Abstract:
Management of the forest resources and related activities has significant effects on the
environment. Applying the environmental impact assessment (EIA) provides a basis for
improving forest management plans. However, in the developing countries such as Iran,
there have been so far no serious endeavors and research to undertake the EIA of the
various practices affecting the forest resources, despite the enormous negative impacts of
forestry practices on environmental quality. Hence, the main objective of the present
study was to address the effects of the human activities on forest ecosystem and their
consequences, and to assess the environmental quality of Patom Forest Management Plan
through the application of landscape degradation model (LDM) and the matrix method.
Decision making based on LDM indicated that all compartment of Patom District have
high degradation coefficient and need rehabilitating practices. Furthermore, application
of the matrix method revealed that forest roads, logging operations, and other activities
needed modification and mitigation plans. Also, forestry activities have had 25.8 and
35.5% positive impacts and consequences in contrast with 74.2 and 64.5% negative
impact and consequences on the environment. Hence, in order to improve forest
management plans and reduce the negative effects of forestry activities in Iran, forest
managers should apply environmental impact assessment with quantitative EIA
instruments before the design and implementation of the forest management plans and
forestry activities.
Keywords: Degradation coefficient, EIA, Matrix method, Patom forest management plan
