Plant associations of Arasbaran lowlands and its conservation significance

Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve is the ninth Biosphere Reserve in Iran with a total area of 78759 hectares in northwest of Iran. Most of it is forest, pasture and agricultural lands. The difference between the height of 265 m and 2868 m above sea level, the presence of physiographic, soil and microclimates have created different habitats that have made its unique flora richness. Vegetation of lowlands of this area was carried out using Braun-Blanqet method. Data analysis (releves and plant species) was performed based on the Corrospondence factorial analysis (AFC) method in anaphyto software. In the lowlands of the Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve, Five associations and four subassociations including 176 taxa have been identified, of which 7.9% are phanerophytes, 8.5% chamaephytes, 25% hemicryptophytes, 4.5% geophytes and 54% terophytes. Considering the global importance of this Biosphere Reserve for flora, vegetation and fauna, its further conservation is recommended as a natural heritage for the future.