Investigating the structure of degraded oak forest stands in Northern Zagros Forests (Case study: Piranshahr and Sardasht forests of West Azarbaijan province)

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Forests and Rangelands Research Department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO), Urmia, I. R. Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Natural Resources Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO), Shiraz, I. R. Iran

3 Professor, Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agriculture, Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, I. R. Iran

4 Research Expert, Forests and Rangelands Research Department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO), Urmia, I. R. Iran

Abstract

Background and objective: In order to properly manage the forest, we need tools that can be used to study the changes in the forest structure. In this research, the structure of degraded oak forests of Piranshahr and Sardasht in West Azerbaijan province were investigated. Characteristics of the stand were investigated in two one-hectare sample plot with dimensions of 100 x 100 meters in two different forest types, including Darsarvin Sardasht (30% canopy cover, coppice with standard) and Piranshahr Pardanan (90% canopy cover and all of trees were of coppice). Using 100% inventory and a set of indices based on the nearest neighbor, three characteristics of location, mixture and dimensions of trees were investigated.
Methodology: The investigation of the structure was done by using the indices of density, diameter, height, basal area and trees location. As well as the indices based on the nearest neighbor in two sample plots were used. The structural variables of all the trees in the sample plot were measured separately for coppice and standard trees. The characteristics of the species, spatial coordinates, diameter at the height of 0.5 meters of the trunk, and height of all trees were measured. Three criteria of species density, basal area and canopy cover were also used for forest typology. To describe and quantify the structural features of forest stands in this research, indices based on the nearest neighbor were used. For this purpose, distance to neighbors, uniform angle, Clark and Evans, Mingling, DBH differentiation and CC differentiation were used. The calculations related to the structural characteristics of the examined stands were done using SPSS version 20 software and the calculations related to the structural indices were done using the Crancod software set (ver 1.3).
Results: The Clarke and Evans index with values of 0.82 and 0.94 for Darsarvin and Pardanan, and uniform angle with values of 0.56 and 0.52, respectively, showed a cluster distribution pattern and random species distribution pattern in both stands. Mingling index shows that there is more mixture of neighboring trees in Pardanan (0.65) than in Darsarvin (0.38). The diameter difference index shows a greater difference in the half-meter trunk diameter of Pardanan (0.55) compared to Darsarvin (0.46). But the canopy differentiation index shows a greater difference in the canopy cover of Darsarvin (0.58) than in Pardanan stand (0.53). The results of the combined diversity index showed that the structural diversity in Pardanan (0.41) is higher than Darsarvin (0.36). This index shows that there is a low level of combined spatial, species and dimensional diversity in the two stands. Results are consistent with the situation of the two regions that are affected by destructive factors and limited regeneration. These results can be used for comparing structural characteristics of forests and determining the impact of human intervention.
Conclusion: The results of the composite diversity index showed that there is a low level of spatial, species and dimensional composite diversity in the two forest stands, and these results are consistent with the influence of destructive factors as well as the limitation of regeneration. Considering the difference in the stands in the two sample plots in this investigation, the results of these indices can be used as a basis for comparison with other similar forests and determining the amount of deviations caused by natural processes and human interventions. Also, it seems necessary to achieve a suitable management model and Silviculture practices in the forests of this region and determine the structure and planning based on the current situation using these indicators.

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References

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Forest Research and Development
Volume 9, Issue 4
March 2024
Pages 535-552

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