A blaze which had devastated a unique forest ecosystem in northern Iran has been brought under control after weeks of firefighting efforts, an environmental official said on Tuesday.
But when pressed on state television about the extent of damage to the ancient Hyrcanian Forest, head of Iran’s Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organisation Reza Aflatouni on Monday declined to respond.
“State TV should not make the sweetness of such management bitter for people’s taste,” he said.
Aflatouni said that the main phase of the blaze, which reignited on 15 November is now extinguished, with only isolated smoldering spots left under close monitoring.
The Elit wildfire has burned through parts of Iran’s ancient Hyrcanian Forests, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back 25–50 million years and home to over 3,200 plant species and endangered wildlife, including Persian leopards.
In a report on Sunday, the semi-official ISNA news agency wrote that the fire has been burning for about 20 days. However, the head of natural resources in Mazandaran province rejected this, insisting two separate fires occurred 10 to 15 days apart.
ISNA's said local residents insist the blaze has continued without interruption since November 1, with smoke showing it never fully went out.
“The fire in the Hyrcanian forests is not merely an environmental disaster; it is a symbol of managerial backwardness, social neglect and a weak environmental culture,” the news website Rouydad24 wrote.
“Without urgent action, the continuation of this trend could destroy large parts of Iran’s natural heritage and cause irreparable damage to the country’s society and economy,” the report added.
Mazandaran Governor Mahdi Younesi estimates around eight hectares have been destroyed so far.
