The occurrence of forest fires in Rojhelat, particularly in the vicinity of Marivan, has become more regular over the past few years, sparking concerns for the environment and its ecosystems amid claims of arson and blames of government inactivity.
“The destruction, arrests, creation of excessive restrictions, deliberate encroachment by people, and presence of many military bases pose a clear and direct threat to the environment of this protected natural area,” Naji Kanisani, an environmentalist from Marivan, told Rudaw.
Kanisani lamented that the presence of Iranian military bases in the area “has not contributed to preventing environmental destruction,” and that forces present in the area make no efforts to arrest arsonists.
Chya the Green Organization was established over 20 years ago and is one of few environmentalist groups in Marivan, raising awareness of illegal logging and threats to the famous oak trees. The group comprises hundreds of volunteers who actively work on putting out the summertime fires out of a sense of pride and love for their homeland.
Members of the organization say they have been exhausted over the past few days, as new fires are “deliberately” started every time after they control the blaze.
The Kosalan region in Marivan covers an area of 57,000 hectares and was designated as a protected natural area by Iran’s High Environmental Council in 2009. Environmentalists say the burning of the forests not only destroys trees and vegetation but also harms the wildlife in the area.
“In this area, 117 species of birds, 23 species of mammals, and 17 species of reptiles live, along with thousands of plant species, 10 types of trees, and many types of shrubs that have been documented,” Kanisani said.
A last year report by Hengaw Human Rights Organization, a rights watchdog, on the Marivan fires blamed the Iranian government for failing to control the fires and said that authorities routinely arrest environmentalists trying to extinguish the flames.
In 2018, two members of an environmentalist group died in the vicinity of Marivan as they were trying to control a forest fire with two members of the forestry police. Full statistics on fires and their consequences are not available.