Nestled along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, the northern provinces of Iran, including Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, boast a breathtaking natural landscape known for its lush forests and unique biodiversity. However, beneath the surface of this scenic beauty lies a pressing environmental concern that demands attention: deforestation.
As these provinces grapple with the intricate interplay of agricultural expansion, urban development, and logging activities, their ancient and ecologically vital Caspian Hyrcanian Mixed Forests face unprecedented challenges. Beyond the stark beauty of these woods, these forests are home to a rich tapestry of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic and at risk of losing their habitats.
The consequences of deforestation extend far beyond the immediate loss of trees. It triggers a domino effect that encompasses soil erosion, increased flood risks, climate change impacts, and a significant threat to the region’s precious biodiversity.
Environmental activists are sounding the alarm about the dire state of nature in northern Iran. They argue that in recent years, driven by increased travel and a growing appetite for construction in the region’s cities, the very essence of this area’s natural beauty is under severe threat.
On September 21, state-run media within the regime highlighted a concerning trend – the appropriation of national resources for construction, not just in the eastern regions of Gilan province but across the entire triad of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Gorgan. What’s more, even places that were once havens for nature tourism or resorts have fallen into private hands as construction projects have been taken over mostly by the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its elements.
What environmental activists and experts term “climate destruction” results from a constellation of factors. Each factor alone could trigger an environmental crisis in northern Iran, but the combined effect has plunged the region’s nature into a perilous predicament.
The conspicuous surge in villa construction and the encroachment upon untouched areas within forests and mountains have disrupted the natural harmony of the country. Furthermore, the escalating demand for the acquisition of agricultural land and rice paddies has obliterated a substantial part of the north’s agricultural fabric.
However, the usurpation of natural resources is not limited to construction alone. The widespread felling of trees and the illicit trade in timber has left northern Iran’s forests vulnerable, contributing to reduced rainfall and the desiccation of wetlands and rivers.
The indiscriminate proliferation of dams, while a significant factor in altering the natural environment in these northern provinces, might have had an even more profound impact on drought in these areas.
Another peril is the persistence of industries whose waste pollutes water resources. Despite warnings from environmentalists and some medical professionals, these industries not only continue their operations but have also been cited as a major cause of the desiccation of the Anzali wetland in Gilan province, a challenge acknowledged even by regime officials but ignored deliberately.
While this concatenation of factors continues to erode the country’s natural resources, the government of Ebrahim Raisi, despite its claims of environmental protection, not only offers no solutions to mitigate these destructive factors but also greenlights projects like the Miankala Petrochemical Project, introducing yet another detrimental element into the mix for the northern regions.
The regime asserts that no polluting industries will be established in northern Iran without the approval of the environmental organization. However, local media and journalists report rapid progress in the construction of this project.
Meanwhile, residents believe that the surge in tourism, without adequate infrastructure, has exacerbated environmental pollution due to the negligence of some visitors.
Efforts to clean roads, forests, coastlines, and riverbanks through NGO-driven campaigns are commendable, but journalist reports indicate that the issue of waste disposal in nature is not one that can be addressed solely through sporadic efforts. Clearing the environment of waste, particularly plastic waste, requires a national commitment and a well-defined budget, which the regime has no desire and intention to provide because wasting such resources serves its malign goals.
