. The law allowed the cutting down of trees for development projects and tree farming for timber production with FRWMO’s permit. In January, the parliament adopted a law completely banning the exploitation of Caspian Hyrcanian forests for 10 years. The ban will be implemented in stages and go into full effect in 2020.