Iran (IMNA) - Fires occur wherever there are human settlements, and this happens many times each year. Any fire incident consists of three parts: prevention, operation, and monitoring the situation after extinguishing the fire.
Various factors contribute to these fires. For example, the lack of demarcation between agricultural lands or pastures and forest lands is one of the significant factors leading to widespread fires in forests at the end of harvest seasons, as farmers burn agricultural residues. Accidental fires, such as small fires created by shepherds or nature tourists to heat food, can spread through hundreds of hectares of forests.
In fire operations, most local people and environmentalists are the true saviors of nature. They arrive at the scene empty-handed and without proper equipment, both young and old, to protect the environment. Unfortunately, over the past few years, we have lost dozens of volunteers and nature lovers due to the lack of necessary equipment and facilities during the Zagros fires.
A fire does not end with extinguishing operations; after the fire is put out, monitoring and assessment of the affected areas must be conducted to prevent re-ignition.
The forest belongs to us, and we have no place to live except this planet. Forests provide water for a significant part of the country, and the natural ecosystem cycle of forests directly impacts our lives. The destruction of the Zagros and Hyrcanian forests disrupts the natural cycles of dust, water resources, wildlife, and soil. We must take care of and protect these forests for our own survival.
Livestock grazing in the forests is a significant problem in the country, causing irreparable damage to various parts of the forest nationwide. One of the major harms of pasturing animals in forest areas is the consumption of seeds, shrubs, and vegetation instead of hay. The repeated occurrence of this process hinders the growth and development of trees and vegetation, ultimately obstructing the reproduction and expansion of the forest.
Allowing cattle into the forest results in newly sprouting seeds being eaten or plants that have just grown being crushed underfoot and destroyed.
According to statistics published last year by Iranian natural resource managers, 700 million saplings are consumed by livestock in the Hyrcanian forests every year. Similar negative events undoubtedly occur in the Zagros forests as well; thus, by continuing such activities, billions of saplings are destroyed by livestock in the country's forests annually.
As livestock grazing in forest areas increases, so does human activity in and out of these areas, raising the likelihood of fires. In some cases, fires are deliberately set with the aim of destroying forests to convert them into pastures.
Another human-made danger to nature is forest clearance through the cutting down of trees for lumber or charcoal, a common practice in the Zagros forests.
One of the critical factors that maintain soil cohesion is the roots of plants and trees. When forest trees are destroyed, the strength of the soil may be compromised, leading to severe floods in areas downstream during rain. Plants increase soil permeability, allowing the roots to absorb water accumulated on the surface. The absence of vegetation and strong plant roots, along with the lack of resistant trees during rain, can result in soil erosion, leading to floods and their consequences. This will damage natural areas, as well as people's livelihoods and interests. Additionally, the presence of livestock causes soil compaction, which reduces water permeability.
When trees, vegetation, and forests are lost in an area, the air temperature rises. As a result of this heat, we observe a decrease in precipitation or snowfall, similar to the weather patterns in major cities across the country, including Tehran. In recent years, due to excessive use of fossil fuels, temperatures have risen, and subsequently, rainfall has decreased in this metropolis.
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