The first record of old growth Mediterranean cypress, Cupressus sempervirens in Bashagard, Hormozgan province, Iran

Document Type : Scientific Letters

Authors

1 Wildlife Researcher and Conservationist, Hormuz Wildlife Guardians Foundation, Tehran, Iran.

2 Wildlife Researcher and Conservationist, Borderless Wildlife Conservation Society, Tehran, Iran.

3 Senior researcher of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology, Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Senior researcher of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Daneshjoo St, PO Box 1983969411, Tehran, G.C, Iran

10.22092/irn.2023.361398.1501

Abstract

The Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) is an evergreen tree with two varieties in Iran. The Mediterranean cypress is native to southeastern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, the southern Mediterranean Sea, and Iran. The main distribution of Mediterranean cypress in Iran is in the Alborz mountain range. Also, it has been reported from the Taftan Mountains and around Khash in Sistan and Baluchistan provinces, Farashband in Fars province, and Ramhormoz, Abuabass, Baghmalek, and Malagha in Khuzestan province. Until today, Khash and Farashband were its southernmost limits. This study was designed and implemented based on fieldwork and interviews with local people to discover old trees east of Hormozgan. The findings show that this species is also present in the Bashagard Mountains in Hormozgan province, which can be the southernmost limit of Mediterranean cypress natural distribution in Iran. Bashagard trees are threatened due to soil erosion and lack of water. They need urgent conservation actions, including conservation as a national natural monument and registration on Iran's list of old-growth trees.

Keywords

References

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Iran Nature
Volume 8, Issue 3 - Serial Number 40
July and August 2023
Pages 35-41

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