Slow Death of Oak Trees in Zagros: Reasons, Damage, and Solutions

During last decades¡ climate change¡ increasing temperatures and drought along with their consequences are considered as most key challenge for human society. Rising temperatures trigger events such as floods or droughts that cause unpredictable changes in plant species diversity. Among the affecting biotic and abiotic agents¡ drought and pathogenic fungi are most stressful factors on the forest trees health. Iran is categorized among low forest coverage countries. Related to these forest¡ Zagros forests as oldest oak forest in the world lays down in west of the country. Due to various species of flora and fauna¡ this region is known rich. These forests not only highly protect the soil and supply water¡ but also provide around 45% of water reservoir in Iran and help economic development in the country. The charcoal disease is a major problem in the oak forest. The disease initially was recognized and then reported from Hyrcanian forest and Zagros in 1390. The disease was spread in the whole territory of Zagros Mountains causing deaths of a million hectares of oak. Yet¡ there has not been a concise and comprehensive information about the risks and threats to the country''s forests. In current study¡ we review the similar studies on this destructive event to inform experts and officials. The aim of this study was to collect information on oak charcoal diseases focusing on evidence and apparent signs¡ their expansion¡ and finally understanding the process and interaction with forest trees¡ methods of control and their management.