INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
third registration anniversary of Hyrcanian Forests on the UNESCO World Heritage list.In July 2019, Hyrcanian Forests (also known as Caspian
Forest) was named a UNESCO World Heritage during the 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.As one of the most important
capacities of Gilan province, the UNESCO-registered Hyrcanian Forests with its cultural, historical, and tourism values contribute to the
a natural museum because of its evolutionary history of 50 million years, stretching from Gilan province to Golestan province along the
southern shore of the Caspian Sea, the official added.Spanning from the south of Azerbaijan to about 850 km eastward to the provinces of
Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, the Hyrcanian Forests are witnesses of the ancient forests of the world since they have survived between 35
and 50 million years.According to UNESCO, these forests are between 25 and 50 million years old
Their surface area was reduced during the Quaternary Period's dramatic climate changes and glaciations and expanded again when the
temperatures stabilized.UNESCO has documented the existence of more than 3,200 vascular plants and 58 species of mammals, including the
iconic Persian panther and endangered wild goat.Due to its isolation, the areas now protected by UNESCO are home to many endangered and
endemic plant species at a regional and local level.According to UNESCO, the forests contain the most significant natural habitats for in
situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the perspective
of science or conservation
It also contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.Having an opulent tourist
circuit with 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites, Iran seeks to acquire a greater share of the global tourism industry by 2025.ABU/AFM
