Project conclusion Supporting Azerbaijan and Iran in the transnational expansion of the Hyrcanian Forests World Heritage Site

Following the inscription of these unique forests in Iran, both countries decided to establish a transnational World Heritage Site through a joint nomination. The Succow Foundation provided advice and support along the way. With success. The Hyrcanian Forests of Azerbaijan represent an extension of the 2019 inscribed World Heritage Site in Iran. With the extension, two components in the Hirkan National Park in Azerbaijan have been inscribed as World Natural Heritage Sites.

The Succow Foundation also advised Iran on the implementation of the requirements of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee formulated in Decision 43COM 8B.4 to establish coherent management, which was implemented together with Azerbaijan for the entire World Heritage Site "Hyrcanian Forests". The project provided international expertise and facilitated the exchange of knowledge between the partners, organisations and institutions involved.

In parallel, the project contributed to a better understanding and awareness of the importance of this World Heritage Site and these unique forests among the local population through social media campaigns, printed materials, local events, a festival, image films and an online photo exhibition. A selection:

Film „Guardians of the Forest"

Film „Culture and Diversity"

Film „Our world heritage, the Hyrcanian Forests"

Instagram

digitale Fotoausstellung

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment with funds from the Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP) for environmental protection in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia as well as other countries bordering the European Union and was supported by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA).