Investigating the Effects of Some Ecological Indicators of Forest Patches on the Supply of Selected Ecosystem Services (Study Area: Eastern Part of Gilan Province)

In recent years, augmentation of ecosystem services has emerged as a critical concern. However, there is a dearth of information regarding ecosystem services within the realm of planning. This study sought to address this gap by assessing the influence of landscape structure on ecosystem functionality. To achieve this, we utilized InVEST software to model ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, soil maintenance, and flood prevention. Additionally, we employed MSPA and Fragstate software to derive 4 key ecological indicators: biomass quantity, fragmentation, core area, and ratio of environmental area to forest core area. Subsequently, we examined the relationship between these ecological indicators and the selected ecosystem services. Our findings indicated a robust and positive correlation between the presence of forested and verdant areas, as well as larger and more interconnected cores within these areas, and the provision of desired services. Notably, in forest patches, a decrease in ecosystem service provision was observed with increased fragmentation and instability, underscoring the importance of preserving and expanding the Hyrcanian forests while also prioritizing integrity and reducing isolated patches for enhancing ecological productivity in the northern provinces of the country.