Effects of forestry practices on the regeneration and biodiversity of woody plants in the northern forest ecosystems of Iran

AbstractUndoubtedly, the regeneration and sustainability of forests are the most important aspects of sustainable forest management. The present study was conducted in Patam district, located in Kheyroud forest, Iran, and the regular regeneration of various plant species was evaluated in the region. The study of the regeneration was randomly regularly carried out by using a grid of 150 × 200 m and the sample plot with the area of 1.0 R (radius 1.8 m), provided by centre for sample plot. The highest rate of regeneration (seedlings) was observed in Carpinus betulus (50%), Acer insigne (23%), Fagus orientalis (10%), afforestation (6.2%), Acer cappadocicum (6%), Parrotia persica (2.8%), and Diospyros lotus (2%), respectively. In addition, 74 and 26% of the seedlings had height less than and more than 50 cm, respectively. Therefore, the studied region has proper conditions for regeneration in terms of the soil and mother trees. However, the number of the seedlings with height more than 50 cm is not above the n...