Effects of forest roads on vegetation biodiversity and soil characteristics in Hyrcanian forests

As one of the main components of forest operations and sustainable
management, forest roads affect the vegetation communities around the
road. In this study, the effects of the edge of forest roads were
investigated to understand the changes caused by the network of forest
roads on the Hyrcanian forest ecosystem in northern Iran. In order to
investigate the impact of forest roads on the biodiversity of herbaceous
species, tree regeneration and lichen. Sampling was used at different
distances from the road in two control and harvested areas. The effects of
roads on vegetation diversity in relation to soil characteristics were
also investigated. The results showed that harvesting caused the
destruction and reduction of tree regeneration, herbaceous and lichen, but
the physical and chemical properties of the soil were not affected. The
distance from the road has affected the diversity and richness of
herbaceous and lichen, tree regenaration and all physical and chemical
characteristics of the soil (except C). There was a significant
correlation between most of the physical and chemical properties of the
soil with the regeneration of trees and herbaceous species. Also, most of
the physical and chemical properties of soil have increased with
increasing distance from the road. Results showed that the buffering
effect of the roadside in these forests up to a distance of 45 meters had
an effect on biodiversity and richness. Also, the results of this study
are consistent with the fact that the road affects the biodiversity and
properties of the forest soil.