Leader of the Islamic Revolution underlined the importance of protecting the environment and green life as dominant popular culture and urged all the officials to pay more attention to people�s livelihood.

Participating in a special event on the occasion of National Arbor Day on the first day of the national Week of Natural Resources, the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei highlighted the necessity for protecting plants and the green life as a dominant popular culture. The Leader has also highlighted the need to conserve the environment, saying the destruction of the environment would ruin the future of mankind. �The destruction of the environment is a great calamity that would ruin the future of mankind, therefore, officials and all people must stand up to it,� Ayatollah Khamenei said on Friday, as he planted two fruit tree saplings to mark the National Tree Planting Day. �Planting trees and saplings is one of the virtues that is emphasized in the holy Sharia of Islam,� the Leader said. He expressed regret over the destruction of forests, natural habitats and aquifers by profiteers. Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to incidents such as forest fires and the shrinking and drying up of lakes and wetlands, saying such incidents are preventable and the authorities who do not carry out their duties in this regard are accountable. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader pointed to the problems created by the coronavirus outbreak, saying people would face more livelihood problems if the deadly virus persists, Press TV reported. Such situation has brought great sorrow on the eve of Nowruz, the Leader said, adding, �Therefore, this disease should be defeated with the cooperation of all.� On the Iranian National Tree Planting Day (Arbor Day), individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees Every year, just before the Iranian New Year, millions of Iranians plant trees to mark the tree-planting week and hail the advent of spring. National Tree Planting Day, is annually celebrated on the fifteenth day of Esfand, the last month on the Iranian calendar, which usually corresponds with March 5. The day marks the beginning of National Week of Natural Resources (March 5-12).