Hara Mangrove Forest

Hara Mangrove Forest Latest News

Recent satellite images have revealed a major environmental threat to Hara mangrove forest due to an oil spill off Qeshm’s southern coast.

About Hara Mangrove Forest

• Location: The Hara forests are a vital ecological treasure of the Persian Gulf. Spanning the Strait of Hormuz,
• These mangrove forests consist mainly of grey mangrove trees (Avicennia marina).
• The forests are designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• Ecological Role
  • They have a special filtration system in their roots that allows them to thrive in saline conditions.
  • The same roots also protect the coast against erosion and are voluminous carbon sinks, sequestering significantly more carbon than terrestrial forests.
  • They serve as an important nursery for marine life as they shelter shrimp, crabs, and numerous fish species that sustain the region’s fisheries.
  • The Hara forests’ canopy is also a major migratory hub for birds like the great stone-curlew and various herons.
  • The mangroves are the backbone of the sustainable tourism programmes of Qeshm, an Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, and draw visitors to their labyrinthine waterways.

Source: TH

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