Abstract
In the western Iranian coppice oak forests, current harvests using traditional practices generally exceed regrowth potential, resulting in forest degradation and loss. To reverse this trend, more careful consideration is now being given to species composition, site conditions, forest production potential, and assessments of local wood and non-wood forest product requirements to develop improved forest management plans. The present study was carried out in the Doveyse forest, located in Kurdistan Province, northern Zagros. Clustering analysis of data from a systematic vegetation survey of the 660 ha forest site yielded four distinct plant ecological groups; differences between groups were confirmed using Sorensen index comparisons. Groups 1 and 2 included highly degraded sites that require conservation to rehabilitate or restore productive forest. The results suggest that traditional utilization could be continued on the more fertile sites within groups 3 and 4 under optimal management conditions. Site potential evaluations and classification of forest vegetation over the broader Zagros forest zone are recommended as an important step in the development of improved forest management plans in the region.
Published Version
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