Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

A STUDY OF THE IMPACTS OF GAPS CREATED BY SINGLE SELECTION CUTTING TECHNIQUE ON THE REGENERATION OF TREE SPECIES IN ROUDSAR FORESTS, NORTH OF IRAN

Mir Mozaffar FallahChai

Abstract

To obtain a dynamic forest, protecting species and helping the revival of natural life, a nature friendly utilization technique could be the most important strategy to protect Iranian Northern Forests. In this study the regeneration of tree species in gaps created by single selection cutting technique was studied in Rahimabad, Roudsar. By sprayer forest 35 gaps were classified into 3 groups of 100-200, 200-400, 300-400 sq meter and 5 gaps from each group, totaling 15, were randomly selected for further analysis. To study vegetation and regeneration of tree species along two diagonals of the gaps, 2X2 micro plot devices were systematically planted within one meter distances. The study shows that with enlarging the gaps, richness and frequency of species has increased, however not in a specific order, which has to be taken into account in markings. Also in 1-2 R gaps 34 species, in 2-3 R gaps 35, and in 3-4 R gaps 37 species were recorded .The comparison of specie frequencies showed that the number of small saplings in large gaps were greater and the number of Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus), Winged fruited walnuttree (Pterocarya fraxinfolia) and Honey-locust (Gleditschia) in these gaps are of significant differences with the other species. SIV assessment of the tree species in each gap, found Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) the most important and Honeylocust (Gleditschia) the least important species.