نشریه حفاظت و بهره برداری از منابع طبیعی
سال یکم شماره 1 (1391)

The biodiversity of birds has very important roles in ecological researches of forest. The goal of this research was to study the changes in diversity, richness and evenness of bird community in four vegetation cover types, namely, Fagus, Fagus-Carpinus, Carpinus-Parrotia and Parratio-Carpinus-Quercus along summer, autumn and winter in Shast-Kalate forest. First, the homogeneous vegetation units were chosen using field records. The bird sampling was conducted using sampling point procedure. The bird species and the number of all observations in relation to each species in each sampling plot were recorded in three seasons. The species diversity indices were calculated using Simpson and Shannon-wiener and evenness was calculated using Camargo indices. Furthermore, the species richness was calculated and compared in four different types of forest cover. Based on the results, the highest diversity index was observed in winter and the lowest in summer. The indices of diversity and richness in summer and autumn were higher in Fagus forest type and in winter were higher in Fagus-Carpinus forest type compared to the other forest types. The highest evenness index was observed in Fagus forest type. Moreover, the Parrotio-Carpinus-Quercus forest type showed the lowest species richness, species diversity and evenness in the three seasons. The results confirmed the effects of season and different forest cover type on the biological diversity of bird community and illustrated that approaching to cold season along Fagus and Fagus-Carpinus forest type increases the biodiversity indices values. The results also highlighted the importance of forest maturity. However, preventing forest exploitation may not be the best solution for biodiversity conservation, but use of some methods like selection cutting is suggested as one of the most appropriate and sustainable solutions for preserving the structure of forest exploitation and creating suitable habitat for bird species and other wildlife populations.

The objective of this study was to recognize the machines in wood industries and their limitations for wood dimensions. Another aim was to suggest the appropriate dimensions for timber bucking in Nekachoob Company as well as Mazandaran Wood and Paper Industries forests and Behshahr 22 Bahman Neopan factory. Results of initial investigations indicated that there was no improvement in production process of Neopan, Paper, Slicer, horizontal strip saw and Ram saw machines with changes in timber bucking dimensions, therefore this study focused on peeler performance which is used in Nekachoob Company. Thus, the timber bucking data were extracted from harvesting and transportation documents. According to requirements of the peeler machine, the loss volume of log in different diameter classes was calculated and then multiplied by Rial value of the each cubic meter of logs with degree 1 and 2. The difference between this value and the price of out of degree wood, which is used for Neopan and paper, is the avoidable damage. The loss volume of a log with a length of 2.6 meter in Peeler machine was about 7.7 percent. In Peeler machine, the maximum financial damage was 237384 Rials which was for beech log with degree 1. Regarding the dimension of required wood for Peeler machine it is suggested that timber bucking should be as coefficients of 2.4 m.

Uniformity and emergence rate of seeds can have a great effect on the yield and quality of the production, therefore, it is very important to find a strategy to boost germination and plant establishment and also be affordable. One of the best treatments to improve germination is seed soaking technique. In this way, seeds are treating with water, without using any chemical materials. This study performed separately on three kinds of pine seeds species as P. brutia, P. eldarica and P. pinea with three replicates as completely randomized block aiming to improve germination characteristics by soaking treatments (1, 2, 3 and 7 days). Then the germination characteristics including germination rate, germination energy, maximum mean daily germination, mean daily germination, germination speed, mean time for germination and germination value were investigated. Results showed that, there was significant difference among treatments and germination characteristics in all three species and all the studied characteristics were improved under soaking treatments.

