Abstract Ecological capability evaluation is referred to as evaluation of potential capability of land and determination of its natural land use. In this paper, ecological capability of Lille Basin in Lahijan was evaluated for afforestation and forest expansion using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). For this purpose, information layers (slope, elevation, geographical directions, temperature, rainfall, humidity, soil type, and canopy cover) were prepared by digitizing the data obtained from concerned organizations. First, the layers were prepared based on coordinate systems and pixel value. Then, they were standardized using fuzzy membership functions. The evaluation criteria were prioritized with regard to expert opinion, and by using multi-criteria evaluation method (MCE) and analysis of hierarchic process (AHP), and the final weight of each criterion was determined. The weight for 8 criteria including elevation, soil type, canopy cover (%), directions, slope, temperature, humidity, rainfall were 0.330, 0.210, 0.128, 0.117, 0.076, 0.054, 0.046 and 0.210, respectively. According to these weights, elevation has the highest value and the slope is the lowest. The results suggest that ecological capability exhibits sensitivity to variations of different criteria and its distribution is directly correlated to ecological factors especially climatic and physiographical ones. The incompatibility index (0.09) also indicated that the weights were logical. Then valuation of the maps performed. Finally, based on these values, capabilities of each environmental unit were identified and potentials of the area for afforestation were determined in five capability classes.

ABSTRACT During the recent decades, deciduous forests have been molested by human intervention. Easy access, abundance and diversity of valuable forest products have led to increased population density, creating new residential areas and deforestation activities. Revealing changes is one of the fundamental methods in management and assessment of natural resources. This study is evaluated changes in forests area of 2013 using satellite images. In order to mapping the forest extent condition 2013, images of the mentioned years were digitized and geo-referenced by using the ground control points and the maps of mapping organization. After selecting the best set of band using the Bhattacharya distance index, the image classification was performed by using artificial neural network algorithm. Classification by neural network method 2013 in showed that it has a high overall accuracy equal to 95.96%.

Taxus baccata é uma espécie nativa das florestas do Cáspio e é considerada como a identificação dessas florestas por alguns recursos. O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender as características ecológicas de T. baccata visando encontrar áreas adequadas para seu cultivo no parque Pone Aram da província de Golestan. Para isto, foram utilizados métodos de avaliação de diferentes critérios baseados no processo hierárquico de análise. A princípio, neste processo os índices naturais necessários e eficazes foram usados como 10 parâmetros. Em seguida, o mapa final de áreas adequadas para o plantio de T. baccata foi produzido com base nos modelos de Bolian e MCE. De acordo com os resultados do modelo de Bolian, aproxidamente 6218 ha da área total do local de estudo (30.554ha) foram estimados como adequados e semi adequados e 24.336ha foram estimados como impróprios pelo modelo MCE. Isto mostrou que, de toda a área de estudo, 30.554ha, cerca de 2.482 são adequados para plantação de T. baccata e 6181ha não são adequados para o plantio de T. baccata. Considerando os resultados dos métodos de MCE e Bolian concluiu-se que, para os parâmetros ecológicos dinâmicos em delimitação de áreas adequadas para plantação de T. baccata plantação de MCE é mais apropriado do que de Bolian. Usando os resultados deste estudo, é possível adequar áreas para T. baccata e executar um plano para facilitar o plantio de T. baccata em florestas do norte do Irã (bacias hidrográficas 88).

Taxus baccata is a native species to the Caspian forests and is considered as the identification of these forests by some resources. The aim of this study was to understand the ecological characteristics of T. baccata in order to find suitable areas for its plantation in the Pone Aram preserve of Golestan province. Therefore, Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) methods based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were used. In this process at first the needed and effective natural indexes were used as 10 parameters. Then the final map of suitable areas for T. baccata plantation were produced based on Bolian and MCE models. According to the results, in Bolian method about 6218 ha of the total area of the study site (30554 ha) were estimated as suitable and semi suitable and 24336 ha were estimated as unsuitable for MCE model showed that about 2482 ha of the whole 30554 ha area of the study site is adequate for T. baccata plantation and 6181 ha is not adequate for T. baccata plantation. Regarding the results of the MCE and Bolian methods it has been concluded that for dynamic ecological parameters in delineation of suitable areas for T. baccata plantation the MCE weighting is more appropriate than Bolian. Using the results of this investigation it is possible to adequate areas for the presence of T. baccata and to execute a plan in order to facilitate the plantation of T. baccata in northern forests of Iran (watershed 88).