• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

Species diversity is one of the most important indices that used to evaluate the sustainability of forest communities. In the present study, three variables including number of individuals (frequency of species), basal area and volume of tree species were compared to estimate tree species diversity in broadleaves forests of Iran. Based on systematic random design, 30 plots (circle plot, $1000m^2$) was selected. Type of species, number of species, DBH and height of trees were measured. Simpson (1-D), Hill ($N_2$), Shannon-Wiener (H'), Mc Arthur ($N_1$), Smith-Wilson ($E_{var}$) and Margalef ($R_1$) indices used to estimate tree species diversity. Species diversity was calculated in each plot. ANOVA test showed that there was a significant difference between of three variables used for estimation of species diversity. Number of trees variable has more precision than basal area and volume variables to estimate of species diversity. But Duncan test revealed that there were significant difference between of basal area and volume variables with number of trees. Therefore, basal area and volume variables were selected as more suitable variables in order to estimate of biodiversity indices in northern forests of Iran.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2012

This study was conducted to estimate climax index by eco-morphology for major 36 tree and sub-tree species in natural deciduous forests so as to interpret seral position of each species in the forest community. Fourteen eco-morphological characters which were considered to be associated with successional gradient in the forest were selected for the study. Four levels per character for each species were given on a standardized scale of increasing climax, and the index was computed by the proportion of the sum of total scores, expressed by percent values. With calculated mean value of 54.8 for all indices, Carpinus cordata had the highest index value of 90.5, and Populus davidiana recorded the lowest of 13.2. The most climax group, greater than 70 of the index, contained only 8 species, intermediate group, between 41 to 70 of the index, had 23 species, and the most pioneer group, less than 40 of the index comprised 5 species. The result has noticed that the large number of species would take advantage of most diverse resource and niche in the intermediate stage of the sere in the forest. By cluster analysis all 36 species were subjected to be classified into several species groups which had common similar eco-morphological characteristics. The indices were additionally plotted on the two dimensional graph to recognize the positions related to the light absorption factor and reproduction factor. The climax index of tree and sub-tree species developed by this study could be applied to understand the present status of successional stage on the basis of species composition by the method of summing up the indices. And comparison of forest successional stage among various forest communities could be done by summing up the climax indices of composed species in each community. However, this kind of applied methodology should be limited to the forest of similar species composition and site condition.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.159-172
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• 2019

Madhupur National Park (MNP) is one of the last remaining patches of old-growth natural Sal forest left in Bangladesh where the forest is tropical moist deciduous type. A study was revealed to assess the tree species diversity and composition in this area. For determining tree species the study was conducted through extensive random quadrat survey methods with $20m{\times}20m$ sized plots. Results of the study indicated that there were 139 tree species belonging to 100 genera and 40 families. The quadrat survey assessed the basal area, stem density, diversity indices and importance value index of the tree species having ${\geq}5cm$ D.B.H (Diameter at Brest Height). The basal area and stem density of the tree species were $20.689{\pm}1.08m^2/ha$ and $1412.93{\pm}64.27stem\;ha^{-1}$ while, diversity indices, i.e. Shannon-Wiener's diversity, Simpson's evenness, Margalef's species richness and Pielou's dominance indices indicated poor diversity in comparison to that of other PAs (Protected Areas) in South-Eastern region of Bangladesh. The structural composition based on height and D.B.H through reverse-J shaped curve indicated higher regeneration and recruitment but removal of trees of large growth classes. Sal (Shorea robusta) was the most dominant tree species that accounts 75% of the total tree individuals in the natural forest patches. However, some associates of Sal, i.e. Bhutum (Hymenodictyon orixensis), Gadila (Careya arborea), and Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) etc. were seemed to be rare in MNP.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.329-341
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• 2023

We surveyed the vegetation of an ecological landscape preservation area (legally protected conservation areas or national parks) and the surrounding areas of Mt. Cheonggye, Republic of Korea, to explore the conservation implications for preservation areas and surrounding transition areas. We calculated diversity indices to identify the properties of the preservation and surrounding areas that are relevant to conservation efforts. We then compared the plant community composition between the areas using field and quadrat surveys in the preservation and surrounding areas. The cover of the dominant species in all tree and herb layers was markedly higher in the preservation area than in the peripheral zones. The species richness indices were significantly higher in the preservation area than in the peripheral zones. Ordination using detrended canonical correspondence analyses showed that the cover of the dominant tree species and rocks could explain the distribution of plant species in the Cartesian space of the ordination. Our results demonstrate that physiognomically designated protected areas match well with ecological data based on diversity indices and ordination analyses and that disturbances in the areas surrounding the ecological landscape of preservation areas can have considerable impacts on plant diversity indices. Hence, the preservation and management of surrounding areas are essential conservation elements for protecting the entire ecological landscape of preservation areas.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.129-139
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• 2016

