generating a vegetation map in mountainous region of sabzkouh using a digital elevation model

the analysis of the relationship between spatial distribution of environmental factors andvegetation types is crucial for understanding mountainous ecosystems. in this research agis based approach was used to produce a vegetation map for sabzkouh protected area inthe chaharmahal-va-bakhtiari province. to identify environmental parameters affecting thevegetation cover, 6 primary and secondary environmental parameters including hypsometric,slope steepness, slope direction, annual precipitation, temperature and sun radiation maps werederived from the study area dem. to investigate the relationship between these factors andthe spatial distribution of vegetation cover, quantitative analyses using statistical techniqueslike principal components analysis(pca) were undertaken. then, the spatial distributionof vegetation types was predicted using a multi-logistic regression. results showed thattopographic variables derived from the dem were very useful for indicating habitats ofrange and forest types. although lack of information on the anthropogenic effects led to someuncertainties in the interpretation of spatial pattern of vegetation types, the topographic andclimatic variables, derived from the dem, were considerably effective in modelling the spatialdistribution of vegetation types.