Protect Iran's Zagros forests from wildfires

doi:10.1126/science.abd2967

GSTDTAP > 气候变化

DOI	10.1126/science.abd2967
	Protect Iran's Zagros forests from wildfires
	Mostafa Kheshti
	2020-08-28
发表期刊	Science
出版年	2020
英文摘要	Since 21 March, more than 374 wildfires have spread through the oak forests in Iran's Zagros Mountains ([ 1 ][1]), burning more than 50,000 ha ([ 2 ][2]), compared with the average of 15,000 ha of Iranian forests that burn annually in wildfires ([ 3 ][3]). These deciduous forests, which include trees that are more than 400 years old ([ 4 ][4]), cover an area of 6 million hectares and are home to a wide variety of wildlife ([ 5 ][5]), including wolves, Persian squirrels, the endangered Persian leopard ([ 6 ][6]), and the Persian fallow deer, which was once thought to be extinct ([ 5 ][5]). Because the Zagros oak trees grow slowly ([ 2 ][2]), it could take 100 years for the burned areas to recover ([ 7 ][7]). The Zagros forests feed more than 50% of Iran's livestock ([ 8 ][8]) and include some of the country's most important riverine sources of fresh water ([ 8 ][8]). Given their valuable biodiversity and strategic importance, the Iranian government must address the recent wildfires. The head of Iran's Department of Environment has announced that the magnifying effects of glass and plastic waste caused the wildfires ([ 9 ][9]). However, some environmentalists and researchers suspect that local people may be setting fires, either deliberately ([ 3 ][3], [ 7 ][7]) or accidentally ([ 10 ][10]). Deforestation and illegal logging also contribute to wildfire ignition and spread ([ 5 ][5], [ 7 ][7]). The Iranian government should clearly identify the causes of these frequent fires. The Iranian forests are protected by the Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization, which has provincial centers monitoring their local territories ([ 11 ][11]). If deliberate illegal action is the cause of the increased wildfires, policy-makers should introduce national legislation to implement more stringent regulations against starting fires and to increase enforcement in the Zagros Mountains to prevent illegal logging and brush burning. The government should identify and prioritize the trees and endangered species that are at risk, improve fire planning, and streamline fire responses by learning from other countries with similar experiences, such as Australia ([ 12 ][12]). Without these actions, wildfires will continue to destroy trees, increase endangered species' risk of extinction, and deprive the Iranian people of crucial resources. 1. [↵][13]“Are the fires intentional?” Aftab Yazd (2020); [www.pishkhan.com/news/183021/][14] [in Farsi]. 2. [↵][15]“Ashes of the Zagros forests in the flames of negligence,” Islamic Republic News Agency (2020); [www.irna.ir/news/83850837/][16] [in Farsi]. 3. [↵][17]“Why are Zagros forests burning?” Tabnak (2020); [www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/982140/][18] [in Farsi]. 4. [↵][19]1. M. A. Haqshenas , “Zagros oak forests would cry out if they could!” Tehran Times (2018). 5. [↵][20]“Saving Zagros forests must become first priority,” Tehran Times (2019). 6. [↵][21]1. A. B. Stein , “ Panthera pardus (amended version of 2019 assessment)” (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020). 7. [↵][22]“Zagros in the fire of human fires,” Mashregh News (2020); [www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1089354/][23] [in Farsi]. 8. [↵][24]1. G. Tavangar , “Homelessness of Zagros species with the fire of negligence,” Kayhan (2020); [www.kayhan.ir/fa/news/191035/][25] [in Farsi]. 9. [↵][26]“Kalantari: Less than 1,500 hectares of forest have been set on fire,” Khabar Online (2020); [www.khabaronline.ir/news/1397174/][27] [in Farsi]. 10. [↵][28]“The story of recent fires in Iran; Intentional or unintentional?” Borna News (2020); [www.borna.news/fa/tiny/news-1006988/][29] [in Farsi]. 11. [↵][30]“Executive policies of Zagros forest ecosystem management,” Zistonline (2019); [www.zistonline.com/news/80630/share/do][31]. 12. [↵][32]1. R. M. Kooyman et al ., Science 367, 1083 (2020). 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领域	气候变化 ; 资源环境
URL	查看原文
引用统计
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/293206
专题	气候变化资源环境科学
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Mostafa Kheshti. Protect Iran's Zagros forests from wildfires[J]. Science,2020.
APA	Mostafa Kheshti.(2020).Protect Iran's Zagros forests from wildfires.Science.
MLA	Mostafa Kheshti."Protect Iran's Zagros forests from wildfires".Science (2020).