Forests of Iran A Treasure from the Past, a Hope for the Future [Paperback]

The work describes the general ecological aspects of Iran as well as West and Central Asia in the introduction. The book includes three chapters, each describing the climate, geology and soil characteristics, vegetation and forest types, site demands of the main tree species and the ecogram of them, management and socio-economic issues of three different phytogeographical regions, mainly the Hyrcanian, Irano-Turanian, and Saharo-Sindian. Each chapter contains a table for introducing the English and Botanical names of the plant species mentioned in the chapter. The information presented in this book is based on personal experiences and results of research projects of the authors, as well as experiences of other forest scientists in Iran. The references are given at the end of each chapter separately. The book contains 10 tables, 37 black and white and 55 color pictures.This book presents the forests of three main phytogeographical regions in Iran. It details tree species, their ecological characteristics and their site demands. It also examines the relation of socio-economic issues and forests in different parts of Iran.

Preface

Introduction

1. Euxino-Hyrcanian province; Caspian and Arasbaran regions

2. Irano-Turanian region

3. Sahro-Sindian region

Iran has a special position in the northern hemisphere because of its rich vegetation and plant diversity, in particular because of its role as a connecting bridge between Europe and Asia. Hence, forests of Iran are a treasure from our natural history in hands of the present generation, but unfortunately the forests of Iran are not that well-known internationally.

Forests, as the richest and complex terrestrial ecosystems, illustrate the past of a country not only from a natural science point of view, but also from historical and cultural aspects. The book aims to make foresters, botanists, ecologists and anyl³"