https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/ Iranian Journal of Forest en daily 1 Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0330 https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_187611.html Introduction and Objective: ALS data has been widely used to describe the 3D canopy structure due to collection of 3D point clouds with high spatial resolution and accuracy. Individual tree detection using LiDAR data is an efficient method for extracting the structural characteristics of the forest such as tree height, diameters at breast height and above-ground biomass. Accurate estimation of these parameters is of key importance in the management of forest resources.Material and Methods: So far, different methods have been developed to detect single trees, which have different limitations and capabilities and show different reactions to changes in forest tree species and canopy vertical structure. Therefore, in this research, a quantitative approach was developed in order to evaluate the scientific-technical performance of six single tree detection algorithms from ALS data. These methods include two raster-based methods, two point-based methods and two combined methods. Due to lack of access to LiDAR and ground data from Iran's forests, the unique dataset of the NEWFOR project was used, which covers different forests of the Alpine region with a variety of tree species and different canopy structures.Results: The results showed that the vertical structure of the canopy plays a significant role in detection accuracy of ITD methods and its effect is greater than the composition of forest tree species. The highest detection rate is related to the combined method in single-layered coniferous forests with a value of 0.91 and the lowest detection rate is related to raster-based method in multi-layered mixed forests with a value of 0.45. The detection rates of the studied methods in the highest height layer vary from 66% to 91% and in the lowest height layer (2-5 meters) from 13% to 52%. Conclusion: Although the understory trees cannot be extracted with the same accuracy as the dominant trees, the results showed that the hybrid method of marker-controlled watershed segmentation with K-means clustering algorithm was able to detect 91% of the trees in the highest height layer and the highest number of understory trees with a detection rate of 52% in the lowest height layer. This method has the highest values of detection rate, detection accuracy and overall accuracy with values of 0.83, 0.91 and 0.87 respectively, the lowest amount of commission and omission errors with values of 9.03% and 17.36% respectively and also the best horizontal and height accuracy with values of 1.33 m and 0.87 m, respectively. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_250392.html Introduction: Due to the increasing drug resistance, there is a critical need to identify novel anticancer agents and develop innovative therapeutic strategies. Many bacteria produce peptides known as toxins, which exhibit antitumor effects on various cancer cell lines. Despite significant advancements in cancer therapy, the limitations associated with conventional anticancer agents have directed research toward natural compounds, particularly enterotoxins. The objective of this study was to design and verify the expression of the Anticancer‑cTxB‑linker‑enTA‑Ligand fusion protein in Populus euramericana, one of the most economically significant tree species. This species is highly valued for its rapid growth, making it a viable candidate for medium- to long-term investment.Materials and Methods: To design the target protein, the sequences of enterotoxin A and cholera toxin B were retrieved from the NCBI genomic database. A linker sequence was inserted between the two enterotoxin sequences to enhance flexibility and maintain structural integrity, and an anticancer sequence was added to the gene to boost antitumor activity. Finally, the recombinant fusion gene was synthesized, and expression and purification processes were conducted. The expression of the target recombinant protein was verified using SDS‑PAGE and Western blot.Results: The results demonstrated that the designed fusion protein possesses a suitable structure and favorable physicochemical stability, showing high resistance under simulated aqueous conditions. Furthermore, the successful transfer of the recombinant vector was confirmed using colony PCR, and the observation of a distinct 238 bp band indicated the presence of the recombinant fusion gene. SDS‑PAGE and Western blot results clearly confirmed the successful expression of the recombinant protein, with a molecular weight of 47 kDa, in poplar leaves.Conclusion: The fusion protein, derived from the combination of enterotoxin A, cholera toxin B, and the anticancer sequence, exhibits significant antitumor properties. Therefore, preclinical evaluations, including animal studies, are currently underway to assess the potential of this compound as a complementary or alternative strategy in cancer therapy. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_218806.html Introduction: Estimating the volume stock of poplar plantations plays an important role in understanding the current status and sustainable management of these resources in order to planning production and improve management decisions for the development of wood farming in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province of Iran. The stem form factor is one of the most important characteristics for determining the exact volume of trees. The aim of this research is to determine the stem real form factor for white poplar (Populus alba L.) and compare it with the natural and artificial form factors. Material and Methods: To conduct this research, initially, the major poplar plantation stands were identified in the province by field surveys. Then, in 10 different stands of poplar plantation with white poplar species, a total of 67 trees were selected using stratified random sampling method based on diameter classes from 10 to 30 cm. After selecting the sample trees, their diameter at breast height, 0.1 height and mid-height and total height, as well as the location of 2-m sections from the stem collar upward, along the stem, were determined and measured using a Leica D810 laser-based device, without tree felling. Then, the real volume of each tree stem was obtained from the sum of the volume of 2- m logs using the Smalian’s formula to be used in calculating various stem form factors. To check for a significant difference between the stem real form factor with the other two form factors (natural and artificial), a paired t-test was used.Results: The results indicated that the real, natural and artificial stem form factors of white poplar in this province were 0.44, 0.47 and 0.39, respectively. Furthermore, the results of the paired t-test showed that there was a significant difference at the 99% confidence level between the form factors of artificial and natural with real. Also, based on the calculated slenderness coefficient, the studied poplar plantations were unstable in all diameter classes. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the natural and artificial form factors cannot be used as a substitute for the real form factor for white poplar species in this province. The findings of this research can provide valuable basic information for determining the exact standing and saleable volume of each poplar tree, planning and management decisions in wood farming and related industries development in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_224723.html Introduction: Due to the extensive climate changes and the increase in the frequency of drought stress, the Hyrcanian forests are facing serious threats that challenge the growth and dynamics of native species of these unique ecosystems. Caucasian alder (Alnus subcordata C.A.Mey.), as one of the key species in afforestation and rehabilitation of degraded lands, is particularly affected by these climate changes due to its environmental characteristics and strong need for water resources. Since this species plays an important role in nitrogen fixation and maintaining the stability of Hyrcanian forests, it is necessary to study the effect of drought stress on its presence and distribution, both in terms of biodiversity protection and forestry management. Based the literature review, no research has examined this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of drought stress on the distribution of alder species in the entire area of Hyrcanian forests.Material and Methods: This research was carried out in the entire area covered by Hyrcanian forests. For this purpose, the inventory database of Hyrcanian forests including elevation, slope and aspect, diameter and species type and height of 2700 sample plots were used. Meteorological data, including annual precipitation and mean annual temperature, were obtained from the POWER project. To calculate the drought stress, the medfate software package was used in R software. In this research, environmental variables including annual rainfall, mean annual temperature, distance from the valley, topographic location index, topographic curvature, topographic humidity index and drought stress were used. Caucasian alder distribution in Hyrcanian forests was predicted using three models including random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) and generalized linear model (GLM). Modeling algorithms and relative importance of variables were implemented and calculated in the caret package in R software. The cross-validation technique was used to evaluate the performance of the models. Then, the area under the curve (AUC) statistic was used to evaluate the performance of each model.Results: The value of the area AUC for the RF model (0.73) was higher than SVM (0.67) and GLM (0.65) models. Elevation and drought stress were respectively the most important factors for predicting the presence of Caucasian alder using the RF model. Based on the results of SVM and GLM, annual rainfall was the most important factors in predicting the presence of Caucasian alder. Further, the results of investigating the response of Caucasian alder to the elevation and radiation using the RF model showed that the probability of Caucasian alder presence increases with the increase of both variables. While the probability of the presence of alder decreases with the increase of drought stress. The presence probability maps showed that Caucasian alder has a higher probability of presence in the western and central parts of the Hyrcanian forests, while the probability of its presence in the eastern parts of the Hyrcanian forests is very low.