Study of distribution of coppice and high stands in traditional forest management : Case study west forest of Iran Rahim maleknia PH.d Student of Tehran university Rahim.maleknia@gmail.com M. namiranian Pro. Of natural recourses faculty of Tehran university J.feghhi Pro. Of natural recourses faculty of Tehran university R.azizi Pro. Shahid Chamran university Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effective factors on distribution of coppice stands and high stands in traditional forest management in central Zagros in costum propertys of Cheshme Khazane village. In order to attain this goal, separate forest types based on canopy cover, diameter, height and origin and understory farming lands were surveyed by GPS. Then gathered data were used as inputs for GIS. By digitizing the paper map (scale: 1:5000) of the region, the slope, aspect, elevation, proximity to population centers, road maps were created. Maps of forest types overlaid on these maps. Results show that most of coppice stand occur in gentle slopes, low elevations, north and east aspects and proximity to population centers. High stand occur in high elevations, steep slopes, far from population centers and west and south aspects. Introduction Zagros forest with an area of 5 million ha account for almost 40% of the country's forests and classified as semiarid forests. the main influence of these forests is on water supply, soil conservation, climate alternation and socio _ economical balance of entire country ( sageb talebi et al., 2004).seven first grade rivers having 34.5 billion cubic meters water accounting for 40% of the total ground water of the country initiate in zagros ( sageb talebi et al., 2004 , jazirei &ibrahimi rastagi 2003 ). Ecological capability especially the possession of rich water supplies has resulted in high population intensity in the region. 9.8 million People reside in this region with 1.5 million living inside the forested area extensively affecting the ecosystem ( sageb talebi et al., 2004).the forests are considered as degraded forests with firewood , livestock feeding and understory farming as the main causes( maleknia 2005, sageb talebi et al., 2004, jazirei & ebrahimi rostagi 2003, fatahi 1994).approximately 800 thousand ha ( near to 20 %) understory of these this forests are used as non_irrigated farming lands(jazirei & ibrahimi rostagi 2003, maleknia2006). Zagros divided into two distinct regions based on the different oak species: northern zagros and southern zagros. North zagros is exclusive site of Quercus infectoria mixed whit Q. libani or Q. brantii or both. However, southern zagros is the exclusive site for Q. brantii. Furthermore, northern zagros can be considered more humid and colder than southern zagros. These forests, often have open canopy ( sageb talebi et al., 2004, ghazanfari et al., 2004, ebrahimi 1998). The most of forest have shout origin (coppice stand) and seed origin forest, comprise minor proportion of this forests ( porhashemi 2003, jazirei & ibrahimi rostagi, 2003). This study conducted in southern zagros to investigate distribution of coppice and high stands in traditional forest management of Iran Material and Method Study area The study area locates in ILam provinces (33º 40' N, 46º 25' E) in west of Iran comprising the furniture common law of the cheshme khazane village. (Fig1). Mean annual rainfall of region is 612 mm that mainly falls in autumn and winters. Mean temperature is 16.6 ºC that ranges between -12.6 ºC and 38.8 ºC. Based on Demartin dryness Index, the climate of study area is Mediterranean and dry period is 5 months (jaziresi & ebrahimi rostagi, 2003).  Fig 1: the study area in Iran and Ilam province Data Forest types characterizing by canopy cover, diameter classes, high classes and origin and understory farming lands surroundings were surveyed by GPS. Then gathered data were used as inputs for GIS. Due to lack of digital maps of region, topographic Lines were digited from paper map By R2V software. Using digited map the slope, elevation, proximity to village and aspect maps were created. Map of forest types overlaid to these maps. Results Forest types indicate that in the region, oak (Quercus persica) specie is the main specie and most of type are comprised purely this (table 1 and fig 2). In understory farming lands only pure oak type accrues but in another parts of forest area used for grazing and fuel wood in addition to this type, mixed types including Specie, Acer monspessulanum, Amygdalus sp. , ficus sp. , PIstacia mutica , P. khinjuk ,Ddaphnia sp. And Cratagus sp. Occurs.
 Fig 2: distribution of forest types in farmed and unfarmed understory In farmed region, Trees have seed origin and comprised tree with high diameter and height but in another part the forest stands have coppice or high origin. In these areas the forest canopy cover is less than unfarmed areas of forest. Overlying the map of forest types with slope map indicates that coppice stands are not limited in gentle slope but most of them are in gentle slope (fig:3). Distribution of coppice in aspect classes' show that most of them occur in north and east aspects (fig4), and most of high stands occur in west and south aspects. Coppice stands compared to high stands occur in lower elevation and proximity to village (fig5) does not important role in distribution of stands.  Fig. 3: forest types in slope classes  Fig4: distribution forest types in aspect classes  Fig5: distribution forest types in proximity to village aspect classes Discussion In zagros forests, non irrigated farming in understory is common. This manner result in decline in canopy cover and reduce the species of forest. The most effective factors in site selection of coppice and high stands are slope, aspect and elevation. Most of coppice stands are limited in gentle slope but some of them occur in step slope. In low elevation, north aspect due to better soil and water condition these stands are more. But high stand occur more in west and south aspects, higher elevation and steep slope. References
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