http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=240808

BIRJAND, South Khorasan Province – The Iranian Agriculture Jihad Ministry has completed the first phase of the carbon sequestration project (CSP) in South Khorasan Province, near the border with Afghanistan.

The project is being carried out by ministry’s department for forests, rangelands and watershed with the cooperation of the United Nations Development Plan.
Dr. Salajegheh, the deputy minister for forests, rangelands and watershed, says the project is very important in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Carbon sequestration is the process of removing excess carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere (3.67 tons CO2 = 1 ton sequestered carbon).
The Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) recognizes carbon sequestration through forestry as a way to mitigate global warming and also allows industrialized countries to offset their carbon emissions by investing in forestry projects in developing countries.
In addition, many private organizations are voluntarily promoting carbon sequestration projects to reduce their carbon emissions. Globally, carbon sequestration projects are now worth millions of dollars, including financial inflows for many developing countries.
Thus, carbon sequestration projects present mutual benefits for environmental conservation and economic development opportunities in poor countries.
South Khorasan is the first province to fulfill CSP in Iran. The project started in 2003 and took 6 years to bear fruit. 1.7 million dollars was allocated for the project. UNDP contributed 1 million dollars to the project.
A similar project is also going to be done in Kerman province.
Economic and environmental benefits of carbon sequestration projects are particularly relevant for Asian countries like Iran.
- UNDP, ambassadors have a positive evaluation of project
After visiting several villages and doing a careful inspection of the 1st phase of the project and the start of the 2nd phase in the province, Ms. Consuelo Vidal, the UN resident delegate in Iran, assessed the project as successful. The ambassadors of Austria, Australia, Sweden and Afghanistan also assessed the project as successful.
- Locals play the main role
Dr. Hadarvadi who presented a thorough and scientific description of the project through slide show, said the locals have played an important role in implementing the project.
Caption: Ambassadors of Afghanistan, Australia and Sweden are inspecting project’s outcome in the desert area of South Khorasan