Iran has sought help to fight a devastating fire in
UNESCO-listed forests in its north, with neighbouring Türkiye
sending firefighting planes, Iran’s top environmental official said
on Saturday, Azernews reports via Reuters.
The fire threatens the Hyrcanian forests, which stretch along
the southern Caspian Sea coast and date back 50 million years. They
are home to 3,200 plant species – a “floral biodiversity …
remarkable at the global level”, according to UNESCO, opens new
tab, which listed them as a World Heritage site in 2019.
“Two firefighting aircraft (and) one helicopter … are being
dispatched by the Turkish government today. There is also the
capacity to have cooperation from Russia if needed,” Vice-President
Shina Ansari told state television.
Two Iranian Ilyushin firefighting aircraft, seven helicopters
and about 400 firefighters are battling the blaze, which follows a
drought marked by rain levels across Iran at 85% below average. The
fire reignited last Saturday following media reports that it was
put out after breaking out in late October.
Meanwhile, the head of a provincial nature protection unit said
unauthorised hunters may have started the blaze and Reza Aflatouni,
the head of Iran’s forestry body, suggested that the fire may be
linked to illegal efforts to destroy forested areas in order to
build private residences, according to Iranian media
reports.