Evaluating effects of various physiographic factors and distance from road on timber marking using multiple linear regression model

One of the forest management tools which has a direct impact on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics is timber marking. In order to evaluate the effects of physiographic factors of land and road forms on timber marking for the logging, the multiple linear regression model was used in the Forestry Plan Series 2 in the seventh zone of forestry plans of Nekachoub Company, Mazandaran province. For this purpose, the location of marked trees was determined using GPS in a plot with an area of 215 hectares. Then, maps of marked trees, altitude, aspect and slope percent, soil and distance from the road were prepared in GIS environment using these points and digital elevation model of study area. To understand the relationship between factors and marked trees, the multiple linear model was used. So, maps of mentioned factors and marked tree's location were entered into the regression model as independent and dependent variables, respectively. The model results showed that the timber marking activity was done more in the areas with low altitude, gentle slope and deep soils on northern and eastern directions near the forest road as compared to the other areas. Timber marking is affected by some physiographic factors, and such elements as slope or adjacency to the road may make the timber marker to interfere in these areas and avoid working in the areas with higher slope or away from the road; it leads to an uneven interventions throughout the forest as well as an unbalanced reclamation of forest structure.