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Judas tree belongs to valuable species in Zagros forests. Nowadays, due to the special beauty of this species, it has received substantial attention in afforestation. In this regard, the improvement of seed germination is a suitable way to improve the quantity and quality of producing seedlings in nurseries and the establishment of forest plantation. In this study, the seed germination characteristics and seedling survival of Cercis griffithii in different soil treatments have been surveyed in the nursery of Aivan County in Ilam province. The experiment was set up as a randomized complete design with four treatments each contained 120 pots. Three seeds in plastic pots were sown in nursery soil (Control Control soil- cattle manure (5:1), Control soil- Litter (5:1) and Control soil- Cattle manure- Litter (5:1:1). According to the one-way ANOVA results, significant differences were observed between soil treatments in terms of germination rate, maximum, mean daily germination and germination energy, while there were no significant differences in other germination characteristics between soil treatments. The highest germination rate, maximum, mean daily germination and germination energy were observed in the treatment of Control soil- Cattle manure- Litter. In terms of time, seedling survival decreased from September to March. The results showed that there is a significant correlation between mean daily germination and different soil composition. In general, it can be concluded that germination and survival of Cercis griffithii can be improved using organic compounds in the nursery.

The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers of local peoples' participation in forest conservation plans. The research population included 240 Local rural households in Gilan – e – Gharb, Kermanshah. A number of 144 people were randomly selected using Morgan's sampling size table. A questionnaire was used as a main tool in this study. The content and face validity of the questionnaire was verified by a panel of experts. The reliability of the questionnaire estimated by Cranach's alpha coefficient (0.737). Factor analysis was used for finding the most important barriers. Four key factors were identified as the most important barriers in people participation programs in forest conservation plans. These factors were socio-cultural, economic, organizational and educational barriers. 

The aim of this research was study of tree species diversity in the Zagros forests of Iran that known as Ardal’s Chartagh protected forests. The total of the study area was 50 hectares. In this way 50 sample plots (circular shape with 1000m²) were measured based on systematic-random sampling method. In each plot species, DBH, species and number of trees were measured and recorded. To estimate of the tree species diversity, Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, Mc Arthur’s N₁ and Hill’s N₂ indices and for calculation of evenness and species richness Wilson- Smith’s and Margalef indices were used respectively. Also species importance value (SIV) was calculated. The results showed that there are 7 tree species in the study area including Fraxinus rotundifolia Mill., Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch, Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill., Quercus brantii var. persica, Pistacia mutica Fischer, Acer monspessulanum subsp. cinerascens and Salix persica Boiss.. Values of Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, Mc Arthur’s N₁ and Hill’s N₂ indices are 1.23, 0.58, 2.40 and 2.16. Also Wilson- Smith’s and Margalef indices showed that the values of richness and evenness are about 0.84 and 0.77. The results of SIV showed that the highest value of SIV belonged to the Fraxinus rotundifolia Mill. (188.63%) and the lowest value was due to Salix persica Boiss (17.59%). Therefore, conservation of forest stands might be suggested as a suitable approach for increasing plant diversity.

Morphological characteristics of individuals are due to hereditary and environmental factors. Regarding to the importance of leaf morphology in systematics investigations and bearing up the effects of environmental variations, especially altitudinal variations on these traits, the differentiation feasibility of brant oak in a restricted altitudinal gradient is investigated. A total number of 400 leaves from 40 individual ramets in Armarde, in an altitudinal ranges from 1580 to 1844 meters above sea level were sampled and 29 quantitative and qualitative traits were measured. The results revealed that the number of teeth and the shape of leaf at lower altitudes are lesser than higher altitudes. Also, leaf base angle has a negative and significant correlation with the altitude. In two altitudinal classes, the shape of leaf tip and the angle of midrib and vein, showed the lowest plasticity and coefficient of variation with respect to environmental conditions. Ramets were classified in three different classes based on cluster analysis and the separator traits were the maximum leaf width, leaf area and sinusoidal angle. Considering the fact that the separator traits would not showed any significant association with altitude,  it seems that some variations might be likely due to physiological response of leaves to environmental variations. However, it's more likely that the occurrence of inter and intra specific hybridization between brant´s oak species would culminated in separation of the individuals.

