Journal of Natural Environment

Ecological Impacts Assessment of Recreation on Quality of Soil and Vegetation in Protected Areas (Case Study:Qhamishloo National park and Wildlife Refuge)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 j

2 k

Abstract

This study uses a system analysis to evaluate the effects of outdoor activities on some physical properties of the soil (soil bulk density, porosity and soil moisture content) and vegetation status (density, diversity and abundance) in the Qhamishloo national park and wildlife refuge has been researched.In order to achieve the desired objectives, by using the overlaying method, a map of environmental units of the region was obtained and after identifying the ecological units for the slopes, directions, elevation, resistance coefficient of rock, physical features of soil (erosion, pebbles, evolution, drainage, texture and depth of soil) and vegetation (density, pasture tendency and total production per hectare), in 38 units of the recreation zones and 38 units corresponding in untouched zones, one plot were taken (2m×2m) to assess vegetation.Action sampling of the soil profile with three replicates of the depth 0-5 cm and if there is, of the depth 5-10cm by using the method of the cylindrical-metal was performed. The results showed that the difference between vegetation status and physical properties of soil (depth 0-5 cm) in similar units with a 99% confidence was significant.However, the difference between the physical properties of soil at a depth of 5-10 cm was not significant at 5% level.In general, the results of this study showed that recreation has caused negative effects on the quality of soil and vegetation in the recreational zones of the study area.

Keywords

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Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 70, Issue 4
February 2018
Pages 881-891