A massive wildfire has erupted in Iran’s Mazandaran Province, burning for more than a week across the ancient Hyrcanian Forest and its surrounding areas. The blaze comes amid severe drought conditions and a significant drop in groundwater levels across the country, further intensifying the crisis.
The Hyrcanian Forest, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, has been severely affected. According to Iran’s fire services, the wildfire was not caused by natural factors but is believed to have originated from human activity. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause.
Fire officials and local residents told AFP on Sunday that approximately 80 percent of the fire has been brought under control after seven days of continuous effort. However, the Mazandaran provincial authorities have stated that the full extent of the damage cannot be assessed until the fire is completely extinguished.
Stretching along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea and into the adjacent mountainous regions, the Hyrcanian Forest is estimated by UNESCO to be between 25 and 50 million years old. It is one of the most biodiverse forests on Earth, home to rare species such as the Asiatic cheetah, the Persian leopard, numerous mammals and birds, and many plant species found nowhere else in the world. It is also among the oldest surviving forests globally.
So far, the wildfire has not spread into residential areas, and no casualties or injuries have been reported. Firefighters, forest officials, and local communities continue to work together to bring the blaze under full control.
Source: The New York Times.