Suitability Model of Medical and Industrial Plants of Semirom Rangelands in Isfahan

Range inventory is the recognition and evaluation of potential and actual production in order of optimal utilization of this valuable natural resource. Determination of range suitability for medical and industrial plants, considering sustainable utilization and creating models for medical and industrial plants use in Ghareh Aghach of Semirom watershed by FAO (1991) and GIS, was the main objective of this research. Determination of range suitability for medical and industrial plants use, in Ghareh Aghach of Semirom watershed based on a method suggested by FAO and GIS was the main objective of this research. Two criteria’s of vegetation cover and accessibility to water resources were integrated to determine suitability model of medical and industrial plants on rangeland. In vegetation cover criteria, the samples were randomly collected along 3 two hundred meter transects in each vegetation type. Vegetation cover percentage, composition, abundance, and the presence or absence, diversity, production, application and consumption of medicinal plants and industrial were measured using 1m2 quadrates. Accessibility to road and slope determine and by integrating these two criteria, suitability maps based on FAO method were prepared. The results showed that from 7158.69 hectares of study rangelands, 3.69% ha (0.05%), 1761.1 ha (24.6%), 3217.7 ha (44.95%) and 2176.17 ha (30.4%) of the area were classified to S1, S2, S3 and N suitability classes for medical and industrial plant utilization.