Tehran, Iran, March 12
By Mehdi Sepahvand -- Trend:
As many as 18 million oak trees have been dried out and wasted in Zagros mountain range in western Iran, according to Ilam Natural Resources and Watershed Organization Director Reza Ahmadi.
The drought is most conspicuous in the provinces of Ilam, Luristan, Kohgiluye-Boyer Ahmad, Kermanshah, Charmahal-Bakhtiari, Hamedan, and Khuseztan, the official said, IRNA news agency reported March 12.
He added Ilam has suffered most, with 104 hectares of oak going 75 to 100 percent dry.
According to Ahmadi, climate change, global temperature increase, dust, pollution, human interventions such as livestock overgrazing, poor drainage and greenhouse gases have weakened the oak in the past years.
Speaking about the consequences of the disaster, he said it will result in low supply of human and livestock food, forced migration, and great alterations in fresh and salt water patters, to name a few.
Iran is projected to be on the tip of the arrow facing climate change and desertification.
Low precipitation and lack of sophisticated management of water resources has caused great decline in water resources in the country.