Forests of Iran
Iran's forests span five vegetation regions and face ongoing deforestation.
Iran's forests are located in the northern regions and on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, extending from the east of Ardabil province to North Khorasan province and covering Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan. These forests, remnants of the third geological period, have a temperate humid climate and are part of the Hyrcanian vegetation zone, forming a green belt along the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains. Historically, Iran had extensive forests, though precise historical records of forest area before the modern era are not available; deforestation began after the Mongol invasion and accelerated in the last three centuries.
- Current forest area
- 14 million hectares (54,000 sq mi)
- Historical forest area (Achaemenid perio
- No reliable historical data available
- Northern forest area
- 3.4 million hectares (13,000 sq mi)
- Industrial exploitation area
- 1.3 million hectares (5,000 sq mi)
- Annual deforestation rate (Zagros and ot
- Varies by source; FAO reports indicate approximately 63,000 hectares per year for the Zagros region and other areas
- Forest vegetation regions
- 5 (Hyrcanian, Iran-Turan, Zagros, Persian Gulf, Arasbarani)
Lore & Background
Iran's forests are divided into five vegetation regions: the Hyrcanian (Caspian) region forming the northern green belt; the Iran and Turan region scattered in central Iran; the Zagros region with oak forests in the west; the Persian Gulf region along the southern coast; and the Arasbarani region with rare species. The Hyrcanian forests stretch approximately 800 km long and 20 to 70 km wide, containing 80 species of trees, four native conifers, and 50 shrub species, including beech, hornbeam, oak, maple, and alder. The Alborz mountain range acts as a barrier, trapping Caspian Sea moisture and causing rainfall in the north while leaving central areas dry.
Reader's Guide
The forests of Iran are significant as remnants of ancient ecosystems and as a vital natural resource, but they have experienced severe decline. According to the source, Iran's forested area decreased from 18 million hectares to 14 million hectares over the past five decades, with deforested land turning into desert. The Food and Agriculture Organization has reported that Iran is one of 70 developing countries with limited forest cover, and this scarce cover is being destroyed at a faster rate than in other regions globally. Deforestation, driven by both legal and illegal logging, has reduced biodiversity and wildlife in northern forests and has been identified as a cause of devastating floods. The nationalization of forests in 1963 under the White Revolution placed about 120 million hectares of forests and fields under government control, leading to the forced relocation of forest-dwelling pastoralists and reshaping traditional settlement patterns. The Hyrcanian forests, in particular, are remnants of the third geological period, with a scarcity of conifers due to limited glacier expansion in late geological periods.
Did You Know?
- Iran's forests are divided into five vegetation regions: Hyrcanian, Iran-Turan, Zagros, Persian Gulf, and Arasbarani.
- No reliable historical records exist for forest area during the Achaemenid period.
- Over the past five decades, Iran's forested area has decreased from an estimated 18 million hectares to 14 million hectares.
- The Hyrcanian forests contain 80 species of trees, four native conifers, and 50 species of shrubs.
More in World Heritage Sites in Iran 1-24
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