Tehran – The southern Hormozgan province is home to Iran’s largest expanse of mangrove forests, with more than 25,000 hectares of these ecologically significant ecosystems, according to the province’s Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management.

 

Mohammad Nourmousavi said the province's coastal and mangrove forests are among Iran’s most valuable natural assets, playing a strategic role in maintaining ecological sustainability. He noted that the forests help curb dust storms, reduce the severity and impact of flooding, and protect the country’s southern coastline from environmental degradation.

 

Speaking on the occasion of World Mangrove Day, observed annually on July 26, he said Hormozgan’s coastal forests span more than 800,000 hectares, stretching from Parsian in the west to Jask in the east.

 

He described the forests as a natural shield against dust storms and destructive floods.

 

The official added that these forests, which thrive in the tidal zones of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, provide habitat for rare and valuable tropical species while serving as a cornerstone of the province’s ecological balance and biodiversity.

 

Nourmousavi warned that continued degradation of coastal forests could have severe environmental consequences. Without effective conservation measures, he said, Hormozgan could face dust storm conditions similar to those experienced in western Iran.

 

He also underscored Hormozgan’s national significance in mangrove conservation, noting that the province’s more than 25,000 hectares of mangrove forests account for the largest such area in Iran, reinforcing its position as the country’s leading stronghold for these unique coastal ecosystems.