November 15-2013
Iran has the worst soil erosion problem of any country in the world, a professor at the University of Tehran reports.
Esmail Kahrom, professor of environmental science and ecology, said Iran was ranked second worst in the world in 2010 but rose to worst in 2011.
The Mehr news agency report on the professor’s remarks did not say what international agency had made the ranking.
Kahrom said the poor ranking demonstrated an absence of governmental planning and coordination to limit erosion and promote soil conservation.
Kahrom said he believes that poor management of water resources is resulting in the drying up not just of Lake Urumiyeh but of ponds all across the country, the loss of much groundwater and increasing desertification.
He said deforestation is to blame for much of the erosion. Each spring heavy rains now lead to mud slides from the Alborz mountains that were once thickly covered with forests.
Increased soil erosion reduces the volume of land available to grow crops and further endangers the state’s declared goal to make Iran self-sufficient in foodstuffs.