National Arbor Day

National Arbor Day or Tree Planting Day was marked on Sunday across Iran. The day is an occasion for people from all ages and social classes to pick up a shovel and show they care for all things arboreal. Every year, just before the Persian New Year, millions of Iranians plant trees for a week from March 5 marking the occasion and to hail the coming of spring. The week began with the head of the Department of Environment Masoumeh Ebtekar planting a sapling at Pardisan Park in western Tehran where the DoE office is located, ISNA reported. During the week, top officials try to draw public attention to the importance of trees for the environment. Children also learn more about the value of natural resources and the importance of their protection. Free saplings are distributed among schools and citizens to enable their participation in tree planting.