Oak decline is a complex phenomenon that oak forests are faced with it across the world and Iran. Shalam forested area located in north of Ilam province was selectedto determine the role of topographicand some edaphic factors in tree mortality happened in Persian oak forests. The study region was divided into 20 homogeneous topographic units. Within each homogeneousunit,three 0.1-haplots  were randomly-systematically established for measuring the rate of tree mortality and oneprofile was prepared for characterization ofsome  physical and chemical soil characteristics (texture, moisture content, TNV%, OC% and N for each soil layer, and soil depth). In each plot,diameter at breast height (DBH), maximum and minimum crown diameters, crown dieback percent, origination and form of trees and shrubs for all species and site variables weremeasured. Results showed that 15.7% of forest stock had reduced while 97.65% of it belonged to Persian oak species. The results of multiple linear regression and RDA showed that tree mortality was significantly affected by elevation and aspect, but not by slope. The highestrate of tree mortality was observedin high elevation and south and west aspects. Also the results of multiple linear regression and RDA showed that tree mortality was significantly affected by soil depth and texture. So, the highestrate of tree mortality was observed in soils with less depth, less sand% and more silt%. It was concluded that topography and soil have effective role in tree mortality and its expansion across Zagros forests. Identifying the critical conditions in terms of topography and soil in these forests can help and be useful in the management of tree dieback.

Salinity is one of environmental stresses in the world and especially in arid lands and desert that reduces production of plants and it is important to choose salt-resistant plants in all life stages, especially germination. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seed source (provenance (on germination and morphological traits of Amygdalus elaegnifolia saplings undersalt stress. The experiment was carried out as factorial in completely randomized design  withthree replicates. Seed source (FereydonShahr, Kazeron and Semirom) and salinity treatment withfour levels (0, 1.5, 3 and 5 dSm^-1) using NaCl were considered as first and  second factors, respectively. The measured variables were germination percentage, germination rate, vigor index, shoot length, radicle length, shoot wet weight, radicle wet weight, shoot dry weight, radicle dry weight, total leaf number, and radicle length/shoot length. The results of analysis of variance and mean comparison showed that salinity made significant differences in most of the investigated traits of Amygdalus elaegnifolia. In the control treatment of salinity, significant differences were found among the studied seed sources but the effect of seed sources was not significant in the other levels of salinity. In general, Fereydunshahr was the best of all studied provenances in non-saline conditions (control treatment).  

The importance of vegetation as a dynamic factor affecting the biological conditions requires that a detailed qualitative and quantitative information about its changes be prepared in short intervals. In this study, in order to monitor and predict vegetation density in Venet watershed in Ilam province the Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and Landsat images from 1988 and 2007 was used and vegetation density maps in three classes without canopy cover, thinned and dense canopy covers were prepared. Comparing the extent of vegetation density classes indicated that the extent of bare soil areas have increased as 1158/837 hectares while the extent of thinned and dense canopy covers 360/8277 and 797/9544 hectares respectively has been reduced. Assessing changes in vegetation density showed that from the classes with thinned and dense canopy covers as 1233/4828 and 210/4539 ha respectively have become no vegetation cover class. Also as 246 /2742 and 38 /8255 hectares of the bare soil areas have been converted to thinned and dense canopy cover classes respectively. Using Markov models and automated cells to predict changes in vegetation density showed that the highest and lowest probability of transition to no vegetation cover lands has been seen respectively in thinned (0.5059) and dense canopy cover (0.1023) lands. Finally, assuming a continuation of current trends, watershed vegetation density map of the target for 2020 was forecast. This map shows in the near future the land without vegetation cover will devote itself about 87 percent of this region.

