Iran calls for global cooperation to save endangered Zagros forests
Iran has appealed for international cooperation to preserve the endangered Zagros forests, a UNESCO-registered natural heritage site facing mounting threats from climate change and illegal exploitation, the head of the country's Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organisation said on Tuesday.
Ali Teymouri, speaking at an international conference on sustainable management of Zagros forests at the Foreign Ministry's research center, warned that the ancient woodland—home to over 2,500 unique plant and animal species—required urgent "global partnerships" to survive, IRNA reported.
Iran possesses roughly 14mn hectares of forest covering 7.5 per cent of the country's territory, with a per capita forest coverage of 1,700 square meters compared to the global average of 5,600 square meters, Teymouri said.
Iran boasts 300,000 hectares of forests registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites, making it home to some of the world's oldest woodlands.
The Zagros forests, spanning Iran's western regions, serve as a crucial lifeline for millions of local residents whilst playing a "pivotal role" in preserving biodiversity, securing water resources, and regulating local climate across the dry and semi-arid Mediterranean zone, the official explained.
These woodlands harbor exceptional genetic diversity due to their unique geographical position, hosting species found nowhere else on Earth, Teymouri noted.
However, this precious heritage now faces "serious threats" including climate change, recurring wildfires, and unlawful logging operations.
Iran's forestry authority has rolled out sustainable management initiatives involving local communities and stakeholders through social forestry programs.
Yet Teymouri acknowledged these domestic efforts fall short of requirements, stating the country needs enhanced international collaboration across technical cooperation, financing, regional partnerships, and scientific exchanges.
The official called for joint research projects, student exchanges, and shared expertise with experienced nations to design and implement sustainable forest management schemes. He emphasized that environmental challenges transcend national borders, making international funding mechanisms and global environmental facilities essential.
Regional cooperation with neighboring countries proves vital for tackling dust storms, protecting shared water resources, and combating cross-border fires, Teymouri added. Iran actively pursues forest restoration through various initiatives including a complete ban on timber harvesting from all Iranian forests, implementing nationwide forest protection schemes, and launching a four-year program to plant one billion trees with public participation.
The deputy economy minister urged all countries and international bodies to join a comprehensive cooperation program for Zagros forest rehabilitation, describing such partnerships as "investments in our land's future and the entire region's environmental stability."