Trees destroyed in the world heritage of Shahpour cave

A large number of native trees on the road towards the world heritage of Shapur cave in Kazeroon have been set on fire by unknown people for unknown reasons, which, in addition to the ugly and devastating scene that is being exhibited, has destroyed the landscape of the world heritage of Bishapur city, Tange Chogan and Shapur cave. It is considered a negative score for Iran by UNESCO.

In its 42nd annual meeting in Bahrain, on June 30, 2018, Shapur cave, along with the ancient city of  Bishapur, Tange Chogan petroglyphs, and Dokhtar Fortress in Kazeroon, belonging to the Sassanid Pars area, under the name “Archeological landscape of Sassanid Pars”, were registered by UNESCO in the world heritage list. In other words, the cultural and natural landscape of the area from Shapur cave upto Bishapur has become world heritage site. It should be protected, maintained, and guarded by all officials, government, private institutions, and even the people, and failure in this regard is not accepted. UNESCO has strict international laws for protecting cultural and natural heritages, and all countries possessing world heritage are obligated to implement them. Failure in this field will lead to reactions and warnings from the UNESCO World Organization. UNESCO has strict international laws for protecting cultural and natural heritages, and all countries possessing world heritage are obligated to implement them and nature has been vandalized and endangered.

During the author’s field visit to the world heritage of Shahpur and on the way towards the mountain on top of which stands the Sassanid Shapur’s statue, are destroyed by unknown people and for unclear motives; the trees were either cut or burned down. This act, in addition to giving an ugly face to this world heritage site, will undoubtedly be a negative score for Iran in UNESCO. By burning the trees the region’s natural vegetation and the aesthetic values of the whole area will be put under question.

The burning of the world heritage trees of Shapur cave:  a political dispute among people or for mountaineers to warm up?!

Some native activists of Kazeroon believe that maybe some natives from the region or some outsiders (non-professional climbers) spent the night in the Shapur Cave and to warm themselves burned the tree trunks.  This problem demands a detailed investigation by the respective officials and it is a source of much regret and serious pondering.  On one hand some native cultural activists of Kazeroon ecosystem think that the cutting and burning of trees in such a massive amount, maybe motivated by political disputes among the people of this area, are unclear and the relevant authorities should take action in cooperation with the Bishapur World Base and clarify its task and prevent more trees from being destroyed.

Kazeroon native archaeologist: Bishapur’s natural and cultural heritage is in danger

A native archeologist of Kazeroon city, who is familiar with the region, after seeing the images of the burning and breaking of trees on the way to the world heritage of Shapur cave, spoke with those in charge of Mehregan cultural website: “First of all, seeing such images has caused me deep concern and regret. But secondly, I wonder who is actually responsible for this amount of destruction. And where are they? And what action has he taken in this regard? Where is the local community in this story, and how did they react?”

This archeologist, who is head of one of the country’s national cultural heritage sites, added: “Bishapur, with all its ups and downs, has finally been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List a few years ago; but its foundations are shaky! On one hand the present representative of Kazeroon city is following up on the restoration of the current asphalt road between Kazeroon -Koohchenar, which has divided the area into two halves without proper study and care. But does he know that the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts cannot give the permission for such a thing, just like that, without notifying UNESCO?  And more important; does the universally approved space and privacy allow such a thing, or not? Here, the approved rules should be taken into consideration. We are witnessing another tragedy in the middle of the way towards Shapur cave!

Breaking and burning native trees, which are part of the body of Bishapur’s world heritage landscape and nature, will be a dangerous act and a negative point for this case in UNESCO.  As we know and have seen, UNESCO is strict in such cases. Breaking and burning the trees along this access route will not remove any responsibility from the shoulders of the trustees: Natural Resources, Cultural Heritage Department of Kazeroon, and Bishapur World Base.

The announcement of such a matter by the trustees, especially the cultural heritage office of the city as the legal trustee, will be a dangerous act and a negative point for this case in UNESCO. As we know and have seen, UNESCO is strict in such cases. Denying and not knowing what is going on will just look like an excuse. That is, if the authorities have said such a thing.

The arena and the territory of the Bishapur-Tang Chogan International Area is the scene of continuous monitoring by the cultural heritage protection unit, and this unit plus other security forces of this base are obliged to follow up and report. The volume of breaking and setting fire to the trees, even though they are dry, in the lower reaches of the Shahpur Cave needs to be more questionable. What do people insist on and continue to do?

The extent of destruction and putting fire to the trees, even if they are dry, in the lower reaches of the Shapur cave, is by itself questionable. Who all are insisting on continuing to do this? Have the natives and the local people been informed about the dangers and the negative impact of such events?

In any case, these questions, or others that will come up, need the right answers.

At the end of his conversation, this cultural heritage expert, who did not want his name to be revealed, told Mehregan’s cultural website: “Patrolling in different shifts, along the roads and installing wireless electronic monitoring system along with an alarm system, will be a good solution for reducing or zeroing on such unpleasant events.”

Having fire extinguishers available to the staff of the protection unit will by itself significantly help reduce these incidents. Undoubtedly, the presence of these broken and burned trees will give a wrong impression of the area and will cause sensitivity of UNESCO, a sense of confusion among the lovers of nature, ecology, cultural heritage, and many tourists. Therefore, it is appropriate for the Bishapur World Base to think of a solution for this matter in coordination with the natural resources and, if it deems fit, remove them from the area properly.

The local committee should also be put in the picture in an appropriate manner and be able to cooperate with BiShapur’s world base. Undoubtedly, with the cooperation of the local community, Bishapur World Base will be in a safe situation. Understanding and protecting natural resources for the sake of protection of national resources, i.e., Bishapur world heritage site (natural resources patrol) for patrolling the outpost located on the Bishapur site are two more solution, in addition to attracting the participation of the local community which should be employed in an appropriate manner.”

According to the Mehregan cultural website, the motivation for breaking and burning native trees in the body of the world’s cultural and natural heritage landscape of Bishapur is no different. But the relevant officials, especially the Bishapur Global Base, should take action immediately and, as soon as possible, open a case in this field, follow it up to the end of the story, and bring the result to the public’s awareness.

Shapur cave is located 5 km off Tange Chogan and the city of Bishapur, and in it is a Sassanid statue of Shapur I. Kazeroon is situated in the western part of Fars province and 120 km from Shiraz city.

 

 

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February 14, 2025