Comparison of woody plants diversity in protected and non-protected areas of Arasbaran forests

Using species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity and Simpson indices, diversity of woody species in protected and non protected areas of Arasbaran forests were studied and compared in this research. Two forest stands with similar floristic and physiognomic situation were selected by using of aerial photographs of 1968 with 1:20000 scale. Then tree species were recorded in 92 transects, each with 30 meter lengths, which was established in 150×300 m grid in the forest stands of the protected area and in a similar way in the non protected area. For data analysis, the means of different diversity indices were calculated and t-test was used to test all indices means differences in the studied areas. Results showed that species richness, evenness and plant diversity indices were significantly increased in the protected area. One can conclude that preservation-based management caused increasing of the woody plant diversity in Arasbaran forests. Therefore, preventing against livestock grazing in the forest stands and uncontrolled tree cutting in the destroyed forest stands could be introduced as a suitable approach for natural restoration and increasing of plant diversity.