Table tennis players plant trees to help SafashahrCEFR B1
1 Jan 2026
Adapted from Guest Contributor, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Igor Rodrigues, Unsplash
Safashahr, a small city in the mountainous north of Fars province, is experiencing a growing water crisis and environmental degradation. Two years ago the head of the table tennis association of Khorrambid County aimed to build basic sports infrastructure and also to encourage broader community action for nature.
Since then the association has organised volunteer activities that connect sport and environmental care. These included plastic‑free hall campaigns at training venues and the construction of small water troughs for wildlife. The most recent gathering took place in the Nobekuh area near Dehbid, in cooperation with the local Department of Natural Resources.
More than 200 residents, including many young players and their families, joined and together planted 400 drought‑resistant trees, mainly wild almond and arjan, chosen because they can survive low‑water conditions. Families described the planting as joyful and said children now see the hills and forests as part of their responsibility.
Participants proposed creating a small community forest and the association plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the local Department of Environment to formalise future joint actions.
Difficult words
- environmental degradation — damage to nature and ecosystems
- infrastructure — basic public buildings and services
- volunteer — a person who works without pay
- trough — a long container for animal watertroughs
- wildlife — animals and plants living in nature
- memorandum of understanding — a written agreement between groups
- formalise — to make something official or formal
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you join a local group that combines sport and environmental work? Why or why not?
- What benefits can a small community forest bring to a town like Safashahr?
- How can families help children feel responsible for nature, as described in the article?
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