Evaluation of the morphological Characteristics of broadleaf and needle leaf old trees for Use in Reforestation of forests in Ilam Province

Old trees as the most important genetic reserves of the country have great importance and value in various aspects of ecology, forest restoration management, ecotourism and even history. In this research, after identification of the old trees in the forests of Ilam province, their morphological characteristics including DBH, trunk height, total height, crown length, min & max crown diameter, crown health, crown firmness, crown symmetry, Trunk health and trunk shape were examined. The selection of old trees was based on DBH criterion. After the forest survey, 43 old trees including 5 Petrocarya fraxinifolia, 5 Ulmus glabra, 11 Fraxinus rotundifolia, 3 Celtis caucasica, 4 Platanus orientalis, 4 Ficus carica, 7 Olea europea and 4 Cupressus sempervirens were identified. The results showed that among single-stranded trees, P. orientalis had the highest mean DBH, total height and trunk height, and among multi-stranded trees O. europea had the highest mean DBH. P. fraxinifolia and U. glabra had the highest mean of crown length and F. rotundifolia had the highest crown area. The highest percentage of single-trunks belonged to the P. fraxinifolia and C. caucasica. The highest percentage of healthy trunks belonged to C. sempervirens and O. europea and the highest percentage of healthy crowns belonged to P. fraxinifolia, U. glabra, C. caucasica, P. orientalis, O. europea and F. carica. The highest percentage of crown symmetry was belonged to C. caucasica and the highest percentage crown freshness was belonged to P. fraxinifolia, F. rotundifolia, C. caucasica, P. orientalis, O. europea and F. carica. Based on the desirable morphological characteristics of old trees, it is possible to grow and rebuild Zagros forests by producing resistant seedlings from their seeds.