The importance of nurse‏ ‏species in establishing of natural regeneration in forests of ‎South Zagros (Vezg forest, Yasouj)‎

In this research, the effect of different forms of nursing on establishment of natural regeneration in the forests of Vezg region in Boyer-Ahmad basin was investigated. For this purpose, an area of six hectares was selected and the type of nurse species and forms, the type of target species (regeneration) were measured. Overall, 14 woody species of nurse plants with a total of 423 individuals were recorded in the research area, among them, two thorny species include Amygdalus lycioides and Pyrus glabra with 195 and 77, respectively, have the highest number. Also, out of 912 regeneration individuals (target species) under the canopy of nurse plants and rocks, the highest number belonged to Daphne mucronata, Amygdalus lycioides, Prunus sp and Lonicera nummulariifolia. RDA analysis also showed that the regeneration of target species is affected by A.lycioides and P.glabra nursing plants. The results of this study showed that the regeneration of woody species in this area, with the exception of A. lycioides, depends on conservation and nursing. This indicates the role of nurse species in establishing regeneration in semi-arid forests of Zagros, which can be used as a model in forest restoration programs in other parts of the Zagros forests‎.