Hanif Raza Gulzer, a researcher and environmental activist, criticized on Wednesday, 20.11, the publication of a video of cutting down trees in the Horkney forests, for setting a fine of 133 million tomans for eight cubic meters of oak; According to him, the value of the tree reaches three billion tomans in the market.
Gulzar, a senior soil and water expert from Tehran University, announced that the price of an oak tree per cubic meter in the market is between 300 and 375 million tomans. Based on this, the value of eight cubic meters of these forests is estimated between 2 billion and 400 million to 3 billion tomans, while the fine set for them is only about 4 to 6 percent of the market value.
Criticizing the actions of the Natural Resources Trustees, this environmental activist wrote: "If this is not a clear example of tree auctions, then what is? Why did the defense guardian give such a discount to the criminal? ".
Earlier, Gulzar warned by publishing a photo of an administrative letter that the Mazandaran Regional Water Company has a plan to cut down standing trees along 253 km of rivers in this district with the approval of the General Department of Natural Resources. According to him, this action is being carried out under the pretext of the El Nino phenomenon and under the heading "dangerous standing trees".
He emphasized that this program is no longer limited to the collection of broken and fallen trees and may lead to the renewal of the utilization of the standing trees.
The Horkanin forests, which are more than 40 million years old, are among the oldest forests in the world. These forests are spread along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea and have been registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List due to their historical antiquity and precious biological diversity. These forests have played an important role in the lives, culture and livelihood of the inhabitants of the region since ancient times.