Study of forest structure in pruned (Galazani) and undisturbed stand... Zagros forest (Case study: Baneh, Kurdistan province)

Advances in Environmental Biology, 7(10) October 2013, Pages: 3163-3169
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Advances in Environmental Biology
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Study of forest structure in pruned (Galazani) and undisturbed stand In the Northern
Zagros forest (Case study: Baneh, Kurdistan province)
1
Sorosh Zabiholahi, 2Maziar Haidari
1
M.Sc. Graduated of forestry, University of Tehran, Karadj, I.R.Iran
Young Researchers and Elite Club, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran.
2
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received 9 September 2013
Received in revised form 24 October
2013
Accepted 29 October 2013
Available online 10 November 2013
Key words:
Forest structure, pruned (Galazani)
stand, undisturbed stand, Kurdistan
province, Northern Zagros forest
ABSTRACT
Structure includes vertical (number of tree layers) and horizontal features. To study of
forest structure in the Northern Zagros forest, Baneeh region, Kurdistan province in
west of Iran was selected. Inventory methods used the perfact inverntory by used the
square sample plots quarter hectare (50×50 m) were selected. In every sample plot the
position of tree, kind of species, diameter at breast height (cm), height (m), crown
height (m) and two diameters of crown were recorded. Data analyzing was done
bySPSS16 and SVS (Stand Visualization System) software’s.Results showed that the
spatial pattern (horizontal structure) of undisturbed stand was Clumped pattern, and this
stands have a two layer. Results showed that the pattern (horizontal structure) of pruned
(Galazani) stand was random pattern, and this stands have a two layer. Overall results
showed that the traditional utilization have a negative effect on forest characters and
forest structure (vertical and horizontal structure).
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INTRODUCTION
Forests cover about 12 million ha in Iran, including 5 million ha in the mountainous Zagros region [3].Most
of the forests of Iran involve some kind of conventional ownership, either communal (by villages) or among
families within villages. In the Zagros Mountains, especially in the northern areas, the territory of Kurdish
people, this kind of conventional ownership and relationships between humans and nature are extremely strong
[7]. Increasing population, low level of development and high dependence of local communities on forests for
their primary livelihood needs, are the main reasons of this destruction[2, 7]. Traditional forest management is
used in Zagros for the collection of foliage (fodder) for domestic animal. Individual households manage their
privately owned forests as unit. The owners of each section regulate tree growth by pruning the crowns using a
method called ‫ ״‬coppicing‫״‬. Harvesting is conducted solely by family members unless the family is small.
Households with small families receive help from the community. This assistance is called ‫״‬Gale‫( ״‬Gala on
Kurdish language). In the Kurdistan province the oak tree is used for livestock feed, this tree include: Quercus
infectoria, Q. libani and Q.libani leaves. These oaks are used as winter fodder. Forest management is conducted
via ground and canopy level cutting of newly developed branches[4]. The horizontal structure of a forest is
composed of diameter size distribution of tree species considered individually or as a community (Philip, 1994).
Structure includes vertical (e.g. number of tree layers, understory vegetation) and horizontal features (e.g. spatial
pattern of trees, gaps) as well as species richness [9]. Vertical forest structure is an attribute of forests that is of
interest to many disciplines and is consistently discussed in the Stocking (number of trees or basal area per unit
area), reflects the spatial distribution of tree individuals within the forest and the distribution of different species
in relation to one another [1]. Stand structure is a key factor in the growth, function, and disturbance regimes of
forests. Forest restoration, and management based on natural disturbance ecology, has highlighted the value of a
clearer understanding of the role of structure in mediating key ecosystem processes. The diameter distribution
has also an important role in different growth and yield study. Diameter distributions have also been used for
analyzing the structure of forest, e.g., in relation to forest biodiversity [12]. This several researches (forest
structure) implemented in the Iran and Zagros forest in cloud:Mattaji and Namiranian (2003) [10] Investigating
the structure and evolution process of Beech forests natural stands in north of Iran. The results showed that
beech species was dominant with respect to height. Regarding high longevity of beech, discontinuous crown of
tree, and this stand is old with two or three storied and it is far from the optimal, showing the beginning of
regeneration phase and passing destruction while overlapping aggradation (increasing stage) and destruction
stage. Ghazanfari et al (2004)[4] investigated the traditional forest management and its Application to
Corresponding Author: Maziar Haidari, Young Researchers and Elite Club, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad
University, Sanandaj, Iran.
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Maziar Haidari
Advances in Environmental Biology, 7(10) October 2013, Pages: 3163-3169
encourage public participation for sustainable forest management in the northern Zagros Mountains of Kurdistan
province and results showed that traditional forest management can offer sustained yield and can be prescribed
for sustainable forest management in northern Zagros with some modifications.Hosseinzadehet al (2004) [6]
investigated on structure of less degraded Oak forests in Illam province. Results show that, the stands are
basically uneven-aged old forests among which Quercus persica with its vigorous existence outcrops as pure or
original species of forest type. Other results show that, maximum forest canopy, maximum basal area, and
maximum volume per hectare are 35%, 22.6m2 and 46.3m3, respectively. Some of the DBH distribution graphs
in the stands indicate an uneven aged stand, but most of them are old stands of very little regeneration. Results
also show that number of dead trees and amount of dry branches in canopy are very good indices for
determination of degradation in forests. Heidari (2006) [5] used Hopkins index to determine spatial pattern of
tree in the Zagros forests. He concluded that the trees were arranged in a clumped pattern.Safari et al
(2010)[11], Investigated spatial pattern of Manna oak trees (Quercus brantii Lindl.) in Bayangan forests of
Kermanshah province, Zagros forest. All of the applied indicators showed a clumped pattern for Quercus
brantii. The aim of this research was Study of vertical and horizontal forest structure in pruned (Galazani) and
undisturbed stand In the Baneeh region, Kurdistan province, in Northern Zagros Forest (west of Iran). Haidari et
al(2013) study the effect of two Traditional Forest Management Practices (Havare khol and Blake forest) on the
vertical and horizontal forest structure in Northern Zagros Forest and results showed that the Spatial pattern
(horizontal structure) of Havare khol forest was clumped pattern but horizontal structure of Blake forest was
uniform to random pattern. Overall results showed that Havare Khol traditional forest management practice has
less negative effect on forest structure but lack of large (i.e. 30 t50 cm) and very large (50 cm) diameter classes
but Armardeh pattern can regulate diameter distributions as uneven-aged old stands system and could not
support forest regeneration and reduced the young tree. Authorssuggested approaching the sustainableforest
management used the compact of two traditional forest management practices (Armardeh and Havare Khol
Pattern)[14]. The aim of this study is study of forest structure in pruned (Galazani) and undisturbed stand In the
Baneh region, Kurdistan province in Northern Zagros forest (west of Iran).