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting the distribution of Caucasian alder in Hyrcanian forests as this species is one of the hygrophile species in the Hyrcanian forests. The decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature due to climate change will increase the drought stress in the region and will directly limit the growth and regeneration of alder. In general, it is suggested to avoid afforestation with Caucasian alder in areas that are vulnerable to drought stress, and instead use species more resistant to low water conditions to preserve the structure and function of forest ecosystems in the best way. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_240658.html Introduction: Setting the wheels of sustainable development in environmental areas, including mangrove forests, in motion requires social-based management. The aim of this study is to investigate the drivers affecting the participation of local communities in the mangrove social forestry project.Materials and Methods: The scope of this study is the three villages of Soheili, Tabl, and Haftrangou on Qeshm Island. The statistical population includes fishing, tourism, and dock workers, of whom 211 people were randomly selected as a sample. The questionnaire was the measurement tool of this study. The questions were a five-point Likert scale from very low (1) to very high (5). The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by university professors and a technical expert from the Hormozgan General Directorate of Natural Resources. Cronbach's alpha values ​​were calculated to estimate the reliability of the questionnaire for "willingness to participate", "economic factors", "social", "environmental", "environmental knowledge" and "perceived environmental value" as 0.92, 0.90, 0.86, 0.92, 0.85 and 0.89, respectively. SPSS version 25 software was used to analyze the research data. Mean and standard deviation were used in the descriptive statistics section. Stepwise regression was used to examine the determinants of willingness to participate in the mangrove social forestry projects. Then, a causal path analysis model was used to explore the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on the dependent variable. Results: Participants reported a mean score of willingness to participate related to the mangrove social forestry projects of 3.18 (standard deviation = 1.067). Also, the results showed that the economic factor was the strongest predictor of the community's willingness to participate in the mangrove community forestry project (β = 0.444, p < 0.000). Perceived environmental value was the second factor for predicting the willingness to participate (β = 0.388, p < 0.000) and social factors were the third predictor for the dependent variable (β = 0.381, p < 0.000). According to the causal model of the research, the highest direct effect on the willingness to participate was related to the "economic" index, and the highest indirect effect and the highest total effect were related to the "perceived environmental value" index.Discussion: Among the variables studied, the economic index was the strongest predictor of participation and had the highest direct effect on the willingness to participate in the mangrove community forestry projects. Due to the expectations of local communities regarding the economic impact of these projects on their livelihoods and the effectiveness of mangrove social forestry projects, planners and decision-makers should pay more attention to the economic dimension of the project. Therefore, with coherent planning and continuous monitoring of the implementation of the mangrove social forestry projects, it is possible to provide a platform for improving the economic situation and, as a result, a desire for greater participation of local communities.Conclusion: According to the results of the research, mangrove social forestry, with its emphasis on sociality, takes on its true meaning when local people actively take steps towards sustainable development. Achieving sustainable development is possible by moving through the economic channel and focusing on the economy of the projects. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_250452.html Introduction: The increasing demand for participation in forest-based tourism activities has made it necessary to understand the factors affecting the choice of these destinations. The road network and its appropriate design are of fundamental importance for tourism and ecotourism, because only in this way safe, convenient, and efficient access to natural and cultural attractions can be provided. This research was conducted with the aim of designing a forest road network with an ecotourism approach in the Kheyrud Forest, Noshahr.Materials and Methods: In this study, according to the design criteria of a tourism-based road designing, first, the important 11 criteria including slope, erosion, geology, distance from the river, distance from the spring, distance from the fault, percentage of tree cover, slope direction, distance from the road, height and distance from the settlement were selected using the Delphi