RASHT -- In a joint operation launched by the rangers of Gilan Province Forest Department and police the illegally exploited wood from 2,700 forest trees were discovered and confiscated last week. Deputy Head of Gilan Province Lands and Natural Resources Protection Department, Abdollah Tavakkoli, said here on Saturday, "At last week's operation attended by over 217 rangers and police, a few of the smugglers of the natural resources were arrested along with their destructive tools and handed over to Gilan Province Judiciary officials."

Tavakkoli added that as of March 21, over 24,000 woods amounting to 1,600cu.m in volume have been discovered and confiscated in Gilan Province forests from smugglers.

"Meanwhile, 623 files related to violation of the regulations related to the forests have been investigated by the provincial court and the relevant verdicts have been issued.

Out of 565,000 hectares of forests in Gilan Province, 148,000 hectares located at high slopes have been spared from human violence, while the remaining have been seriously damaged.

As claimed by the officials in charge of Gilan Province Natural Resources Department, the legal exploitation of Gilan Province forests by state companies is down to 180,000cu.m this year from last year's 500,000cu.m, IRNA reported.

The illegal annual exploitation rate of forests in Gilan Province is assessed by experts to exceed 500,000cu.m.