Vegetation types of Natural Resources Areas of Ardabil Province

The study of ecological areas in Ardabil province with the aim of controlling and differentiating land use and recognizing the rangeland species type was conducted in 2010-2012. According to recent surveys, the area of ​​Ardebil province is estimated to be about1,777,736 hectares. The total lands are included: rangelands and forests about 685,707 hectares (38%), cultivated lands about 1,062,924 hectares (60%), rock and bare outcrops of about 14,628 hectares, water levels of 1,186 hectares (1%) and urban and industrial lands are about 13,291 hectares (1%). 66 rangeland types were divided into four groups in the rangelands of the province as follow: Artemisia, Astragalus, perennial grasses and Onobrychis. In addition, five individual types as Peganum, Caparis-Iris, Carex-Iris, Salsola-Poa and Trifolium-Trisetum were identified. Moreover, the forest habitats of the province are composed of eight types of Quercus–Fagus, Corylus avellana Mixed, Carpinus–Corylus, Tamarix–Salix, Quercus-Carpinus-Zelkova,, Quercustype, Pistacia atlantica subsp mutica type and Crataegus-Paliurus spina – Christi- Acer monspessulanum Mixed type. The results of this research including the area and position of natural resources types as well as vegetation map can be used as a scientific document and reference for the implementation of applied research projects by executive organizations in Ardebil Province.