Context:Major oil spill threatens Hara mangrove forests in Persian Gulf
- The Mangrove forests of Qeshm or Hara forests of Qeshm, are the mangrove forests on the southern coast of Iran, particularly on and near the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf.Dominated by the species Avicennia marina, known locally as the “harra” tree
- The Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is located in the Mehran River Delta in southern Iran
- The forests are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and serve as an important nursery for marine life as they shelter shrimp, crabs, and numerous fish species that sustain the region’s fisheries.