method. Then, using the Analytical Network Process (ANP), weight was assigned to each of the selected criteria. Finally, using the fuzzy overlap operation in ARC GIS software, a map of the areas susceptible to creating forest roads with a view to nature tourism was calculated and drawn.Results: According to the results obtained, the three criteria of slope, erosion and geology have the highest weight in the designing of forest roads with an ecotourism perspective. The slope of the land plays a decisive role in the selection of forest road routes, because it affects construction costs, ecological sustainability and infrastructure safety. The results of the fuzzy layer overlap showed that 26.5% of the area has high pass ability and 14% has very high potential for the construction of ecotourism roads, while 12.2% of the area was considered unsuitable for road construction due to a slope above 60% and environmental sensitivity.Conclusion: Based on the sensitivity maps, the results showed that the slope, erosion, and geology criteria had the greatest impact on determining the optimal route for nature tourism, and the distance from the settlement criterion was not very important and was eliminated. The results also showed that the capabilities of GIS and multi-criteria decision-making methods can be a suitable solution for determining areas with suitable pass ability. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_250510.html Introduction: Landfilling, also known as open dumping, is among the most commonly employed methods for managing municipal solid waste globally. Currently, numerous active landfill sites in developing nations are deficient in proper leachate collection systems and sufficient treatment facilities, leading to significant environmental harm, especially in the Hyrcanian forests. Nevertheless, there has been no comparative research published regarding microbial indices and soil biological fertility between natural forest stands and landfill sites in Iran. Consequently, this study was undertaken to address this deficiency, concentrating on four cities (Behshahr, Shirgah, Noor, and Chalous), examining both adjacent forests stands (uncontaminated) and landfill sites.Materials and Methods: In this research, soil samples were taken from four waste accumulation locations across various cities. At each location, 20 soil samples were gathered during the growing season from two depths: 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm. Additionally, control samples were obtained from nearby, uncontaminated forest areas to compare with the contaminated sites. All samples underwent chemical and biological analyses after being transported to the laboratory. To evaluate biological fertility, the soil biological fertility index was utilized as a standard measure. This index is determined based on factors such as soil organic matter, basal respiration, microbial biomass carbon, metabolic coefficient, and mineralization rate.Results: Across all cities, soil microbial and enzymatic indices were significantly lower in landfill sites compared to the adjacent forest stands (P < 0.01). The results further revealed that the highest and lowest activities of urease, acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and invertase at both depths were observed in Chalous and Behshahr, respectively (P < 0.01). In addition, the assessment of the soil biological fertility index indicated that all four cities fell within the pre-stress (alarm) condition, with the lowest score (9) recorded in Behshahr.Conclusion: The findings of this research demonstrated that waste accumulation in the Hyrcanian forests leads to a significant reduction in soil microbial indices, enzymatic activities, and biological fertility compared to uncontaminated forest soils. These changes represent a serious threat to the sustainability of forest ecosystem functions. Therefore, the results of this study can be directly applied in the sustainable management of the Hyrcanian forests. It is recommended that management actions such as preventing unregulated waste disposal, continuous monitoring of soil quality, and designing bioremediation programs in contaminated areas be considered as top priorities by natural resource and environmental managers. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_243931.html Introduction: The forests of western Iran are among the natural ecosystems whose regeneration has been severely disrupted by anthropogenic and natural factors. Among these, livestock browsing is one of the most significant drivers of vegetation degradation and morphological alterations in plant species. This biotic stress can impair plant competitive ability by damaging photosynthetic organs, reducing growth, and altering leaf structure. