Environmental Activists Protest the Cutting of Hundreds of Trees in 'Elymalat Forest'; Officials Deny Claims

Following reports of the destruction of the 'Elymalat' forests in Mazandaran province, the prosecutor of this province announced measures to prevent further violations. Ali Akbar Alishah emphasized that 'no tree uprooting has occurred in this area, and any operational activities in these forests are prohibited.' He also stated that 'the seized area in Elymalat forest has been sealed.' Ali Maleki Ahangar, the commander of the Natural Resources Protection Unit, also denied reports of tree cutting and announced that there are no rice paddies in this area. He further reported the 'cessation of destructive operations' in this region. Nevertheless, concerns among environmental activists persist. Following protests from these activists, the destruction of Elymalat forests has been halted again. These activists believe that the 'change of the prosecutor in Mazandaran province' is linked to the resumption of this destructive plan. Mohammad Darvish, an environmental activist, reported the destruction of over four thousand trees in Elymalat forest and expressed doubts about the seriousness of halting this plan. He also spoke about concerns regarding the destruction of Iran's forests due to various factors, including damage from exploitative land uses and both intentional and unintentional fires, warning that 'Iran's lungs are being destroyed.' Last February, the state-run news agency IRNA reported that a contractor for a tourism project at Elymalat dam, accompanied by some relevant officials, illegally cleared a path for a high-voltage power line, destroying about 1.5 hectares of forest. It is said that around three thousand trees and saplings were completely destroyed in this operation, although environmental activists estimate this number to be as high as four thousand trees. After photos of this destruction were published, the prosecutor of Mazandaran issued a halt order for the project, the director general of Mazandaran's natural resources was dismissed, and several government officials were arrested. However, on September 1, with the change of the prosecutor in Mazandaran, the project implementers resumed their destructive activities. Mohammad Darvish told the Etemad website that the destruction of Elymalat forests is just a small part of a broader trend of encroachment on Iran's forests under various pretexts. He pointed out that these destructions have occurred over different periods under titles such as the establishment of industrial towns, agricultural development, the construction of Mehr housing, and recently tourism projects. The reaction of the head of the Tehran City Council to the 'intentional drying and cutting' of trees in Chitgar Park, with one hundred and fifty thousand signatures on the 'campaign to dismiss Zakhani'; the Tehran municipality had ordered that trees not be watered to dry out. Protests against the fencing of 'over three thousand square meters' in Laleh Park; Chahraman's claim: Trees are not supposed to be cut down.