Salook protected area, a treasure of plant and animal species in northeast Iran

Protected areas and national parks are considered as safe habitats for many plant and animal species. These areas in the country have a special place to preserve the genetic diversity of living organisms. Salook region in North Khorasan province with about 17000 hectares is one of the most diverse plant and animal treasures in northeast of Iran. In addition, this area is one of the Four Hotspot Areas under the authority of Iranian Environment Organization. In this area, 496 plant species, belonging to 296 genera and 71 families, and more than 100 animal species have been identified. Artemisia</em> is the dominant plant of the area in two forms: Artemisia sieberi </em>in lowlands and A. aucheri</em> in mountainous areas. The Salook area is the most important deer habitat in North Khorasan province as 70% of the province's deer population live in the area. In recent years, the region's unique biodiversity has been threatened by natural and human degradation; therefore, proper management is recommended to reduce the damage to the area to some extent.