Performing the single selection method at compartment level and necessity for full inventory of tree species (Case study: Gorazbon district in Kheyroud Forest)

Having knowledge about quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forest stands and continuous measurement of impacts of executed methods is a fundamental principle for performing, monitoring of forest management based on nature rules and decision-making in silviculture management of forest. Single selection method which is one of the close to nature silviculture methods, aims to achieve an uneven-aged and mixed forest. Tree marking in this method needs to precise statistical data about tree distribution in diameter classes. To determine the quantitative characteristics as well as biodiversity, rare species, old trees and also dead trees, 768.4 ha virgin forest of Gorazbon district in Kheyrud educational- experimental Forest was studied with full callipering method. All trees with dbh> 10 cm were assessed and volume and number of species in diameter classes, large trees with dbh> 100 cm and all dead trees were inventoried separately at each compartment. The average of number and volume of trees per hectare in Gorazbon district are 297 and 338 sylve, respectively. However, beech trees consist of 31% of total number of tree in Gorazbon district, but this species comprises of 57% volume of this district. Proportion of rare species such as sweet cherry, mountain ash, ash and elm are less than 2 tree per hectare. The average volume per hectar of dead trees was 4.2 sylve which was counted to 1.2 % of total volume of Gorazbon district. Considering the large area and analyses of data which was carried out for the first time, results of this research showed that full inventory method provided important and essential data for precise performing of selection method, especially single selection method.