Estimation of susceptible land area for wood farming in non-forest lands of Guilan province

Document Type : Scientific Letters

Authors

1 Corresponding author, Assistant Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

2 Graduated MSc. Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

4 Assistant Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

5 Retired Associate Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

6 Retired Senior Research Expert, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

10.22092/irn.2023.363010.1531

Abstract

Identifying suitable land for wood cultivation is essential for future planning. However, it is a sensitive issue that needs to be addressed due to climate change and the dynamics of the issue, both biophysically, socially, and economically. To implement this project, ecological indices of Populus deltoides and Populus euramericana including temperature, precipitation, soil, and physiography were determined. Climate and temperature data were collected from meteorological stations. A climatic information layer, non-forest land layer, soil layer, and the current status of the poplar plantation layer were prepared. By AHP and layers-weighted overlay methods and intersect command, and then weighting each of these ecological indices using interpolation models (kriging), according to the ability of two Populus deltoides and Populus euramericana species to cultivate, they were classified and prioritized into areas with suitable and unsuitable potential for development of poplar cultivation. The results showed that Guilan province's poplar development potential was 63806 ha divided into two types of rainfed and rainfed with supplementary irrigation. Of these, 12335.74 ha are rainfed.

Keywords


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