Tehran Urban Management has announced the cutting down of infested trees in Chitgar Forest Park, assuring citizens that for each tree cut down, 3 to 10 new trees of native species compatible with Tehran's climate will be planted. This issue has drawn attention following the release of various videos on social media regarding the cutting of trees.
Background and Problems of Tehran's Vegetation
About 60 years ago, Tehran decided to design green corridors to improve the air quality of the capital. This decision was made to attract pollutants and create better green spaces, but neglecting specialized issues and choosing non-native species has led to serious problems. For example, in Chitgar and Sarakhsar Parks, a species called Aleppo Pine has been planted, which is not native to the area and is therefore more vulnerable to pests.
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Challenges of Biodiversity and Plant Pests
One of the fundamental challenges in Tehran's vegetation is the monoculture of forest parks. This means that the diversity of plant species has not been properly maintained, and with the arrival of the first pest, the entire environment can easily become contaminated. Currently, Tehran is facing a pest problem with the bark beetle, which has negatively impacted the growth and health of trees. For this reason, urban management has been forced to cut down infested trees to prevent further disease spread.
The good news is that urban management has announced that with the cutting of each infested tree, new trees of native species that require no irrigation for up to 200 years will be planted. This action is part of the effort to combat climate change and drought in Tehran. Thus, not only will green spaces improve, but the risk of pest outbreaks will also decrease.
Urban management has emphasized that it will no longer allow the planting of non-native species in Tehran and will strive to increase the diversity of plant species in parks and green spaces. These decisions are considered an important step towards protecting the environment and the health of citizens.
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