Friday, 29 March 2024

Wildfires in Zagros have resulted in 150 hectares of the natural forest of the region to cease!

 

 

Background

With the gradual rise of the temperature during summer, the resourceful ‘Zagros Montane ecosystem’, unprotected by the local authority and uncared for by the residents, has, unfortunately, massively damaged as the result of a recent wildfire.

 

Geography

Zagros Forest, with an area of about 6 million hectares (40% of Iran’s forest), are located in the west region of the country. These forests have also been called Western Oak Forests, due to the dominancy of Oak Species. Oak species include Maple, Kikum, Coriander, Sparrow Tongue, Wild Pear, Willow, and varieties of Almond tree species.

The incident

According to the local news, in the evening of Thursday 28 May 2020, in two sperate incidents, two sets of fire broke out in the woodlands near Jozar Village in Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad. The firefighters and the brave local residence, in a collaboration, combat the fire for approximately 12 hours in which it eventually resulted in the wildfire incinerated 150 hectares of Zagros forest in Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad Province as well as burn up to 5 hectares in Ilam Province.

Wildfires in Zagros have resulted in 150 hectares of the natural forest of the region to cease!

History of the natural disasters of the region

This is not the first time that such a natural disaster happens in the region. According to the province's natural resources statistics, in 1995, there were 75 separate fires broke out in the forest and burned up to 950 hectares of the region. Furthermore, in 1996, there were 110 separate fires broke out and resulted in 700 hectares of the forest burned and; penultimately, in 1998, 7 individual fire broke out and resulted in 364 hectares of the forest to burn up.

 

Reasons for the wildfire in Iran 

According to Tehran Times (2017), 95% of wildfires in Iran are caused by humans; they are either intentional for example for retaliation purposes (land dispute) or unintentional for instance carelessness or excessive use. According to the same source, since the beginning of the current Iranian-Calendar, 11 Farvardin 1304 (31 March 1925), there have been 30 to 40 wildfires in the Zagros forest. To add, forest in provinces of Golestan, Khuzestan, Kerman, and Lorestan also sustained damages to some extend due to wildfires. It is believed that approximately 60% of the human-caused wildfire in Iran happen unintentionally and 40% on purpose, for instance in retaliation against one family or to get one's hand on a piece of land. 

Reaction

Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad's environmental protection director said, "In the evening of Thursday, 28 May 2020, the fire has started in the forests of Khazei Mountain in Kohgilouyeh city, and it has been continued due to lack of manpower and logistics." Furthermore, Kohgiluyeh's deputy governor called the situation in the Khazei protected area "extremely critical" and called on the country's crisis management to take action. Moreover, many artistic, sports, political and media figures reacted out to and called on the authorities to take immediate action to put out the fire on rest. 

Considering that the nature of Iran is highly unique in the world, and about 60% of the country is covered with forest and pastures, it is inevitable to believe the importance of safeguarding these areas. There is a famous quote that says, "Disaster prevention is better than the cure". This quote suggests, the forests in Iran, particularly Zagros, due to its history of the natural disasters, ought to be modified to provide preparations to prevent another large-scale wildfire.

 Wildfires in Zagros have resulted in 150 hectares of the natural forest of the region to cease!

By: Masoud-Ansari(PhD student - Oxford)


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