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of livestock grazing on the anatomical traits of leaf stomata and trichomes in Prunus argentea (Lam.) Rehder, a shrub species native to the region. Given the limited experimental and laboratory-based studies on the micro-morphological responses of this species to environmental stressors, the present study aims to elucidate how browsing induces changes in leaf microstructure, thereby triggering distinct adaptive responses that may reflect divergent survival strategies under browsing pressure. Furthermore, the study identifies which leaf traits exhibit the highest degree of plasticity in response to the stress. The findings may contribute to improved forest management and conservation of valuable tree species that are also important forage resources.Materials and Methods: In each of two study sites near Ilam City (Darreh-ye Arghavan and Choghasabz), three individual Prunus argentea shrubs exposed to continuous livestock browsing were randomly selected (six shrubs in total). For each selected shrub, leaf samples were collected from both lower branches (accessible to browsing animals) and upper branches (out of reach of browsers). Sampling was conducted along the dominant slope direction at each site. Overall, six samples per site (three shrubs × two vertical canopy positions) were collected. From each shrub, 10 leaves were randomly collected from lower (browsed-accessible) and 10 from upper (non- browsed) branches. To enhance observation of stomata and trichomes, photosynthetic pigments were removed from the abaxial leaf surface. Following staining and preparation of microscopic sections, 11 anatomical traits related to stomata, trichomes, and vein density were measured using a digital camera equipped with image analysis software. All measurements were repeated to ensure high repetition and accuracy.Results: The results indicated that livestock browsing significantly altered most leaf anatomical traits. Specifically, the mean length and width of stomata, stomatal pore length, stomatal density, and stomatal pore index were significantly reduced under browsing pressure. In contrast, trichome dimensions, including length, width, and density, showed a significant increase in browsing conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that traits such as stomatal density and stomatal pore index contributed most to the separation of non- browsed samples, whereas vein density and trichome width were more influential in distinguishing browsed samples. Furthermore, leaf trichome traits exhibited higher phenotypic plasticity compared to stomatal traits in Prunus argentea.Conclusion: Overall, livestock browsing exerted significant effects on all anatomical traits of stomata and leaf trichomes, leading to notable changes in both the size and density of these structures. The high plasticity observed in trichome-related traits suggests a strong adaptive capacity of Prunus argentea in response to browsing-induced stress and altered environmental conditions. Therefore, anatomical modifications in leaves likely impact plant performance and physiological efficiency, potentially reducing overall productivity. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_243994.html Introduction: Diversity in species composition and tree distribution leads to highly complex characteristics in forest ecosystems, arising from interactions among smaller‐scale spatial structures. Forest stand structure encompasses three major aspects: spatial pattern diversity, species diversity, and tree size diversity. The present study aimed to determine the minimum plot size required to assess structural characteristics of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. stands and to evaluate the structural diversity of these stands in the Aminabad forest reserve of Firuzkuh, located within the Irano–Turanian phytogeographical region.Materials and Methods: Three 3-ha sample plots (three stations) were randomly chosen, each consisting of six nested square subplots with areas of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 ha. For all trees and shrubs within each subplot, species identity, spatial coordinates, height, and crown variables (maximum crown diameter and its perpendicular diameter) were measured. Tree spatial coordinates were recorded using a multi-frequency GPS. Stand structure was quantified using the uniform angle index, nearest-neighbor distance, mingling index, tree size differentiation, and size dominance indices. To determine the most appropriate plot size, species–area curves and statistical comparisons of variables across different plot sizes (analysis of variance and Kruskal–Wallis test) were applied.Results: A total of 13 tree and shrub species were recorded in the study area. Analysis of species number variation with increasing plot size showed that species richness increased up to 1.5 ha, after which the curve reached a plateau and species number remained constant; however, with further increase to 3 ha, species richness increased again. The first increase represented the species within the target plant association, whereas the second increase resulted from inclusion of areas outside the association boundary. Mean crown diameter of Juniperus trees did not differ significantly among plot sizes. Mean tree height also showed no significant difference among plots ranging from 1 to 3 ha, although in the first station significant differences were observed compared with smaller plots. No significant differences were detected in shrub size attributes among different plot sizes; however, results indicated that plots smaller than 1 ha may not include a sufficient number of shrub individuals for reliable analysis. The uniform angle index indicated a random pattern tending toward clustered in the first and second