Iran’s northern Mazandaran province has been battling a massive wildfire for over a week in the ancient Hyrcanian forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Firefighters and local residents have managed to bring about 80 percent of the blaze under control, according to officials. The fire, reportedly caused by human activity rather than natural factors, has already burned around 1,500 acres, as confirmed by NASA satellite imagery. The Hyrcanian forest, stretching along the Caspian Sea’s southern coast, is one of the world’s oldest and most biodiverse forests, home to rare species like the Persian leopard. No casualties or damage to nearby settlements have been reported so far. The wildfire coincides with Iran’s worst drought in 60 years, which has forced authorities to ration water in Tehran and other regions. Additional fires have also been reported near Jolfa in southwestern Iran, raising concerns about worsening environmental conditions across the country.