This department was established in 1991 and was organized to carry out basic and applied research primarily concerned with various beneficial arthropods, biotic and abiotic noxious agents affecting forests and ranges. In order to fulfill these mandates, various research projects are currently underway throughout the country. Integrating management into forest and range protection is a prime goal to be achieved in this department.

There are about 50 researchers and scientists in head office and over the provincial research centers. The objectives of the department are pursued through the following research units:

◊ Research Unit of Forest and Range Pests

The main research objectives include:

• Study biology and ecology of forest and range insects.

• Study factors that predispose forest trees to insect attack.

• Study population dynamics of forest trees and range insects in order to use in prediction procedure.

• Integrate pest management of fast growing trees.

• Study safer and more specific use of chemical insecticides and other controlling methods such as plant resistance.

• Collection, identification and study on galigenous and other beneficial organisms in forests and ranges.

• Collection, identification and preservation of forest and range insect fauna.

        • Forest and Range Arthropods and Rodents Museum

This museum was established in 1999. The major portion of the collection was originated and developed through "Survey of forest insect fauna of Iran" or other research projects. The collection currently contains over 30,000 specimens that were identified by Iranian and foreign specialists.

A computerized system for the collection management is designed and detailed host and locality information is recorded into a data base.

◊ Research Unit of Forest and Range Diseases

The main objectives are as follows:

• Monitoring disease agents in forests and ranges.

• Biological study on phytopathogenic fungi in forests and ranges.

• Study epidemiology of major destructive diseases.

• Study the macroscopic fungi in forests and ranges.

• Study mycorhizes in forests.

• Study abiotic and non-infectious agents which cause damage to forest trees.

• Study parasites and antagonists of phytopathogenic organisms in forests and ranges.

• Protection of forest nurseries against diseases.
   

• Study on pollution and other destructive factors on forests and ranges.

• Study on critical timing, locals and fire prediction in forests and ranges.

• Study on weeds, other unwanted plants and their natural enemies in nurseries, forests and ranges.

◊ Research Unit of Biological Control

This unit has been given a mandate to:

• Collection and identification of beneficial organisms as natural enemies of forest and range pests.

• Study biology and ecology of natural enemies of major forest and range pests.

• Study mass production and release methods of parasitoids, predators and pathogenic agents in order to.control key pests in forests and ranges.

• Study on preservative methods for natural enemies of forest and range pests