Area changes of Hyrcanian Forests during 2004 to 2016

In the past decades, extensive changes have occurred especially in high-altitude and low-altitude Hyrcanian forests. Knowledge of the quantity and location of forest land use changes is the first step for forest conservation and management in Hyrcanian forests. To achieve this goal, the results of two terminated research projects, conducted at the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran, were used to evaluate the changes in Hyrcanian forests during the 12-year period (2004-2016). The results showed that in the past 12 years, 161290 hectares of forest area (areas with tree height more than 5m and canopy cover more than 5%) were decreased. The forest cover changes in Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces were calculated to be 48543, 79558 and 33189 hectares, respectively. The rate of forest changes was estimated as 0.74 percent per year in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran.The present area of Hyrcanian forests of Iran was estimated as 1,650,495 hectares in 2016. According to the official announcement of Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Management Organization of Iran, the area of Hyrcanian Forests with a canopy cover more than 5% was reported to be 1,847,886 and 386, 073, 2 hectares in 2004 and 2015, respectively. This shows an increase of 225500 hectares of forest cover during 21 years, approximately 10738 hectares increase of forest area per year. Whereas, evidence shows that the forest cover degradation and conversion to other land uses in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran is increasing and this is an undeniable fact.