Silvicultural characteristics of forest stands under Recreational land use (Case study: Boloran natural forest park, Kuhdasht County)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

student

Abstract

This study aims at assessing the impact of land use change (from forest areas to forest parks) on some silvicultural characteristics of stands under recreational land use in Boloran natural forest park, Kuhdasht. For this purpose, three zones including non-recreation, extensive recreation and intensive recreation regions were chosen. In each zone 30 sample plots in a systematic random design (100 m × 150 m) were established. Within each sample plot, characteristics including tree density, frequency of regenerations, tree height, canopy diameter (small and large diameters), tree health and vitality, diameter at breast height (DBH) and number of sprouts in coppice trees were measured. Results showed that there were significant differences among the three zones in terms of density and frequency of regeneration. Also there were significant differences between intensive and extensive as well as control treatments in terms of canopy cover, with the lowest value in intensive recreation. Also there were significant differences between the zones in terms of tree height, and there were significant differences between extensive and intensive as well as control in terms of BDH of trees. Trees in extensive and intensive regions were of better vitality. The results also indicated that recreation whether extensive or intensive, has negative and unfavorable effects on the vegetation of the region and leads to changes in silvicultural characteristics of the stands.

Keywords


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