The mission of two Golestan nurseries, from Hyrcanian forests to low yield pastures

Gurgaon and Cheparkoimeh nurseries have come to help rehabilitate the natural areas of Golestan by producing drought-resistant forest saplings. A province that has produced 4.6 million pasture seedlings in the last three years.

Ambassador Arjan of the Group of Provinces: The restoration of forests and pastures is not achieved only by planting saplings; Choosing the right species, knowing the ecological capacities of each area and taking care of the seedlings after planting are the rings that determine the success of natural resource projects. In a province like Golestan, which has spread from Hyrcanian forests and western highlands to dry pastures and lands prone to desertification in the north and east, this necessity is more important; Because a plant species may grow well in one area, but cannot be established in another place due to differences in humidity, soil salinity or temperature conditions.

In such a situation, specialized nurseries can play an important role in meeting the needs of restoration projects. Garagh nursery with the capacity to produce forest seedlings and species suitable for Hyrkani habitats and Cheparkoimeh nursery in Gonbadkavos city with a focus on the production of pasture species resistant to drought and salinity are two important capacities of Golestan province to support vegetation protection and development programs.

The General Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan, in a conversation with Mehr reporter, explained the capacity of these two nurseries, and discussed the importance of producing seedlings according to the characteristics of each field, the production status of pasture seedlings, the extent of the province's natural resources and the necessity of increasing the durability of vegetation.

The climatic diversity of Golestan requires the production of seedlings suitable for each region

Referring to the natural and geographical diversity of Golestan, Ali Asghar Nikoui said: due to its different climatic conditions, from the Hyrcanian forests and mountainous areas in the west and center to pastures, low-yielding lands and areas prone to desertification in the north and east, this province needs a diverse range of plant species. Therefore, it is not possible to consider a single version in the field of seedling production and planting for all natural areas.

He added: Soil characteristics, moisture level, temperature conditions, rainfall status and natural power of each region are among the factors that should be taken into consideration in choosing the right species for reviving the fields. The more the selection of the species is in harmony with the environmental conditions, the possibility of its establishment and growth will increase, and the resources and costs spent for the implementation of rehabilitation plans will be more effective.

The General Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan continued: Accordingly, the activity of nurseries in the province should be planned according to the ecological needs and the type of use of the target areas. The seedlings needed to restore a forest habitat are different from the species that are produced to stabilize the soil in a dry or salty area, and this difference should be considered from the stage of seed selection and seedling production to the time of planting and subsequent care.

Stating that the existing capacities in the nurseries of Qargh and Cheparqoime have made it possible to respond to a part of these diverse needs, Nikoyi said: these centers can play an effective role in providing seedlings needed for reforestation, development of pasture cover, combating desertification, and implementation of green space development plans.

He pointed out: the main view in this field should be based on the production of high-quality saplings that are suitable for the planting site; Because simply increasing the number of seedlings produced, regardless of the actual needs of the fields and plant establishment conditions, alone cannot guarantee the success of natural resource restoration programs.

Qarq; Important production capacity of forest and native seedlings

Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan, referring to the location of Garagh nursery, said: Due to its history of activity and significant production capacity, this nursery is considered one of the important centers of the province in the field of growing forest seedlings and can play a role in meeting the needs related to the restoration of forest habitats and the development of vegetation according to the conditions of the province.

He added: Hyrkan forests are one of the most valuable natural ecosystems in the country, and their protection and restoration requires attention to the characteristics of native species and the growing conditions of these forests. In such areas, species selection should be done by knowing the natural conditions of the area and the ecological needs of the habitat, so that it is possible to establish and continue the growth of seedlings.

Nikoyi continued: Qargh Nursery has the capacity to produce various forest and native species suitable for the growing conditions of Hyrkan forests. In addition, some species used in forestry, wood cultivation and green space development can also be considered in the production plan of this nursery within the framework of the relevant needs.

Emphasizing the necessity of separating the needs of different fields, he said: In planning for the production of seedlings, it should be clear for what purpose the final product will be produced and in what field it will be used. Reforestation, green space development, and wood cultivation each have their own requirements and considerations, and one cannot apply the same model to all these activities without examining the conditions.

The General Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan noted: The capacity of Qargh Nursery will be most effective when its production is in harmony with the actual needs of the implementation plans and the species produced are selected based on the characteristics of the planting site. This coordination can help to use production capacity more effectively and increase the chances of success of rehabilitation programs.

Chaparqoimeh; Supporting the production of resistant species in dry and salty areas

Nikoyi further pointed to the capacities of Cheparqoime nursery in Gonbadkavus city and said: the geographical location and climatic conditions of the north of the province have increased the need to pay attention to species that are able to adapt to water scarcity, salinity and environmental restrictions. This nursery has a valuable capacity to produce pasture species suitable for such conditions.

