Evaluation of Outdoor Recreational Capability for Planning Forest Promenade in the North Green Belt of Tehran

The great efforts in the past years causes establishment of the Forest Parks in the round of Tehran, and have been seen the positive effects of this plantations on the urban community as well as population. The study area is located on southern facing slopes of the Alborz Mountain chains in the north buffer of Tehran city, and this study area was included a twelve sub- catchment of central catchment, and this area was a part of the green belt in Tehran. At the first in this research, we identified the ecological resources, and socio-economic resources. Then, data was interpreted and integrated, and make to units mapping. On the basis of identified resources, special model of area based on general model ecotourism and afforestation (the Iranian model of Makhdoum) was prepared. According to design model, the ecological capability evaluation was conducted for ecotourism and afforestation use. From the levels of 40,000 ha on southern facing slopes of the Alborz Mountains of Tehran, and basis on an ecological capability evaluation model, intensive recreation capability of class 2, extensive recreation capability of class 1, and extensive recreation capability of class 1 were allocated 1309 ha, 1802 ha, and 28275 ha, respectively. To determine the appropriate area for allocation to the forest recreation, zoning and delimitation was performed. Detailed mapping was carried out. Then, the area was allocated with 28 ha for designation.