The effect of fire on structure and regeneration of woody species in the central Zagros forests ecosystem, case study: Bazazkhaneh Strait forest area in Kermanshah province

An important cause of forest destruction is fire. Fire disturbances affected structure and regeneration of forest stand. This study aimed to investigate the effect of fire on structure and regeneration of woody species in Bazazkhaneh strait forests, the north - east of Kermanshah province. For this purpose, a random-systematic sampling lay out (with interval distance of 100 m) was applied to collect data in 80 sampling plots (40 plots in burnt area and 40 plots in unburnt area) where represented 80-ha of study plot. Results indicated that fire did not change forest composition. Oak, Quercus brantii was the dominant species in both burnt and unburnt areas. In tree layer, tree density, regeneration, and coppice density in unburnt area was significantly higher than those values in burnt area. In contrast, in shrub layer, density of individuals, regeneration, and coppice density in burnt area was significantly higher than those values of unburnt area. A reverse J-shaped diameter distribution was found in both burnt and unburnt areas. . However, fire affected the diameter at breast height (DBH) classes and basal area which was lower in burnt area than unburnt area. Data showed that young trees with small DBH were abundant in burnt area when compared with unburnt area. It was found that presence of young trees was good sign of forest recovery after nine years of fire.