The first record of old growth Mediterranean cypress, Cupressus sempervirens in Bashagard, Hormozgan province, Iran

The Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) is an evergreen tree with two varieties in Iran. The Mediterranean cypress is native to southeastern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, the southern Mediterranean Sea, and Iran. The main distribution of Mediterranean cypress in Iran is in the Alborz mountain range. Also, it has been reported from the Taftan Mountains and around Khash in Sistan and Baluchistan provinces, Farashband in Fars province, and Ramhormoz, Abuabass, Baghmalek, and Malagha in Khuzestan province. Until today, Khash and Farashband were its southernmost limits. This study was designed and implemented based on fieldwork and interviews with local people to discover old trees east of Hormozgan. The findings show that this species is also present in the Bashagard Mountains in Hormozgan province, which can be the southernmost limit of Mediterranean cypress natural distribution in Iran. Bashagard trees are threatened due to soil erosion and lack of water. They need urgent conservation actions, including conservation as a national natural monument and registration on Iran's list of old-growth trees.