Assessment of canopy cover changes in the northern and southern Zagros forests (Case study: Kurdistan and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO), Shahrekord, Iran.

2 Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agriculture, Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

3 Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO), Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22059/jfwp.2024.371768.1282

Abstract

The Zagros forests, being the largest and most important forest ecosystems in the country, provide valuable ecosystem services. The percentage of forest canopy cover, a crucial component of forest statistics, has a strong relationship with ecohydrological processes and plays a vital role in forest inventory programs. In this study, changes in canopy cover percentage were examined in sample plots located in the provinces of Kurdistan (Dulehnaw, Gharan, Belveh, and Saraki) and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari (Gelsefid, Rahimabad, Gardaneh Cheri, and Mavarz), representing the northern and southern Zagros forests, respectively. Each plot underwent a comprehensive measurement process, including the assessment of species composition, growth form, and average crown diameter. Static images of tree canopies were captured in 2021 and 2022 to analyze changes in canopy cover. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in canopy cover between provinces. Significant differences in canopy cover changes were observed in the Dulehnaw, Gharan, and Rahimabad forest stands over the two years, but no significant statistical differences were found in the Saraki, Belveh, Gardaneh Cheri, Mavarz, and Gelsefid stands. Furthermore, in both provinces, the highest increase in canopy cover percentage was recorded in the southern direction, with values of 7.46% and 3.97%, respectively. Detailed and comprehensive analyses of the canopy cover index, particularly in the Zagros region, are crucial for effective management planning in forest ecosystems. The two-year variations in this index provide valuable insights into the influence of vegetation type, structure, and ecological conditions on canopy dynamics, serving as a gateway for energy to plants.

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References

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Forest and Wood Products
Volume 77, Issue 2
September 2024
Pages 139-152

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