Phenology studies can be appliedin sustainable management, protection, rehabilitation, development, and utilization of forest resources. In this study, the phenology of  Persian oak was investigated in three forested areas of Mamasani, Dasht-e-Arjan and Kamfirouz with 2300 m,2100 m,1800 m altitude, respectively in south –west and north of Fars province, Iran. In each area, ninetrees were visited repeatedlyat different times in different seasons during 5 years (1998-2002) and the observed characteristics were recorded. The results showed the stages of growth were completely different at the threementioned areas. The shoots sprouted up in the second week of March to the first week of April. The full leaf formation happened in the second week of April to the fourth week of April. The early flowers appeared in the second week of March to the fourth week April. Pollination occurred in the third week of March to the third week in April. The leaves began to fall in the fourth week of October to the fourth week of December. So characteristics of phenology in Persian oak were affected by climate and environmental factors.

Litter decomposition is the most important way of nutrient entering to soil and soil nutrient availability is highly related to dynamics of nutrients and litter decomposition in the forest ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of nutrients and litter decomposition in the northern Zagros forests using litterbag technique for 180 days in the Khul Hoare forests located in Baneh city. The litter bags were collected at intervals of 30, 60, 120 and 180 days and the rate of leaf litter decomposition and chemical compounds such as nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, potassium and calcium were measured. The results showed there was no significant correlation between the rate of decomposition and the initial composition of nutrients and also C: N and C: P ratios. Due to the qualification of leaf litter based on the amount of nitrogen in this study, the average amount of nitrogen in Quercus libani was 1.37%. So Lebanon oak can be classified in the average group and it can be considered as a soil improver species. In the studied litter, phosphorus and nitrogen had a similar performance and their concentration increased over time (7.27 and 30.38 mg/g respectively). While concentration of elements such as calcium, potassium and magnesium was decreased. The nutrient concentration of Quercus libani leaf litter was Ca>N>P>K> Mg.

To investigate some effective causes of beetle attack to Amygdalus scoparia in Bagh Shadi Harat, Yazd 80 sampling plots were randomly selected. In each plot number of infected tree, percent of dryness for each tree, height, diameter at root collar and crown diameter of each tree, elevation, slope and aspect of each plot were measured or recorded. Results showed that beetle infection were positively correlated to dryness of Amygdalus scoparia, Loranthus Grewinkii and negatively to tree sprouting. Beetle infection were also positively correlated to density of Amygdalus scoparia, density and coverage of accompany species, number of dried Amygdalus scoparia and negatively to percentage of slop. It is concluded that beetles prefer habitat with denser and more coverage population of Amygdalus scoparia in flat area and on trees with less sprouting. Since the study area is an important conserved place in Yazd province, research to control the pest can be very important. Elimination of effected and old trees may limit growth of pests in this area.

Background and Objective: the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different cultivation densities and cutting turns on the wood yield of white poplar (Populus alba L.) trees in eastern part of Dehcheshmeh village in Farsan county. 

Materials and Methods: An area of approximately 5 hectares was divided into 12 more or less uniform and flat terraces. According to the age of the trees, the terraces were divided into two groups: the terraces with young trees (from 6 to 7 years old) and those with older trees (from 15 to 18 years old). The terraces were also labeled either they were uncut, or under the first (cut) or second turn (double-cut) of cutting; and if they were grown in thin or dense cultivation. Number of shoots and the dimensions of the trees were measured using a plot sampling approach. The width of the annual rings of fallen trees was estimated using the photogrammetry method.

 Results: Considering the age of trees as block, a split-plot design indicated that the trees grown in the cut terraces were significantly larger than those in uncut or double-cut terraces in sense of DBH, height, crown height and standing volume. The highest shoot number was observed in double-cut terraces and the highest crown height values were belonged to the uncut and the double-cut terraces. As the cultivations became thinner, the volume and dimensions of the trees increased significantly. The analysis of mean (MAI) and current (CAI) annual increment curves and the point where those curves intercepted, showed that the biological age for the thinned and cut cultivations (the superior treatments) were 12.1 and 13.0 years respectively.

 Conclusion: In the center of poplar cultivation in the province of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari, it is strongly recommended to cultivate the white poplars in density of less than 100 trees per are, with a single cut, and for 12.5 years of rotation period.