stations and a random pattern in the third station, with no significant differences in spatial distribution patterns of trees and shrubs across plot sizes. In none of the stations; mingling, size diversity, or complex structural diversity indices showed no significant difference when plot size increased from 1 to 3 ha; however, significant differences were observed in smaller plots, particularly in the first and third stations.Conclusion: Based on the results, a plot size of 1 ha was identified as appropriate for structural studies of Juniperus forests. In stands with higher density (e.g., the second stand), satisfactory results can also be obtained using 0.75-ha plots, whereas in lower-density stands (e.g., the first stand), plots of up to 1.5 ha may be required. To record tree and shrub species within a Juniperus association, an area of approximately 1.5 ha is necessary, while larger areas (up to 3 ha) are required to capture the complete tree and shrub flora of Juniperus habitats. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_250511.html Introduction: Zagros forests are among the most important forest ecosystems in the country in terms of ecology and economy, which unfortunately have always been affected by destructive factors and land use changes. One of the appropriate solutions to determine the extent and trend of these changes is to use satellite data time series and the BFSAST model, because this model can simultaneously separate the trend of long-term, seasonal, and sudden changes. The capabilities of this algorithm in studying the country's ecosystems, especially the Zagros forests, have rarely been used and reported. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to use the BFAST algorithm to monitor and evaluate changes in a part of the Zagros oak forests in Sarvabad County. Material and Methods: In this study, the dynamics of vegetation cover in a part of the forests of Sarvabad County in Kurdistan Province, as an example of the Zagros forests, was studied and analyzed from 2001 to 2020 (20 years). Using time series analysis of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of Landsat 5, 7, and 8 images and the BFAST algorithm, changes in the vegetation of the region were examined. First, using the maximum likelihood classification, the forest class was separated from other land uses in the region on the September 2001 image. Then, the historical period and the threshold was determined. After that, the NDVI index of the forest class was separated from other classes of the 20-year time series. Finally, the time series stack of the forest class NDVI index was used for subsequent analyses. A total of 174 Landsat satellite images from different sensors were processed. To evaluate the accuracy of the BFASTSpatial model in detecting disturbance and destruction of forest areas, 409 points were randomly selected. Results: In this study, through trial and error, the first 5 years of the research period were considered as the historical period. The BFASTSpatial algorithm chart shows a breakpoint and sudden drop in 2014. The change detection also showed that 589 hectares (4.6 percentage) of the region's forest area was lost during the study period. For the degraded forest land map with the threshold of -0.025, the BFASTSpatial model shows the change with the user's accuracy of 87.1 percent, the producer's accuracy of 85.9 percent, and the overall accuracy of 86 percent. Conclusion: The results show that the BFASTSpatial model, using time series analysis and determining the degraded pixels of oak forests in the study area with an accuracy of over 85 percentage, has a good ability to determine the geographical boundaries of degraded lands and can be considered as a tool in monitoring forest environments. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_250512.html Introduction: Vegetation in arid and desert regions, whether it seems structurally simple, has complex relationships with each other and with its surrounding ecosystem. By studying the relationship between soil and plants, one can understand the characteristics of each and utilize this knowledge for proper management based on ecological principles. This study aims to investigate the soil characteristics in arid region forests and the effect of Haloxylon shrubs on these characteristics to take steps towards the optimal management of these ecosystems. Material and Methods: This study was considered in a permanent sample plot with an area of one hectare (100x100 meter). In this sample plot, 15 soil samples were randomly taken from the depth of 0 to 15 cm from under canopy of Haloxylon and 15 soil samples from the control area (without cover). Immediately after sampling, a part of the soil samples was kept in plastic bags (for physical and chemical tests) and the other part was kept in cold conditions (four degrees Celsius for biological tests) and transferred to the laboratory for further analysis. To measure the physical and chemical characteristics, after air drying, the soil samples were passed through a 2 mm sieve and kept at room temperature to perform the required methods. Data analysis was performed using an independent t-test. Results: In most of the soil characteristics, a significant increase was observed in the soil under canopy of