More than 1,000 Iranian forest rangers are to receive special training in the use of firearms in a program developed by the Department of the Environment and the Security Forces.
The Environment Department reports that some of the rangers have had no adequate training for the use of firearms to deal with poachers.
Earlier reports indicate that there are a total of 2,700 forest rangers working across the country, which is not enough to patrol all the protected areas. Saeed Dehnamaki of the Environment Department told IRNA that currently each ranger is responsible for 10 hectares of land, but for full protection, each one would have to cover 3,000 hectares.
Reports indicate that the Department of Environment is facing a shortage of 10,000 forest rangers.
The firearm training comes after several forest rangers have received stiff sentences in the courts for using their firearms against poachers.