Study was conducted to investigate tree diversity and its population and regeneration status in homegardens of upper Assam, Northeast India through field study by quadrat method. A total of 154 tree species have been recorded from 135 studied homegardens under 109 genera 53 families. Most of these species (79%) are indigenous to our country, while the rest (21%) arealiens (naturalized and cultivated exotics) by origin. Tree species richness per homegarden varies greatly in different homegardens and is ranged from 5 to 52 tree species with a mean of 22 ($SE{\pm}0.58$). A. malaccensis is the most dominant tree species in the studied homegardens contributed 34% of the total tree density of the documented trees. The tree density is much higher with 4,259 individuals $ha^{-1}$ but, basal area ($36.32m^2ha^{-1}$) is very less. Based on the number of individuals present, very rare species is accounted for 10%, rare species 39%, common species 19%, dominants 14% and predominant species 18% in the present study. The population density of 154 tree species is 4,259 (individuals $ha^{-1}$) for adults (>3.18 cm DBH), 5,902 (individuals $ha^{-1}$) for saplings and 38,164 (individuals $ha^{-1}$) for seedlings. The density of seedlings>saplings>adults represents good regeneration status of tree species in studied homegardens. The population structure study showed that about 8% tree species have good regeneration status, 9% have fair regeneration status, 48% have poor regeneration status and 34% tree species have no regeneration. Study suggests that research and development action is needed to stimulate regeneration of those tree species which having high importance value indices but showing poor or no regeneration. Based on present observation, it can be conclude that homegarden can emerge as an effective means for both economic well-being and biodiversity conservation in upper Assam, Northeast India.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2012

This study was performed in order to suggest the possibility of tree species classification using high-resolution QuickBird-2 images spectral characteristics comparison(digital numbers [DNs]) of tree species, tree species classification, and accuracy verification. In October 2010, the tree species of three conifers and eight broad-leaved trees were examined in the areas studied. The spectral characteristics of each species were observed, and the study area was classified by image classification. The results were as follows: Panchromatic and multi-spectral band 4 was found to be useful for tree species classification. DNs values of conifers were lower than broad-leaved trees. Vegetation indices such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil brightness index (SBI), green vegetation index (GVI) and Biband showed similar patterns to band 4 and panchromatic (PAN); Tukey's multiple comparison test was significant among tree species. However, tree species within the same genus, such as $Pinus$ $densiflora-P.$ $rigida$ and $Quercus$ $mongolica-Q.$ $serrata$, showed similar DNs patterns and, therefore, supervised classification results were difficult to distinguish within the same genus; Random selection of validation pixels showed an overall classification accuracy of 74.1% and Kappa coefficient was 70.6%. The classification accuracy of $Pterocarya$ $stenoptera$, 89.5%, was found to be the highest. The classification accuracy of broad-leaved trees was lower than expected, ranging from 47.9% to 88.9%. $P.$ $densiflora-P.$ $rigida$ and $Q.$ $mongolica-Q.$ $serrata$ were classified as the same species because they did not show significant differences in terms of spectral patterns.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2002

This study was conducted to analyze the change of soil characteristics effect on the condition of urban forest in Sasang parti located near Sasang Industrial Complex. The results of this study are as follows; 1. Soil hardness is increasing from the area of forest, to the entrance, to facilities in that order. Soil acidity pH4.19∼4.23 in Sasang park indicated a high acidity condition. High levers of K, Na, Mg, Ca are shown in the areas composed of high soil hardness. 2. Pinus thunbergii in the overstory tree layer, Alnus japonica in the understory tree layer, and Rhus sylvestris in the shurb layer are shown respectively as dominant species based on the ground survey and the compution of important value. Pinus thunbergii is decreasing, while Alnus japonica and increasing. 3. Oplismenus undulatifolius which has a strong tolerance for air pollution, is shown as a dominant species of herbaceous plants in Sasang park. There are 10 species of Harbaceous in Sasang park compared to 20 species in Molundae park. This shows that deversity in herbaceous plants are imported by air pollution. 4. Species diversity indices of Sasang park is 0.8738∼0.9700 compared to 1.0817∼ 1.233 in Molundae park is due to the good condition of soil environment in addition to air pollution effects. 5. The vitality of Pinus thunbergii is 16.41∼20.42ER in Sasang park, and 12.42∼ 16.81ER, in Molundae park. This shows that tree vitality are impacted by soil characteristics. The regression analysis between tree vitality and soil environment shows the effects of is soil hardness, soil moisture, soil acidity, K, Na, Mg, Ca.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2016

