Determination of Potential Habitats of Three Mediterranean and Industrial Arbor Species at Forest in Armand Watershed, Chaharmahal Bakhtyari Province, Using GIS and RS Techniques

Plant growth in any region is influenced by environmental factors. In order to determine potential habitats of species, it is required to study ecological needs of the species and climatic-edaphic properties of the region. In this study, potential habitats of three Mediterranean and industrial arbor species including Cupressus sempervirens, Pinus nigra, and Olea europea were investigated in Armand, Lordgan, Chaharmahal Bakhtyari Province, using GIS and RS techniques. To provide information layers, different maps of the study area including topography, geology, and climate and soil maps were collected and digitized. Other layers such as rock outcrops, forest cover, irrigated arable lands, dry farming, rangelands and shaded areas were extracted using Landsat TM data. Referring to scientific articles and references, 14 Mediterranean and industrial arbor species were selected and their ecological needs were determined. Ecological needs of these species and properties of the study area were considered to provide information layers. The results showed suitable potential habitats for Cupressus sempervirens to be 1150 hectares, for Pinus nigra to be 996 hectares and Olea europea to be 5199 hectares.