Investigation on the spatial pattern of regeneration patches in natural beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests (Case study: Gorazbon District, Kheyrud forest)

Natural processes and human activities continually change forest landscapes. Regeneration patches are one of the factors changing the forest landscapes. Knowledge of spatial patterns and structural analysis of patches are essential in sustainable forest management. For this purpose, the current study was done in Gorazbon district, kheyrud Forests. All regeneration patches were located in the study area and landscape analysis in combination with the environmental gradient analysis was applied using Fragstats software. The results of this study showed that the distribution patterns of patches in different compartments are randomly clumped. Highest and lowest patch percentage was observed in compartment 315 and 321, respectively. This study showed that the largest patch size was 0.9001 hectare in compartment 310 and the minimum and maximum distances between patches varied from 40 to 139.5 m. Compartments 307, 308, 311, 318, 319, 322, 325 and 326 had the highest diversity indices and suitable spatial pattern of patches. This result confirms the fact that the in management of natural stands, distribution patterns of patches in stands level is to be regular, but among the stands and different compartments they can follow random pattern. Because of with achieving such a model, appropriate spatial structure can be created in the stands.