He added: Some of the fields in the north and east of Golestan are facing natural limitations in the field of establishing vegetation, and to restore them, species that can withstand the environmental conditions of the region should be used. The production of compatible pasture seedlings can provide the basis for the implementation of soil stabilization plans, the development of vegetation and combating desertification.

The General Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan, referring to the production of different species of Atriplex in Cheparkoimeh nursery, said: This group of plants is considered in the programs related to the restoration of pastures and the development of the vegetation of the target areas due to their adaptability to dry conditions. Species such as Atriplex caniscens, Atriplex lentiformis and Qaradagh also have a place in the production and restoration programs of the province's pastures.

Nikoyi continued: Using suitable species in areas prone to desertification can help improve soil surface coverage and reduce the vulnerability of areas to erosion factors. Of course, the success of these measures depends on the correct selection of the planting site, compliance with the technical conditions of implementation and care of the vegetation after establishment.

He emphasized: "The capacity of Chepargoimeh Nursery is not limited to the production of seedlings, but this center can support the implementation of projects aimed at restoring pasture cover, stabilizing the soil and increasing the resilience of natural areas against climatic restrictions." In this direction, it is very important to know the needs of each region and prioritize the target areas.

Production of 4,600,000 pasture seedlings in three years

General Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan, explaining the production situation of pasture saplings in the province, said: During the last three years, about 4,600,000 pasture saplings have been produced in Golestan. A capacity that provides the possibility of supporting part of the plans for the restoration of pastures, the development of vegetation and combating desertification.

He added: The production of pasture seedlings should be done based on the operational needs and natural capacities of the target areas. For this reason, identifying the priority areas and determining the species adapted to the conditions of each area are important issues in planning to use the produced seedlings.

Referring to the current year's production plan, Nikoyi said: This year, the production of about 135,000 pasture seedlings is on the agenda. These productions can be used in accordance with the needs of the planned plans to support the restoration of pastures and the development of vegetation in the target areas.

Emphasizing the necessity of the link between production and implementation, he continued: the seedling production program will be effective when it is clear from the beginning for what areas the seedlings are produced and for what purpose. If the regional needs are correctly identified, the appropriate species can be selected and the capacity of nurseries can be used in a way that is most compatible with natural conditions and restoration goals.

The General Director of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan pointed out: In the programs related to revitalization of vegetation, it is not enough to produce seedlings and a set of measures should be taken into consideration, from species selection and field preparation to planting and maintenance. For this reason, production capacity must be evaluated along with careful planning for planting and aftercare.

The extent of forests and pastures, the necessity of targeted planning

Referring to the size of Golestan's natural areas, Nikoyi said: About 524 thousand hectares of the province's areas are forests and about 956 thousand hectares are pastures. This expansion, along with the climatic and geographical diversity, doubles the necessity of producing species suitable for the different needs of the province's regions.

He added: The protection of this vast level of natural resources requires an approach in which the characteristics of each area are considered separately. The needs of a forest area are not the same as the needs of a pasture in the north or east of the province, and rehabilitation programs must be designed and implemented considering these differences.

Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan continued: In forest areas, it is important to maintain and restore the cover according to the characteristics of the habitat; While in pastures and dry areas, selecting resistant species and providing suitable conditions for the establishment of vegetation are important priorities.

Nikoyi emphasized: The nurseries of Qargh and Cheparkoimeh, with their different capacities, provide the possibility of providing part of the needs of these areas. The targeted use of the products of these centers can lead to greater coordination between the needs of different regions and the implementation plans of natural resources.

He stated: Natural resource management requires simultaneous attention to the protection of existing areas and the reconstruction of areas that have faced a reduction in vegetation due to various reasons. In this direction, the production of suitable seedlings is one of the important tools, but its effectiveness depends on how to use this capacity and the appropriateness of executive actions with environmental conditions.

Production of 21 million seedlings in three years of implementation of the popular plan to plant one billion trees

Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan, referring to the implementation of the popular plan to plant one billion trees, said: During the three years of implementation of this plan, about 21 million saplings have been produced in the public and private sectors of the province.

He added: This volume of production has created a significant capacity to support programs related to reforestation, development of green space, wood cultivation and restoration of pasture cover in the target areas. Some of the produced seedlings have been used according to the needs of these sectors.

Stating that the participation of the public and private sector in the production of seedlings is one of the important capacities of this field, Nikoyi continued: Vegetation development programs need a production infrastructure and the existence of various centers for the production of seedlings can provide the possibility of providing part of the needs of executive plans. However, the use of this capacity should be based on planning and determining the real needs of the fields.

He pointed out: In evaluating the performance of such programs, in addition to the number of seedlings produced, attention should also be paid to the place of consumption, the compatibility of the species with the conditions of the region, and the condition of the seedlings after planting. The ultimate goal of producing seedlings is establishing vegetation and helping to preserve and restore natural resources, and achieving this goal will require following different stages of work.

Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan added: The nurseries of the province play a supporting role in this process, and the more accurate the relationship between the production plan, regional needs, and implementation plans, the more effective use of existing capacities will be.