This study was carried out in the Boin and Miryousef regions in Baneh of Kordestan province, west of Iran. Both areas were divided into two parts including protected and unprotected areas. In each area, 20 $1000-m^2$ circular plots were established following a selective method. Tree and shrub species were identified and the number of these species was counted in each sampling plot. The results indicated that 7 trees, 4 shrubs and 109 herbaceous species were found in the studied areas, 40 herbaceous, 7 tree and 3 shrub species were present in protected area, while unprotected area had 16 herbaceous and 3 tree species. The highest value of diversity indices belonged to protected areas in all vegetation layers. In tree layer, Quercus brantii had the greatest value of SIV, whereas the lowest value belonged to Pistacia atlantica. In shrub layer, the highest and lowest values of SIV belonged to Daphne mezereum and Cerasus microcarpa, respectively. Finally, in herbaceous layer, Luzula spicata had highest value of SIV, and lowest value was belonged to Galium sp.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.169-192
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• 2021

Sacred groves are large areas of virgin or human-modified landscape with a diverse range of species that have been protected by local people for centuries due to cultural, religious beliefs, and taboo that the deities live in them and protect the villagers from various calamities. The present study was carried out for quantitative analysis of diversity, population structure, regeneration and conservation status of tree species in the four 36.86 ha sacred groves of Jhargram district in West Bengal. Tree species composition, population structure and regeneration status were analyzed by randomly establishing of 1 ha subplots within the sacred groves. Density, frequency, basal area, abundance, evenness, and other diversity indices were calculated for adult trees with girth at breast height (GBH) >31 cm. A total of 146 tree species belonging to 116 genera distributed in 44 families from 21 orders were recorded. Pterospermum suberifolium, family Malvaceae showed the highest Species Importance Value Index (SIVI, 21.33) and Fabaceae showed the highest Family Importance Value Index (FIVI, 35.59) values respectively. Individuals are categorised into three groups, seedling, sapling and adult based on girth classes. The majority of tree species exhibited good (52.74%) regeneration followed by fairly (24.66%), poor (15.75%) and no regeneration (6.85%) respectively. With the healthy existence of the sacred grove, the overall population structure of tree species showed a strong regeneration potential. The current data will be useful in determining the current status of tree species and will be used by the forest department, politicians, and conservationists to establish management plans for the conservation of priority species in the region. Since the study areas were sacred groves, tribal members were keen to preserve them due to their religious significance.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.292-303
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• 2021

Studies that relate the structure of tropical regrowth vegetation to soil properties are generally lacking in the literature. This study proposes three indices for assessing the structural regeneration of secondary forests. They are: (1) the tree diameter class, (2) the plant life form and (3) the woody/herbaceous plants ratio indices. They were applied to assess the regeneration status of forest regrowth vegetation (aged 1-10 years), derived savanna regrowth vegetation in south western Nigeria, and to secondary forests in different stages of succession in Columbia and Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico in South and Central America and semi-arid savanna in Ethiopia and seasonal deciduous forest successional stages in India. In all the cases, the indices increased with increasing age of regrowth vegetation and hence, with increasing structural complexity of regenerating vegetation. The tree diameter class index increased from 32.1% in a 9-year secondary forest to 69.0% in an 80-year-old secondary forest in Columbia and Venezuela and from 0.4% in a 1-year fallow to 20.9% in 10-year regrowth vegetation in southwestern Nigeria. In semi-arid savanna in northern Ethiopia, the woody/herbaceous plants ratio index increased from 18.1% in a 5-year protected grazing enclosure to 75.1% in 15-year protected enclosure, relative to the status of 20-year enclosure. The indices generally had correlations of 0.6-0.90 with species richness and Simpson's/Margalef's species diversity, implying that they are appropriate measures of ecosystem development over time. The proposed indices also had strong and positive correlations with soil organic carbon and nutrients. They are therefore, significant indicators of fertility status.