Halil Bars Ozel

Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Bartin, 74100 Bartin, Turkey.
E-mail: halilbarisozel@yahoo.com

In this study, which has been carried out in natural beech gap regeneration field in division 56c in
oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forest in Bartın-Hasankadı Forest Range District Directorate,
the relationship between the number of young beeches and gap shape, gap direction, and gap size
has been investigated. According to the findings obtained, it was determined that there is a significant
relationship between gap shape and the number of natural beech juvenilities (P<0.01). According to
the result of Duncan test performed within this scope, in P<0.05 confidence level, during 4 years of
investigation was determined that the beech juvenilities densely occur in oval-shaped gaps, followed by
round-shaped and rectangle-shaped gaps, respectively. On the other hand, according to the bilateral
regression analysis, it was determined that there is a 98% (R2=0.98) linear relationship between the
gap shape and the number of beech juvenilities. The relationships between gap direction and the
number of beech juvenilities were examined in this research. According to the performed variance
analysis (P<0.01), it was found that there is a statistically significant difference between gap directions.
That is why, as a result of Duncan test performed at the confidence level of P<0.05, it was determined
that the number of beech juvenilities is more dense in northern parts of the gaps, and consequently
the north takes first place in terms of the number of juvenility, and that north is followed by west
and east beech directions, respectively. When considering the result of bilateral regression analysis
performed in this direction, it was determined that there is a 96% linear relationship (R2=0.96) between
the number of juvenility and the direction of gap. Accordingly, as the direction of the gap changes from
shadowy to sunny exposures, significant decrease occurs in the number of oriental beech juvenilities.
In this study carried out in division 56c in Hasankadi region, the relationship between the number of
beech juvenilities located in various sized gaps and the size of gap was investigated, and it has been
tried to determine the optimal gap size. Within this scope, 10 different gap sizes were examined in
this research. As a result of performed variance analysis (P<0.001 confidence level), it was found that
there are statistically significant differences among gaps in terms of the number of juvenilities in gaps.
After determining this difference, Duncan test was implemented in order to categorize the varioussized
gaps according to the number of juvenility. As a result of this test, it was determined that 400 m2,
500 m2 and 600 m2-sized gaps are in 1st category in terms of the number of juvenility, while ones
having sizes of 100 m2, 200 m2 and 300 m2 are in 2nd category, and the ones having sizes of 700 m2,
800 m2, 900 m2 and 1000 m2 are in 3rd category.

Naser Norouzi Haroni(1)*, Masoud Tabari(1), and David Pothier(2)

1. Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tarbiat Modares. Noor Mazandaran, P. Box: 356-46414. Iran.  E-mail: norouzinaser88@yahoo.com
2. Centre d'etude de la foret, Departement des sciences du bois et de la foret, Pavillon Abitibi-Price, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.

Seeds of Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum L.) are characterized by coat-imposed dormancy related to the hardness and impermeability of their coat, and by endosperm dormancy due to the presence of ferulic acid around the seed endosperm, acting as chemical inhibitor. Some compounds including nitric acid gas, NO, NO2-, NO3-, nitrogen dioxide, ammonium, azide and cyanide stimulate germination process of different species. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed priming technique on some morphological characteristics of Cercis siliquastrum seeds. The results showed that seed priming with boiling water and nitrogenous compound could improve seed germination characteristics. Seed germination and survival were significantly affected by priming treatment with boiling water and chemical salts (p < 0.001). The greatest germination rate was observed with 500 mM KNO3 for 48 h, while seed germination speed and shoot dry weight were maximized with 100 mM NH4NO3 for 48 h, vigor index with 500 mM NH4NO3 for 24 h and root dry weight with 100 mM NH4NO3 for 24 h. In addition, sodium chloride and potassium chloride treatments could not improve the germination characteristics and seedlet survivals of Cercis siliquastrum. These results confirmed that application of boiling water treatment and nitrogen-containing compounds could enhance germination rate and further seedling quality, and these treatments are thus extremely recommended in nurseries for improving seedling yield.

Hassan Pourbabaei(1), Sepide Sadat Ebrahimi(1)*, Javad Torkaman(1), and David Pothier(2)

1. Department of Forestry, Natural Resources Faculty, University of Guilan, Somehsara, Guilan, P.O. Box 1144, Iran. *E-mail: sepid6638@yahoo.com
2. Centre d'etude de la foret (CEF), and Departement des sciences du bois et de la foret, Pavillon Abitibi-Price, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.

In the more forested areas of Iran, rural people are in close relationship with natural resources, especially forests. This close association endangers the dynamics and sustainability of forest ecosystems. Hence, we investigated the effects of grazing and human uses on woody plant diversity, composition and forest structure in beech forests of northern Iran. We thus compared a 50-ha area protected against livestock and human disturbances to a 50-ha unprotected area. In each area, we recorded tree species, diameter at breast height (DBH) of merchantable trees, and stem numbers of shrub species in 1000-m2 plots established in a random-systematic sampling design. These data allowed us to compute diversity indices separately for tree and shrub layers. Results revealed that tree density, mean tree DBH and total basal area were significantly higher in the protected than in the unprotected area. However, in both the tree and the shrub layers, values of Shannon diversity, evenness index, richness, and shrub density were lower in the protected area than in the unprotected area. Because forest structure, composition and diversity are closely associated with human traditional activities, we recommend that conservation programs be implemented in collaboration with local people to help establish effective management aiming at providing services for local people while restoring these forests.

Fedor F. Markov

Faculty of Forestry, Zhytomyr National Agroecological University, 7, Stary Blvd, Zhytomyr, 10008, Ukraine. E-mail: markov-todor@mail.ru

The article is devoted to the analysis of the past experience from the creation of Korostyshev Park, monument of landscape art. The current state of parkland and its structure is examined with historical, taxonomic, landscape and aesthetic evaluation of park area is conducted perspective. The methods and ways of reconstruction of the parkland are elaborated.

Faculty of Forestry

University of Forestry

University of Forestry Sofia has the pleasure to invite you to participate in the International Scientific Conference 'Forestry: Bridge to the Future', which will take place on 6-9 May 2015 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The Conference is dedicated to the 90th Аnniversary of higher forestry education in Bulgaria and is organized by the University of Forestry, Sofia and Faculty of Forestry.
The Conference sessions will be focused to the following topics: Impact of climate change on forest ecosystems, Adaptation strategies and mitigation, Forest health and protection, Disturbances and disturbance regimes in forests, Fires, windstorms and soil erosion, Forest-related and energy policies.
Eminent keynote speakers have confirmed their participation: Kevin O'HARA (University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA), Jean-Luc PEYRON (ECOFOR, France), Marcus LINDNER (European Forest Institute, Germany/Finland), and Ivan RAEV (Forest Research Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria).
All information regarding the Conference and its facilities: registration, accommodation, payments, program, abstract submission can be found on the official conference web-site: http://conf2015.forestry-ideas.info
We shall look forward to meet you in Sofia in 2015.