Assessment of Destruction Through Sustainability of Urban Forest Ecosystem (Case Study: Conifers of Sorkhe Hesar Forest Park)

Authors

1 Ph.D, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran

2 Prof. Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran

3 Assoc. Prof. Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran

4 Assist. Prof. of Aerospace research institute of Iran (ARI)

Abstract

Due to the different factors and complexity of their effects on health and sustainability of urban forest, this
study has been tried to determine the effective factors in ecosystem health by dividing Sorkhe Hesar man made
forest park to homogeneous units according to natural factors (slope, aspect, high, soil depth) and human
factors (amount of irrigation and outdoor recreation intensity). Conifers quality including Pinus eldarica,
Cupressus arizonica and Cupressus sempervirens were studied. Evaluation criteria of homogeneous units were
height, basal area, crown diameter, crown simultaneity, vitality, herbal layer density and canopy density. In
order to study visitor Impact on soil compactness, soil block density and porosity were measured in both 0-15
and 15-30 depth of soil. Analyses of results showed complexity of factors have been affected on site health
and sustainability, while slope and soil depth are the most important limiting factors. In fact with decreasing
soil depth and increasing slope above 15 percent, to intensive recreation usage, would disropt ecosystem
intensely. Also, researches showed that in the similar condition Cupressus sempervirens is more sustainable
than Pinus eldarica and Cupressus arizonica.

Keywords