By Rza Syed I London Post

Hyrcanian Forests, spanning from Azerbaijan into Iran, a UNESCOWorld Heritage site and one of the planet's oldest survivingtemperate broadleaf ecosystems dating back 25–50 million years,face imminent irreversible collapse on the Iranian side more thanthree weeks after raging wildfires were contained, scientists andconservationists warned today.

International firefighting crews stabilised the blazes lastweek, but experts emphasise that the real ecological catastrophe isjust unfolding. Widespread soil erosion on steep slopes, disruptedwater cycles, obliterated seed banks, and increased susceptibilityto invasive species and recurrent fires have driven the forests toa perilous tipping point.

In response, a coalition of scientists, conservation groups, andlocal communities—operating as "Save Hyrcanian Now"—has initiated aglobal campaign urging UNESCO to immediately add the site to itsList of World Heritage in Danger.

"The fires are out, but the emergency is escalating," saidProfessor Shabnam Delfani, an Iranian climate expert and founder ofSave Hyrcanian Now. "A Danger Listing is critical to secure thepolitical leverage, funding, and international coordination needed;without it, swathes of this priceless ancient forest could vanishwithin a decade."

The Hyrcanian Forests host unique evolutionary lineages andhundreds of endemic species. Inscribed by UNESCO in 2019 for itsOutstanding Universal Value, the site now satisfies severalcriteria for danger listing under the organisation's guidelines,advocates say.

Initial post-fire surveys show destabilised mountain soils,failed natural hydration systems, and lost regenerativepotential—factors that risk cascading extinctions and permanentlandscape alteration.

The crisis extends beyond biodiversity: the forests regulatewater supplies for millions in northern Iran and adjacent regions,prevent landslides, and sustain economies via timber, farming, andeco-tourism.

"Delayed action by UNESCO would have ripple effects acrossborders," Prof. Delfani told journalists. "We're facing heightenedcarbon emissions, intensified water shortages in the Caspian basin,and the erasure of a vital record of Earth's plant evolution."

The coalition's proposed recovery plan includes urgent burnmapping, soil stabilisation, seed bank safeguards, off-sitepreservation of endangered species, and long-term investments inwatershed restoration and fire prevention.

Today, the group launched an online petition alongside acomprehensive scientific report submitted to the UNESCO WorldHeritage Centre, the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and potential donornations.

Advocates argue that a swift committee decision for dangerstatus would activate expert missions, emergency funds, andenforceable oversight—deemed indispensable for viablerestoration.

The petition has rapidly amassed thousands of signatures fromglobal scientists, activists, and citizens.
A UNESCO spokesperson confirmed receipt of the materials, statingthe issue will undergo expedited review per protocol. No timelinefor a ruling has been announced.

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• wildfire
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Hyrcanian forests