Iran announces full containment of fire in UNESCO-listed forests
Head of Iran’s Crisis Management Headquarters Hossein Sajedinia announced on Monday that a widespread fire in the country’s northern forests has been fully contained after nine days of efforts by rescue teams and the support of local residents.
However, Sajedinia, said that operations are underway to look for hidden fires. Rescue teams will remain in the area until the official announcement of the full containment of the fire.
Sajedinia also thanked Turkey after the neighboring country dispatched two water-bombing aircraft and a helicopter to extinguish fire.
The fire in UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyrcanian forests, which was allegedly started by hunters in the rocky area of Elit village in northern Mazandaran Province in early November and was initially quelled, reignited on November 15.
The Hyrcanian forests stretch for about 1,000 kilometers along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea and into neighboring Azerbaijan.
UNESCO recognized the forests as a World Heritage Site in 2019, deeming them unique for both their age – between 25 and 50 million years old – and their varied biodiversity, as home to more than 3,200 species of plants.
UNESCO says on its website the Hyrcanian forests contain "a large number of rare and endemic tree species" and are home to "many relic and endangered plant species."