Existence value of Gomishan international wetland was determinate using Contingent Valuation Method. The study was carried out using surveying the native as well as non-native populations. Questionnaires were completed in random-systematic sampling manner. Results showed that income and education level had the highest impact on Willingness to pay for conservation of wetland. Existence value of the wetland as measured based on mean willingness to pay for native and non-native habitant was estimated at 15537056.3 and 2824249276 Rials, respectively. The economic value of the wetland, based on annual fishing revenue (common carp, kutum, vobla, zander and mullets) in the wetland, was estimated at 87000000 Rials. The economic value of game birds, based on their population and meat price, was estimated at 16000650 Rials. according to the international confirmed indexes, the economic value of the wetland for different functions (flood control, water supply, habitat for native and immigrant species, raw materials supply, Eco-tourism and cultural value), was estimated as $ 201960002.1 per hectare.

Regeneration is one of the basic issues in forming, sustainability and evolution of different ecosystems. Forest ecosystem as one of the completes ecosystems is not an exception and its sustainability and evolution is provided by regeneration. Therefore, we investigated the regeneration of Salas Babajani forest. Seven forest types including i) high stands and ii) coppice stands of Q. brantti, iii) mixed coppice with high stand Q. brantti, iv) high stand of Q. brantii and Pistacia atlantica, v) mixed coppice with high stand of Q. brantii and Pistacia atlantica, vi) coppice Q. brantii and Q. infectoria and vii) coppice with high stand of Q. brantii and Q. infectoria were determined in forest cover of the study site considering species mixture and growth origin (coppice, high stand and both) and the regeneration of wooden species within these types were studied. Results showed there was significant differences (P-value <0.01) among the studied forest types in sexual and asexual regeneration. The coppice types of Q. brantii and coppice Q. brantii-Q. infectoria had suitable asexual regeneration but contained no sexual regeneration. Sparse and scattered seed originated (sexual) regeneration was observed in the other forest types. The situation of seed originated (sexual) regeneration was better in mixed coppice with high stand of Q. brantti and Q. infectoria type that were mostly spread out on north faced slopes. The results of this research showed that in order to rehabilitate the degraded forest stands in the area it is necessary to consider forest types regarding their ecological conditions and protect and support sexual regeneration.

Development of integrated view in natural resources management and policy-making after policy failures has caused the specialists to use new methods in order to discover the disadvantages of previous policies and plans. "Network Analysis" is one of these new methods that focus on the relations between factors and analyze them through network delineation. Networking provides the ability of investigating the relationship between problems with other related problems; because in today's complex world there is not a distinct border among the problems. There are a few studies related to natural resources and environment that have used this method. In Iran, this method is new and its numerous applications are almost unknown. This paper tried to introduce this method and its applications by delineation and analysis of the network of legal collaborations among organization that are related to natural resources in Fourth Development Plan. UCINET and Net draw software’s were used to calculate the degree and between’s centralities and also to delineate the network. Results showed that power distribution among related organizations is not equal and there was not a networking approach in the codification of this legal document. In addition, Network Analysis has a high efficiency in evaluation of management and policy plans and showing their disadvantaged. Finally, it was proposed that natural resources managers and policy-makers use Network Analysis potentials in evaluation of previous policies and plans and use their strengths and weaknesses in codification of next policies and plans.

Cooperation system is one of the most modern production systems in agriculture and natural resources sectors. Recent threats and challenges in natural resources management are main reasons for considering integration of cooperation in natural resources management. Furthermore, due to the vast area of rangelands the active participation of local people is necessary in conservation and renovation of rangelands. Experiences indicated that cooperation system as a popular system could help country rangeland trustees to conserve and renovate ranges. This study examined the performance of range management cooperatives in conservation and renovation of Golestan province’s ranges. Survey research was used via filling 386 questionnaires from some ordinary or Board of Directors members in 28 cooperatives. Results showed that performance of cooperatives can be evaluated as medium quality. Results also showed that respondents evaluated performance of range management cooperatives in conservation and renovation of rangelands better and more proper than its other activities such as employment, water and forage supply for livestock. Altogether members of board of director scored the performance of cooperatives more than ordinary members. Based on the findings of this research more activities of range management cooperatives is suggested to provide its members with banking facilities, supplying proper water and trough for livestock in rangelands and precipitation storage activities.