The Relationship between Stand Structure and Tree Growth Form—Investigating the Effects of Selection Cuttings in Mountainous Mixed Beech Forests

Among forest management methods, selection cutting puts into practice applications that follow the processes naturally occur in ecosystem. The purpose of this research was to investigate effects on stand structural characteristics and growth form trees. effect evaluated terms frequency standing volume trees deadwood, diversity tree species indices, complexity index (SCI), height-to-diameter ratio (HDR) or slenderness index, live crown (LCR). These were measured estimated through a systematic random plot sampling two adjacent parcels with different histories (parcel A, managed using method, parcel B, protected method without trees) mixed beech forests Northern Iran. results showed volume, Shannon deadwood SCI A lower than B. cuttings had no HDR value upper-storey trees, while it decreased middle-storey light-demanding (maple alder) increased lower-storey Also, as result implementation cuttings, total LCR increased, but compared forest. Furthermore, (HDR LCR) are related stands. single-selection simplified structure stands; also, changes made possibility snow wind damage especially young It is necessary prioritize ecological values thick biological diversity, resistance these stands against next operations.