Haloxylon compared to the control. For example, soil salinity under the Haloxylon canopy was 11 ds/m, which was approximately double that of the control area. Most soil characteristics, including organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, manganese, and magnesium under the Haloxylon canopy were approximately double that of the control areas, with values of 0.34%, 5.6, 469, 0.36, and 3.64 mg/kg, respectively. However, no significant difference was observed in soil lime and calcium content. Soil basal respiration under the canopy of Haloxylon was significantly higher than in open spaces, with values of 1.34 mg CO₂ and 0.49 mg CO₂ per gram of soil per day, respectively (P<0.05). The soil under the shrub canopy also shows the highest nitrification potential (31.66 µg/g), nearly doubling that of the open spaces (16.66 µg/g). No significant differences were observed in induced respiration, averaging 20.7 mg CO₂ per gram of soil per day for both areas. Similarly, microbial biomass carbon showed no significant variation, although it was slightly higher outside the canopy (1.77 mg/g) than under it (1.49 mg/g). These findings highlight soil respiration and nutrient dynamics under vegetation. Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of the Haloxylon on nutrients and increasing the organic matter of the soil, as well as increasing the indicators of biodiversity of the habitat, which in the long term leads to the protection and improvement of the soil structure and desert surfaces, and on the other hand, the ability of this shrub to adapt and withstand the dry and fragile weather conditions of dry and desert regions, the preservation and revival of this valuable native species is very vital. Developing restoration programs and using species suitable for desert conditions can provide an effective solution to improve soil quality and increase vegetation in these areas. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_231426.html Since time immemorial plants have been used as a source of food & medicine. At present, the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants and its practices are at the risk of extinction. Therefore, this study aimed to list out medicinal plants used by indigenous people to treat human diseases, explore the ethnobotanical knowledge and its parts used & assess its knowledge level with respect to demographic characteristics. Questionnaire survey (n=68), key informant interviews (KII=8), focus group discussion (FGD=4) & Field visits were adopted for the primary data collection. Cluster sampling technique was applied & entire respondent were interviewed using semi-structured set of questionnaires. Chi square test for independence was used to find out significant differences. Altogether 99 medicinal plant species belonging to 60 families & 88 genera were documented for the treatment of various ailments. Highest number of plant species belonged to family Poaceae with 5 number of plants respectively followed by families Asteraceae and Zingiberaceae with 4 plant species each. From this research, it was found that herb (56%) as most dominant form followed by trees (16%), climber (12%), shrub (9%), grass (6%), stoloniferous (1%), fruit (17%) as most utilized part of the medicinal plants followed by root, leaf, whole part. Corm is the least used plant part by 1%. Allium sativum was found to be a species with high use value (UV=1.3) followed by Rubus ellipticus whose UV was found to be 1.23. Our findings reveal significant differences (p < 0.001) in the number of plants described across gender and age groups, while no significant variation (p > 0.05) was observed among different ethnic groups. These results highlight the critical need for programs focused on documenting and cultivating medicinal plants. Actively involving local communities as both participants and educators is essential to the effective conservation and sustainable use of these resources, ensuring the preservation and transmission of invaluable indigenous knowledge to future generations. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_241784.html Introduction: To preserve and restore natural habitats, before any work, sufficient information should be available on the effects of constituent plant species on environmental factors and their habitat needs. Identifying the constituent elements of the forest, is the most principled way to optimally manage its, because nutrients and soil microorganisms activities, especially in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, accumulate under the canopy, and these effects are also related to the size and extent of the canopy and cause changes in the various soil characteristics. So far, no research has been conducted on the various soil characteristics under and outside the canopy of the native and valuable species of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. and Ziziphus nummularia (Burm.f.) Wight & Arn., as well as determining their soil quality index in these habitats. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of their canopy cover on various soil properties so that, by better understanding and being aware of their impact on the soil and the causes of changes in their habitat, a general perspective can be provided to managers in the fields of natural resources.Materials and Methods: 15 soil samples were randomly collected from the surface soil under the canopy and outside the canopy (control) of natural masses Z. spina-christi in Dashti and Z. nummularia in Dashtestan in Bushehr province in an eastward direction from a depth of 0 to 15 cm. To obtain a composite soil sample from under and outside the canopy of Z. spina-christi and Z. nummularia trees, soil samples taken from under and outside the canopy of all three trees (randomly) were thoroughly mixed together and converted into a composite sample, resulting in five composite soil samples from under the canopy and five composite soil samples from outside the canopy of Z. spina-christi and Z. nummularia trees. Using standard methods, the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil were measured in the collected samples. Then, the normality of the some variables was confirmed by the Shapiro-Wilk test and the positions under and outside the canopy of the normal data of the two species, Z. spina-christi and Z. nummularia, were compared with the Independent T-test and the non-normal data with the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Soil quality index was obtained based on three steps: determining the minimum data, giving a score to each of the data used, and merging and averaging the scores, and was analyzed as above.Results: Under the canopy of the Z. spina-christi, Mn and Zn respectively, 202.8±9.3 and 49.2±1.46 (mg/kg), basal microbial 2.08±0.09 (mg CO2.gˉ¹ dm.24 hˉ¹) and Substrate-induced respiration 59.02±6.35 (mg CO2.100 gˉ¹ dm.hˉ¹), under the canopy of the Z. nummularia, saturated moisture 41.2±0.71 (%), Oc, 26.2±0.12 (%), N, 0.22±0.012 (%), and microbial biomass carbon 2.98±0.36 (mg biomass-C.100 gˉ¹dm), outside the canopy of Z. nummularia, Na, 4670±59.54 (mg/kg), were significantly more. Under the canopy of both species, pH, 7.38±0.04 and 7.64±0.06, P, 959.6±21.24 and 783±8.3 (mg/kg), nitrification potential 376.87±17.64 and 633.23±59.93 (µg N.gˉ¹dm.5hˉ¹), and SQI 8.74±0.04 and 8.8±0.15, respectively, were significantly more.Conclusion: The exchange of nutrients, biological activities and soil quality index were higher under the canopy of Z. spina-christi and Z. nummularia trees. Therefore, the type of tree species and canopy cover can have different effects on different soil properties, and improve the their properties, it is necessary to maintain the vegetation cover of the area and, if necessary, restore it with native species. With continuous soil monitoring, at different time intervals, it is predicted that in the future it will be possible to more accurately assess the changes in the soil of their habitats and collect valuable information. https://www.ijf-isaforestry.ir/article_248213.html Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb, as a native species and valuable natural heritage of Iran, is under threat due to its slow growth and sensitivity to climate change and different plant pathogens. The phenomenon of branch tip dieback (shoot blight) in juniper forests of northern Khorasan has necessitated the investigation of factors affecting the health of these trees. This study investigated the relationship between habitat altitude and dieback severity, and also quantified the influence of climatic and spatial variables on disease index. Sampling was conducted on 40 trees across three elevation groups: low (1596–1634 m, n=20), medium (1778–1805 m, n=8), and high (1869–1895 m, n=12). The health status of each tree was recorded and evaluated based on the following disease rating system (1: healthy to 5: complete dieback). Climate data were extracted from CHELSA V2.1 (2005, 2021) and ERA5-Land reanalysis (2000–2024). Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman's rank correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression. The medium elevation group exhibited the highest disease severity (mean=3.75, median=4.0). Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed significant differences across elevation groups (χ²=7.991, p=0.018). Spearman's correlation showed significant relationships between disease and spatial variables (Northing: ρ=-0.427, p<0.001; Easting: ρ=-0.119, p=0.009). Multiple regression identified elevation and easting as the only significant predictors (R²=0.412, Adjusted R²=0.410, p<0.001), while month and temperature were not significant when spatial variables were included. Summer precipitation correlated negatively with disease (ρ=-0.452, p=0.003), indicating drought stress amplifies dieback. The 1778–1805 m elevation range was identified as a critical zone for disease outbreaks, while altitudes above 1869 m represented a relatively safe zone. Elevation, not temperature alone, emerged as the primary driver of dieback, with temperature effects acting as proxies for the underlying elevation gradient. These findings provide a quantitative framework for targeted conservation and monitoring of juniper forests. Continuous monitoring of the identified critical area and investigation of related microbial factors in subsequent phases of research can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the causes of dryness and the development of practical solutions for the preservation and restoration of this nationally valuable ecosystem.