Effect of Stand Structural Characteristics on Natural Regeneration of Acer Campestre L. in Arasbaran Forest

Natural regeneration is one of the key aspects of forest sustainability and a tool to decide on restoration programs in forest areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quantity of natural regeneration of Acer campestre L. as one of the most important tree species in Arasbaran forests and its relationship with elevation changes and structural characteristics in the natural stands. For this purpose, two habitats in two altitudes (less than 1500 meters and more than 1500 meters above sea level) were identified in the Kaleybarchay watershed of Arasbaran forests. In each elevation, three sample plots (one hectare area) were used to measure the structural characteristics (including density, basal area and canopy cover) by the whole trees inventory. The regenerations were classified in three classes: sapling (height greater than 1.30 m), large seedling (0.30-1.30 m height), and small seedling (height less than 0.30 m) per hectare in 10 circular micro-plots (100 m2) in each one hectare. The results showed that the saplings density was significantly higher (p≤0.05) only in the low elevation. The structural characteristics of the stands showed that only the difference between the basal areas of trees in different elevations was significant. Relationship between structural characteristics and regeneration density showed that there was a significant difference between the basal area and the density of saplings and regeneration density of the large seedling class and the canopy cover was significant. The findings of the present research let to better understand the ecological nature of this species in the early stages of life, will help to decide on environmental constraints for the establishment and continuation of the successful regeneration, and could help to more effective management for conservation and cultivation operations.