<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> In this research, the volume and composition of woody debris (WD) were inventoried by line intersect sampling (LIS) in recreational and conservative parts of Fandoughlou forests in Northwestern Iran. Based on the pre-study qualitative assessments of WD properties, 60 transects in conserved part including 60 ha tract and 60 transects in recreational part including 60 ha and 60 transects were set up for WD survey. In each area, a systematic series of sampling points was located in the inventory of WD. At each sampling point, we performed line-intersect sampling (LIS) with a line length of 100 m with random orientation of sample lines. Estimates of the total volume of WD across recreational and conservative parts of the forest ranged from 0.70 m3 ha-1 to 1.49 m3 ha-1. The results of independent t-test indicated that the amount of CWD and FWD in conserved part is significantly higher than CWD and FWD in recreational part (t4, 0.05 = 4.26, p = 0.013; t4, 0.05 = 2.69, p = 0.05). The number of tree species of CWD composition was higher in conserved area, more than 5 species including (hazel, beech, hornbeam, oak, maple, and other species). In the conserved part, CWD in highly-decayed classes accounted for 75% of total CWD volumes, but in the recreational division, CWD in the early decayed classes accounted for 79% of total WD volumes. Our results suggest preserving the current conserved forests and maintaining the structural and functional integrity of WD.</abstract>

In this research, the volume and composition of woody debris (WD) were inventoried by line intersect sampling (LIS) in recreational and conservative parts of Fandoughlou forests in Northwestern Iran. Based on the pre-study qualitative assessments of WD properties, 60 transects in conserved part including 60 ha tract and 60 transects in recreational part including 60 ha and 60 transects were set up for WD survey. In each area, a systematic series of sampling points was located in the inventory of WD. At each sampling point, we performed line-intersect sampling (LIS) with a line length of 100 m with random orientation of sample lines. Estimates of the total volume of WD across recreational and conservative parts of the forest ranged from 0.70 m3 ha-1 to 1.49 m3 ha-1. The results of independent t-test indicated that the amount of CWD and FWD in conserved part is significantly higher than CWD and FWD in recreational part (t4, 0.05 = 4.26, p = 0.013; t4, 0.05 = 2.69, p = 0.05). The number of tree species of CWD composition was higher in conserved area, more than 5 species including (hazel, beech, hornbeam, oak, maple, and other species). In the conserved part, CWD in highly-decayed classes accounted for 75% of total CWD volumes, but in the recreational division, CWD in the early decayed classes accounted for 79% of total WD volumes. Our results suggest preserving the current conserved forests and maintaining the structural and functional integrity of WD.

Recreational activities impact on the amount and characteristics of woody debris in the Fandoghlou forests, Northwestern Iran

Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Forestry Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

In this research, the volume and composition of woody debris (WD) were inventoried by line intersect sampling (LIS) in recreational and conservative parts of...

Recreational activities impact on the amount and characteristics of woody debris in the Fandoghlou forests, Northwestern Iran

Published Online: Feb 19, 2016

Page range: 5 - 13

Received: Feb 27, 2015

Accepted: May 30, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fsmu-2015-0001

Keywords
woody debris, line intersects method, recreational part, conserved area, Fandoghlou forests

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Recreational activities impact on the amount and characteristics of woody debris in the Fandoghlou forests, Northwestern Iran

Published Online: Feb 19, 2016

Page range: 5 - 13

Received: Feb 27, 2015

Accepted: May 30, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fsmu-2015-0001

Keywordswoody debris, line intersects method, recreational part, conserved area, Fandoghlou forests

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
woody debris, line intersects method, recreational part, conserved area, Fandoghlou forests