Wood farming grows in Aras Free Zone thanks to the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Aras Free Zone Organization, the Office of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of East Azerbaijan.

According to the report of the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Aras Free Zone Organization, based on the agreement between Aras Free Zone Organization and the Office of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of East Azerbaijan and the support provided in this memorandum, the private sector in Aras Free Zone enters the field of wood farming.

 This memorandum was signed in order for production of seedlings, the development of agronomy of wood with the cultivation of suitable and fast growing species and the optimal use of the capacities and potential of ShahidBehjatHaghighi's station for seed and seedlings production(JolfaShamdaran).

Accordingly, the private sector will be able to use the facilities provided by the Aras Free Zone Organization and the Office of Natural Resources and Watersheds of East Azerbaijan at the ShahidBehjatHaghighi's station for seed and seedlings productionto produce wood. Optimal use of soil and water resources of the station, saving currencies and reducing timber imports, allaying the pressure from the natural arena of forests, creating employment and developing investment in the current year named " production prosperity" by Iran's supreme leader, helping to protect the forest resources of the province and supplying the needs of downstream wood industries in the country are among the most important goals pursued in this memorandum.

The provision of water and soil resources and the provision of seedlings of suitable and fast-growing species are among the issues that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of the EastAzerbaijan has committed to make in this memorandum.

Implementation of the seedling production and wood cultivation plans, comprising one million trees in the lands of ShahidBehjatHaghighi's station for seed and seedlings production, either directly or in partnership with the private sector, is among the obligations of the Aras Free Zone Organization.

The plan is being carried out on an area of 304 hectares, of which 251 hectares are now ready to plant seedlings.

The memorandum on the production of seedlings and the development of wood farming has been signed by Mohsen Nariman, the Managing Director of Aras Free Zone Organization, and NamdarDavar, Director General of Natural Resources and Water Supply of East Azerbaijan.