Estimation of afforestation area in the plantation stands in the east of Golestan province

Global forest area has decreased by nearly 180 million ha in three decades. So, many ecosystem services provided by forests have been threatened. Reforestation and afforestation are the most effective strategies for mitigating deforestation. Therefore, in a variety of countries worldwide, including Iran, several afforestation projects have been implemented; however, the quantity and quality of many afforested lands have decreased over time under the influence of catastrophic factors, environmental stress, and different management methods. Awareness and continuous monitoring of forest programs are some of the most fundamental forestry policies. Therefore, the monitoring of annual afforestation in the eastern Golestan province using Google Earth software was put on the agenda to prepare an afforestation map and identify the reasons for the success and failure of the implemented plans. According to the findings, 19,377.39 ha of afforestation have been planted in Golestan province. Of these, Maraveh Tappeh city has the highest amount of afforestation with more than 9,256 ha with C. arizonica L, C. sempervirens L. var. horizontalis (Mill.) Gord. and P. brutia Ten, mostly. The presence of suitable climatic and edaphic conditions in the Golidagh of Maraveh Tappeh City and the ArabDagh area of Kalaleh City played a prominent role in the success of artificial forests in these areas. It should be noted that wood smuggling, the presence of livestock, the occurrence of fires, the presence of natural and human obstacles, and continuous monitoring have been other factors affecting the success or failure of afforestation programs in the eastern Golestan province.