Assessing Watershed Management Position in the Five-Year Development Documents of Iran

Iran after glorious Islamic Revolution by compiling high level documents such as the Five-Year Development
Plans (FYDP) has tried to change his position to a developed country in accordance with the requirements of
cultural, geographical and historical and Islamic moral principles. These FYDPs according to the conditions and
priorities of the country have had several considered sections by the governments. One of the most important
sections refers to the existing problems and future goals in agriculture, environment and natural resources
fields. Therefore, assessing the attention of the FYDPs to soil conservation and watershed management leads
to holistic understanding about appropriateness between the past planning and natural resources facts and
issues. This assessment showed authorities do not have comprehensive and precise understanding about role of
watersheds, soil and water conservation and watershed management in gross domestic product and sustainable
development. So, there are no precise and unambiguous approaches in FYDSs to protecting natural resources
and have been satisfied to general, quantitative and inadequate legislation.