Applying Landscape Function Analysis Method in Order to Assess the Ecological Function of Plant Patches in Rangeland Management Treatments (Pilot: Kojour Noshahr Rangelands)

Assessment of rangeland ecological characteristics have been proposed as an important factor in reviewing and monitoring the effects of various management measures and it demands different tools for quantifying and offering a reasonable criterion for comparison of different managements. For this purpose, the Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) method is capable of displaying the structural and functional status of pastureland with considering the basic and simple indicators and it can be resorted to as a basis for selecting optimal and sustainable management. In this study, it was found out that among different types of pasture management in Kojour Noshahr including; exclosure, grazing, plowing and planting management - in almost identical conditions regarding plant types, animal types, soil, geology, and climate the exclosure management was significantly (P