Iran’s forests are at full risk while environmental crises in Iran, especially the crisis of destruction of forests and pastures, are incomparable with other countries in the Middle East.
In 2020, a significant portion of the forests in the west of the country was burned and turned into ashes because of the neglect of the government.
Reza Bayini, assistant deputy of the Forest Organization, said that in 2020 more than 21,000 hectares of Iranian forests were burned.
Is fire the only cause of destruction of pastures and forests in Iran?
The vast dimensions of environmental degradation, and especially the destruction of forests, are due to the plundering of natural resources of the country by government officials and offices affiliated with Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).
The following are examples that show the dimensions of the destruction of forests by the Revolutionary Guards:
The construction of a Navy base of the IRGC in the Forest Park of Sarkheh and destroying the wildlife in this national park.
Destruction of nearly 100,000 hectares of Zagros forests for the construction of IRGC’s bases, villas, corporate homes and ammunition depo.
Occupation and destruction of 13000 hectares of forests of Golestan province by the IRGC forces called Lashkar 25 of Karbala.
The destruction of 93 hectares of the best place of the Hirkani forests for the construction of Shafarood Dam in Gilan.
Construction of the “Mahalati” (resident units) set for members of the IRGC in 500 hectares of Lavasan region in Tehran.
The capture of 10 hectares of Gorgan’s Naharkhoran forests in Gorgan province by the IRGC in 2012, despite the construction prohibition.
Construction of a museum by the IRGC with the destruction of the Tahlijan forest in Shahrekord.
Cutting over 13500 old oak trees in the protected region of ‘Dena’ in Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad province by the IRGC’s construction base Khatam al-Anbia for implementation of a gas pipeline project.
Setting on fire deliberately the forests in the western region of the country by the IRGC, with the pretext of “security threats” by the opposition groups. Or, due to the military operations of the IRGC, such as the forest fire in Marivan and Paveh in 2010.
Today we are witnessing the removal of fallen trees in the forests of the north of the country, which is mainly done by the companies of the IRGC forces. This act has led to the destruction of the soil of these forests.
Iran is the only country in the world that consumes 100 percent of its renewable water, while the average consumption of renewable water should not be more than 40 percent. In such conditions and in such a way, how is it possible that the environment would survive? Certainly, forests cannot be preserved in such conditions.
The trend of destruction of Iranian forests is moving faster and the head of Iran’s Forest Organization has predicted that in 30 years the north forests of Iran which were once one of the biggest forests in the world would not exists anymore.
