Nomination of Hyrcanian Forests as the World Heritage Site

Forests located in the northern part of Iran, known as the Hyrcanian forests; is a rather narrow green belt that covers the northern slope of the Alborz mountain range  and dates back to 40 million years ago. The natural vegetation is temperate deciduous broadleaved forests that extend from Astara in the west of Gilan province to Gildaqi in the east of Golestan province with an area of about 2 125000 hactares. It characterized by various ecological conditions from 550 to 2200mm precipitation, zero to 5671 m elevation and various vegetation landscape from conifers to broadleaved to Mediterranean plants. These conditions caused great diversity in species.

The Hyrcanian forests belong to the end of the third geological era that survived the Quaternary glacial period. These forests contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. It also contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. It is outstanding examples in the record of significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms and significant geomorphic or physiographic features. It is also outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, ecosystems and communities of plants.

The nomination of Hyrcanian Forests as a UNESCO World Heritage site has been under attention since 2001 and has recently become the focus and one of the priorities of the Iranian government.  The project include 13 sites with an area of 150 thousand ha that is financed by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and Nature Conservation of Germany. Recognition of these forests as a World Heritage site will increase the worldwide popularity of these forests, in addition, it can enhance the realization of the people in the region of their outstanding heritage through awareness raising and exchange of experiences with other world heritage sites and help the remnants of virgin and old-growth forests to be protected strictly for the world.