Will Hyrcanian (Caspian) forests protect basins against floods

Hyrcanian vegetation zone is a green belt stretching over the northern slopes of Alborz mountain ranges and covers the southerncoasts of the Caspian Sea. This area stretches from Astara in the northwest to Gorgan vicinity in the northeast of Iran that covered some parts of three rovinces of Iran including: Golestan, Mazandaran and Gilan Provinces. This area has a total area of 1.85 million ha comprising 15% of the total Iranian forests and 1.1% of the country’s area. Alborz mountains interception between the Caspian Sea and Iran plateau has resulted in a climate with distinct vegetation cove. The primary function of these forests other than wood production is supportive and environmental and their vital role in soil nd water sources conservation as well as natural balance distribution in this susceptible mountainous high sloped basin is extrmely considerable. Over the last few decades, swift forest degradation has brought about a number of environmental, social and economical impacts including floods, soil erosion, degradation of farmlands and habitats, reduction of biodiversity and natural resources and water pollution.