Hara Forest: Iran's Qeshm Eco Tourism
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Hara forest is the common name for mangrove forests on the southern coasts of Iran, particularly on and near the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf.
Dominated by the species Avicenna marina, known locally as the "Hara" or tree, the forests represent an important ecological resource.
The "Hara protected area" on Qeshm and the nearly main land is a biosphere reserve where commercial use is restricted to fishing (mainly shrimp), tourist boat trips, and limited mangrove cutting for animal feed.
The Hara tree, Avicenna marina, grows to heights of three to eight meters and has bright green leaves and twigs. The tree is salt - water plant that is often submerged at high tide. It usually blossoms and bears fruit from mid-July to August, with yellow flowers and a sweet almond – like fruit. The seeds fall into the water, where wave action takes them to more stationary parts of the sea. The Hara seeds become fixed in the soil layers of the sea and grow.
The area on the north shore of Qeshm and the neighboring main land is particularly suited to the growth of the plant, and large mangrove – forests have developed.
The long, narrow, oval leaves of the tree have nutritious value for livestock roughly equivalent to barley and alfalfa. The roots of the trees are knee – form, aerial, sponge - like and usually external. There is a filtration property in the Hara tree's bark which allows the plant to absorb water while salt is eliminated.
The Hara forest on Qeshm and opposite mainland covers an area of approximately 20km by 20km, with many tidal channels. The traditional stock breeders of Qeshm Island used the leaves of the Hara tree for feeding livestock.
In 1972 the Hara protected area was established to preserve suitable condition for the growth of maintenance of the forests. The area is a major habitat for migratory birds in the cold season and for reptiles, fish, and varieties of arthropod and bivalves, Green (or hooked) turtles and venomous aquatic snakes are also indigenous to the forests. Bird life includes herons, flamingos, pelicans, and anger eagles. Another important feature of these forests is the appropriate and suitable seabed conditions for the ovulation of fish in the Persian Gulf.
Source : Irangazette