Selection of Species for Afforestations Based on the Ecological Capability Evaluation in North Green Belt of Tehran.

Creating active and urban living spaces in cities, is vital. Land use planning help us in locating suitable spaces for forest development and green space based on its ecological characteristics. Selection of tree species in urban is an important goal for green space and urban forestry experts and the selection of suitable plant species is the most importance parts of a successful landscape plan. The study area is 12 sub-watersheds of catchment area on the southern slopes of Alborz in the north buffer of Tehran city. In this research, first the ecological resources were surveyed and analysed to build mapping units. Then with the identified resources, special model of area based on the general model of afforestation (the Iranian model of Makhdoum) was prepared. Finally, ecological capability evaluation with special model was conducted for afforestation. Then the list of indigenous trees and shrubs species and suitable species for planting in northern Tehran and in the green belt were prepared. Finally, with ecological characteristics of the environmental units to suitable species of trees and shrubs were selected in every unit and finally, afforestation map was prepared with the proposed species.