Green treasure of Zagros; From garden fence to national heritage
Khorramabad- In Zagros, everything that is valuable is not necessarily seen in the form of a thick forest or centuries-old oak; Sometimes the capital of a land is hidden in a small seed, a medicinal plant or a native species.
Sefir Arjan - Group of Provinces: In Zagros, all the wealth of nature is not seen in the form of vast forests, roaring rivers or high peaks. Part of this capital lies in species that may seem small and ordinary at first glance; The plants that have adapted to the mountain climate have survived against the environmental limitations and each of them carries with them a part of the biological memory of this land.
This green capital is not just a collection of botanical names. Any native species can carry genetic characteristics and capacities that become important in biodiversity conservation, scientific research, and even the future of agriculture.
In a region like Zagros, which faces challenges such as water scarcity, climate change and the pressure caused by the exploitation of natural resources, the maintenance of these reserves is doubly important.
In Khorramabad, Zagros Botanical Garden is one of the places that has assumed this responsibility; A collection that started its activity in 2017 and focuses on the protection of plant species outside the habitat, especially native plants at risk and species with economic value.
Now this garden has been included in the list of national natural monuments in the last meeting of the country's natural heritage registration committee. An event that highlights the name of this collection at the national level and can provide more attention to its scientific, protective and educational capacities.
But the importance of this registration should not be summed up only in adding the name of a collection to the list of national works. The main issue is how to use this opportunity to strengthen the protection of genetic resources, expand applied research, train users and create a link between nature and the local economy.
National registration becomes a lasting achievement when, along with official recognition, it also leads to practical support for the collection and its long-term plans.
Zagros Garden; A step to recognize natural heritage
The national registration of the Zagros Botanical Garden was approved during the last meeting of the country's natural heritage registration committee on the 20th of October.
Ata Hasanpour, the former Director General of Lorestan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, announced that in addition to Zagros Botanical Garden in Khorramabad, Kolpir Valley and Takhtcho Valley in Poldakhtar have also been included in the list of national natural monuments.
These registrations, according to him, can help strengthen the protection of Lorestan's natural heritage and introduce the province's tourism capacities at the national level.
From a heritage point of view, the national registration of a natural attraction means the official recognition of its values; But for a collection like the Botanical Garden, the importance of the topic is not limited to this introduction.
Zagros Garden has a multifaceted function, unlike many natural attractions whose value is seen more in their landscape and geographical location. This complex is a place for the preservation and adaptation of plant species, a platform for research and educational activities and a space to familiarize the society with the importance of biodiversity.
For this reason, its registration in the list of national natural monuments can be seen as an opportunity to strengthen the scientific and conservation status of the collection; An opportunity that provides the possibility of better introduction of the garden's capacities and more support for its activities if accompanied by the responsible agencies and the continuation of specialized programs.
From 2017 to the national registration; Protection outside the habitat
Namdar Sayadi, head of the Lorestan Agricultural Jihad Organization, in an interview with Mehr Bagh, introduced the Zagros Botanical Garden as one of the important plant treasures of the country and an important collection in the protection of the region's biological reserves.
According to him, this garden started its activity in 2017 and the main focus of its work is the protection of plant species of the Zagros region outside the habitat. Especially endangered native species and economically valuable plants.
Out-of-habitat conservation here refers to the maintenance and investigation of species in an organized environment outside their natural habitat.
So far, about 240 plant species have been established in the Zagros Garden in five working trends and have been adapted
Such an approach can play a role in better understanding the biological needs of plants, investigating the possibility of their adaptation, and developing propagation and cultivation methods. These activities are especially important for species that face threats or restrictions in their natural habitat.
Sayadi says that about 240 plant species have been established in Zagros garden in five working trends and have adapted. This group also works in the field of domestication of genetic resources, development of cultivation methods and investigation of ways of sustainable exploitation of rare species.
From the point of view of the head of the Lorestan Agricultural Jihad Organization, the duty of the garden is not only limited to maintaining plants; Educating the local community and raising awareness about biodiversity protection is also part of its responsibilities.
This point is particularly important; Because the protection of plant species will be more effective when it goes beyond the scope of a specialized collection and is linked to public awareness, the behavior of users and the way of managing natural resources. If knowledge from the garden can be transferred to farmers, experts and local communities, its capacity to influence land management will also increase.
genetic resources; Support for food security
The importance of Zagros Botanical Garden is not limited only to the protection of native plants. Plant genetic resources can be a part of scientific and practical support for facing changing environmental conditions, modifying cultivation methods and developing climate-friendly products.
Mohammad Javad Askari, Chairman of the Agriculture Commission of the Islamic Council, emphasized the necessity of strengthening the Lorestan Gene Bank during his visit to Khorram Abad Botanical Garden.
Referring to the capacities of the province in the field of agriculture, water, natural resources and environment, he believes that these capacities should be transformed from potential capacity to practical possibilities by planning and supporting research.
Referring to the pressures caused by the excessive exploitation of natural resources, Askari said that the province is facing challenges in the field of water, soil, environment and natural resources. In his opinion, the strengthening of genetic reserves and the development of research activities should be placed next to planning for resource management; Because food security will not have a stable support regardless of ecological conditions and natural capacities.
He also described the Zagros forests as having a unique capacity due to their structural diversity and genetic reserves and emphasized the need to pay more attention to this natural capital.
The importance of such a view is that it links biodiversity protection from a purely environmental issue to an issue related to the future of agriculture and food security. In a situation where agriculture is dependent on water, soil and climatic conditions, knowing the compatible species and maintaining genetic diversity can play a role in choosing more suitable paths for production.
However, the realization of this capacity requires the continuation of research, access to specialized facilities, transfer of findings to users, and regular communication between scientific centers and the executive department. A national garden registry can bring more attention to these needs, but turning it into a practical outcome depends on the program and continued support.
From the research garden to the farm; A circle that must be completed
One of the challenges of scientific activities in the field of agriculture is the gap between the production of knowledge and its use in the fields. Research findings lead to real change in production methods when they are translated into usable language for operators and farmers are given the necessary training to implement them.
Zagros Botanical Garden is more than a green space and a place to know the genetic and biological capacities of the region
Zahra Amiri, Director of Promotion Coordination of Lorestan Agricultural Jihad Organization, in an interview with Mehr Bagh, considers Zagros Botanical Garden to be more than a green space and a place to know the genetic and biological capacities of the region.
From his point of view, the main value of such a collection is revealed when scientific findings become practical models for farmers.
Amiri emphasized the necessity of the link between research and extension and said that extension management is trying to convert research results into usable methods for farmers so that they can use this knowledge in their fields.
This approach becomes more important in changing the cultivation pattern.
According to Amiri, guiding farmers towards profitable and climate-friendly products is one of the strategic priorities, and medicinal plants can be considered in this direction; Especially in areas where the limitation of water resources has made it difficult to continue some cultivation practices.
Of course, the replacement of crops should not be done simply by introducing a species or emphasizing its lower water requirement. Choosing the right product requires checking the local conditions, sales market, production cost, access to inputs and the possibility of processing. Therefore, the link between botanical gardens, research centers, extension experts and farmers can help to make more informed decisions about compatible crops.