Simultaneous Wildfires in Iran’s Wetlands and Forests Prompt Widespread Closures and Environmental Warnings

On Monday, March 17, thick smoke from a fire in the Iraqi section of the Hoor al-Azim Wetland led to the closure of schools, universities, and certain government offices in several counties of Khuzestan Province. According to a statement released on Sunday night, March 16 by the Khuzestan Department of Environment, the burning of reeds in the Iraqi portion of the wetland began the previous evening, and the resulting smoke and odor have affected multiple areas in the region. As a result, all educational institutions and government offices in Hoveyzeh and Dasht-e Azadegan were ordered closed for Monday. Schools and universities in Ahvaz, Karun, Bavi, and Hamidiyeh also suspended operations, although government offices, banks, and health, service, and industrial centers in those four counties remained open. A Khuzestan Department of Environment official announced that around 300 hectares of the wetland have been affected by the fire, largely due to unusually widespread dryness not previously seen in winter.

Local media also reported that on Sunday afternoon, March 16, flames destroyed a significant portion of the reedbeds around Lake Zaribar in Marivan, Kurdistan Province. Esmail Ahmadi, the governor of Marivan, told reporters that the fire’s remote location—far from main access roads—raises the likelihood of arson. He noted that all available resources, including emergency services, natural resource teams, local volunteers, and municipal firefighting crews, were deployed to contain the blaze. However, strong winds and limited accessibility to certain parts of the reedbeds have complicated efforts. Environmental activists warn that this incident not only damages local vegetation but also endangers the wildlife reliant on this ecosystem, including native and migratory birds, reptiles, and other species. As Iran’s largest freshwater wetland and a critical habitat for both migratory and resident birds, Lake Zaribar has long struggled with threats such as wildfires, wastewater discharge, and decreasing water supplies.

Later, on Tuesday evening, March 18, another wildfire began in the forests near Chalus. Although firefighting teams initially managed to extinguish it by around 8:00 p.m., it flared up again due to wind and warm weather. Mehrdad Khazaei, Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management for Mazandaran–Noshahr, pointed out the area’s challenging terrain and explained that a helicopter had been requested to help control the blaze. Additional support from neighboring counties was also called in.

Critics argue that, despite the vast forests in northern Iran and repeated incidents in recent years, there is still a shortage of essential equipment—such as water-bombing helicopters—as well as insufficient preventive measures and trained personnel in sensitive areas. Environmental activists stress that crisis management in Iran requires not just reactive emergency responses but also proactive planning and investment in modern firefighting technologies to ensure effective and timely containment of such disasters.