Background and purpose: In recent years, forestry projects have gained increasing environmental, economic and social importance as an indicator of development. These projects are one of the most important international activities. Since the establishment of a natural forest in arid and semi-arid regions is a long and complicated process, it is difficult and necessary to restore a deforested forest in these areas. The harsh conditions and nature have reduced the forest ecosystem, so this study aims to present a picture of the status of the current forestry plans with Amygdalus scoparia Spach in four regions of central Bazoft. The intention was to compare the qualitative and quantitative status of forestry in these areas and tested the viability and adaptability of tree and shrub species cultivated in the valleys around the Bazoft river and in the central Bazoft region.
Materials and methods: In this study, the centers of sample plots were 400 m² ((20 × 20 m) in a completely randomized design. In total, there were 153 plots, and in each sample plot, quantitative characteristics such as mean area of ​​canopy, average height and qualitative characteristics such as vitality and the most important characteristic and survival was estimated. Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to estimate Survival Distribution Function, average survival rate and drying risk in each forest area. The same survival function tests associated with this estimator were also performed to ensure probable segregation of the areas. Analysis of variance was performed in regard to classified factors of the region (in four classes), planting time (in four classes: 1385, 86, 87, 88), Front (in four classes: Four main directions), slope (in two classes: more than 25 Percent and below), elevation and density of primary seedlings. Mean values ​​were compared by Tukey test.
Findings: The results of the comparison of survival rates showed that at a small spatial distance, a significant difference was observed in forestry with a singletree species. The highest survival rate after one decade was 0.88 and the lowest was 0.64. Even two identical tests of survival function i.e. Log-rank and Wilcoxon showed that there was a significant difference between forested areas with Amygdalus scoparia species. Cox Proportional Hazards Model using topographic factors (slope, front and sea level) as covariance using Wald statistic showed that the highest Amygdalus scoparia cultivation risk ratio were the western and northern fronts and then low slope regions.
Conclusion: There was a significant difference between forested areas with Amygdalus scoparia species. Based on the average canopy area, height and freshness of the trees, the southern slopes were perfectly suitable for cultivation, and the western and northern slopes were inappropriate for cultivation of these trees. The other topographic factors that probably influenced the success of the Amygdalus scoparia cultivation (slope and elevation) had not significant effects on the outcome of the Amygdalus scoparia cultivation.

Background and objectives: Site demands and characteristics of different plant species is necessary for forest protection and restoration. Therefore, soil properties determination is one of the most important steps in plant species site demands determination. This research was conducted to understand sire demands of Lonicera nummulariifolia in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Besides, to determine the most important soil factors affecting on L. nummulariifolia distribution.  
Materials and methods: Four sites including Gazestan (1792 m above sea level), Samsami (2210 m a.s.l.), Kohrang (2215 m a.s.l.), and Ardal (1531 m a.s.l.) were selected in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Soil samples were taken from the depth of 0-30 cm. soil physicochemical properties including soil nitrogen, available potassium, organic carbon, pH, and electrical conductivity, were determined. Besides, quantitative characteristic of trees (tree diameter, height, and crown diameter) were measured. Soil properties were evaluated using one-way ANOVA. Furthermore, principal component analysis was used to determine the most important soil variables affecting L. nummulariifolia distribution.
Results: Results of this study indicated that the tallest and shortest trees with the average of 2.26 and 1.57 belonged to the Kograng and Gazestan, respectively. Also, trees origin in the Samsami site was coppice while in the other three sites they were high stands. Soil physicochemical properties indicated that soil electrical conductivity, nitrogen and organic matter had no significant differences between studied sites. Furthermore, soil pH was almost neutral in studied sites and showed no significant differences. While, Kohrang and Gazestan had the highest significant value of potassium. The least value of potassium was belonged to the Samsami. While, the most and least values of silt belonged to the Gazestan and Kohrang, respectively. Gazestan had the least value of soil sand percent compared to the other studied sites. Conical correspondence analysis indicted that the most important factors affecting L. nummulariifolia distribution are soil organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, electrical conductivity, clay, aspects, and slope respectively. 
Conclusion: L. nummulariifolia distribution demands for sites with the higher soil nutrient and organic carbon. Also, it’s prefer neutral soil pH. In the other world soil physiochemical properties play and important role in L. nummulariifolia distribution and information about site requirements of this species could help to identify proper sites for reforestation to enrichments of Zagros forest.