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Site description:
This research was investigated in the Baneh region (Havare khol forest), northern Zagros forest, and
western Iranian state of Kurdistan (Figure 1).
Fig. 1: Study site location in the Kurdistan Province, Zagros region, Western Iranian state of Iran.
Methods:
This study accured in the two stands (each stands are 25 R (2.5 hectare)). Inventory methods used the
perfact inverntory by used the square sample plots quarter hectare (50×50 m) were selected. In every sample
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Maziar Haidari
Advances in Environmental Biology, 7(10) October 2013, Pages: 3163-3169
plot the position of tree, kind of species, diameter at breast height (cm), height (m), crown height (m) and two
diameters of crown were recorded. Data analyzing was done bySPSS16and SVS (Stand Visualization System)
software’s.
Results:
Table 1: The mean of DBH, Height and crown area in the pruned (Galazani) stand.
N/hectare
N/sample
Standard deviation
312
78
2/04
1/18
1/12
Mean
13/3
3/02
2/75
parameter
DBH (cm)
Height (m)
crown area (m)
The results showed that the mean of forest characteristics including DBH, height and crown area (m) are
13.2, 3.02and 2.75in pruned (Galazani) stand.
Table 2: The mean of DBH, Height and crown area in the undisturbed stand.
N/hectare
N/sample
Standard deviation
492
123
3/02
1/2
1/4
Mean
23/1
4/8
6/8
parameter
DBH (cm)
Height (m)
crown area (m)
The results showed that the mean of forest characteristics including DBH, height and crown area (m) are
23.1, 4.8 and 6.8in undisturbed stand.
Fig. 2: Stand visualization simulation of undisturbed stand (vertical and horizontal structure).
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Advances in Environmental Biology, 7(10) October 2013, Pages: 3163-3169
Quercus libani Oliv
Quercus Brantii Lindl
Quercus infectoria Oliv
Fig. 3: Stand visualization simulation of undisturbed stand (horizontal structure).
Figure 3 indicate spatial pattern (horizontal structure) of undisturbed stand was Clumped pattern.
Fig. 4: Stand visualization simulation of undisturbed stand (vertical structure).
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Maziar Haidari
Advances in Environmental Biology, 7(10) October 2013, Pages: 3163-3169
Fig. 5: Stand visualization simulation of pruned (Galazani) stand (vertical and horizontal structure).
Quercus libani Oliv
Quercus infectoria Oliv
Fig. 6: Stand visualization simulation of pruned (Galazani) stand (horizontal structure).
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Maziar Haidari
Advances in Environmental Biology, 7(10) October 2013, Pages: 3163-3169
Figure 6 indicate spatial pattern (horizontal structure) of pruned (Galazani) stand wasrandom pattern.
Fig. 7: Stand visualization simulation of pruned (Galazani) stand (vertical structure).
Results figure 7 showed that pruned (Galazani) stand have to story.
Discussion:
As traditional forest management practices are rooted in the customary life of local communities, they
would appear to have widespread social acceptance, are adapted to local conditions, and have the potential to
solve one of the most important problems currently facing forest management in the Zagros region [4]. Zagros
forests have a high characteristic in society and economics. People in the Zagros regions are dependent to forest
in order to grazing and providing forage (Haidari, 2011). The vertical stratification of tree crowns is a forest
attribute that influences both trees Growth and understory community structure [8]. The results showed that the
pruned (Galazani) standcharacteristics including DBH, height and crown area (m) are 13.2, 3.02 and 2.75, but in
undisturbed stand the mean of forest characteristicsincluding DBH, height and crown area (m) are 23.1, 4.8 and
6.8in undisturbed stand (table 1, 2). This results emphasis the negative effect of traditional utilization on forest
characters. One of the serious threats to most of the Iranian ecosystems is drought, because much of Iran lies in
the arid or semi-arid regions. The other threats for plants are: overgrazing, fuel wood extraction, conversion of
forest and other wild lands for agriculture, road construction, overexploitation, and unscientific extraction of
plant resources for medicine and food. Results showed that thespatial pattern (horizontal structure) of
undisturbed stand was Clumped pattern, and this stands have a two layer (figure 2, 3 and 4).Results showed that
the pattern (horizontal structure) of pruned (Galazani) stand was random pattern, and this stands have a two
layer (figure 5, 6 and 7). Overall results showed that the traditional utilization have a negative effect on forest
characters and forest structure (vertical and horizontal structure). Haidari et al, (2013)[14] indicate the negative
effect of traditional utilization on forest structure and characters in the Northern Zagros forest.
Conclusion:
Overall results showed that the traditional utilization have a negative effect on forest characters and forest
structure (vertical and horizontal structure).
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