Beytollah Mahmoudi - ۱Assistant Prof., Dept. of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Afshin DanehKar - Prof., Dept. of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, I. R. Iran

Given the pressure of population growth, economic difficulties, and climate change, the mangrove forests of Iran need a management plan based on forest protection, reforestation, and afforestation. In this study, the sustainability of mangrove forests in coastal areas of the Bushehr Province in the north of the Persian Gulf was evaluated using two criteria including “extent of forest resources” and “forest health and vitality” from ۱۹۹۳ to ۲۰۰۹. Indicators of area changes, density changes or survival rate, natural regeneration establishment, and height growth were measured as part of the assessment method. Google Earth images were visually interpreted, and a random sample technique was used. A total of ۷۰ circular samples of ۱۰۰ m۲ were chosen. The results showed that Avicennia marina was planted in ۷ sites in Kangan and Dayyer townships on the coasts of the Bushehr Province. Out of ۳۷۰ ha of the plantation, only ۴۲.۴ ha remained, showing an area reduction of ۸۸.۵% and an average survival rate of ۴۸.۵%. Forest planted density averaged ۶۶۳۵ seedlings per hectare which has decreased by ۶۹.۵% (i.e. ۴۶۱۱ seedlings/ha). The decreased area in the Khan site was ۹۱% and in the Basatin site was ۵۲.۵%. It is necessary to take into account management measures to improve the status of forest sustainability indicators on the coasts of the Bushehr Province, especially in the process of site selection, to improve the success rate of reforestation and afforestation plans.

Afforestation, Avicennia marina, Natural regeneration, Reforestation, Seedling survival rate