Impact of recreational activities on vegetation and soil in forest park (Case study: Choghasabz forest park-Ilam)

This study is aimed to access the impact of land use change (from forest areas to forest parks) on vegetation and soil in Parisan’s park (Ilam Provience). For this purpose, three zones including non-recreation, extensive recreation and intensive recreation were chosen. In each area 20 sample plots in a systematic random design (100 m × 150 m) were established. Herbaceous species type and their coverage were recorded using 4 micro- plots (1.5 m²) within each sample plot. In each plot, three soil samples were taken from 0-30 cm depth and a mixed sample was transferred to soil laboratory. Cluster Analysis and Detrended Correspondence Analysis were used for better understanding of the vegetation structure, to avoid subjective classification and to indicate the major gradient of variation within the vegetation structure of three areas. Canonical Correspondence analysis was applied to determine important soil variables of three areas. Results showed that the vegetation in intensive recreation area was completely different from non- and extensive recreation areas and was classified as distinctive group. Total nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus and exchangeable potassium and litter depth were decreased in the intensive recreation area, but pH and bulk density were increased.