Quantitative Analysis of Forest Types with Respect to Aspect in West Azarbaijan, Iran

The forests in Sardasht area in the West Azarbaijan Province were quantitatively studied in this research. Based on Importance Value Index, in general, two types of forests have been identified: Quercus libani Oliv. in the northern, northeastern and northwestern aspects and Quercus brantii Lindl. in the southern, southeastern and southwestern and eastern aspects. The mean of vegetation crown percentage in Quercus libani Oliv. and Quercus brantii Lindl. was accordingly: 28.4% and 24.9% and the density in the two types is accordingly: 391.4 and 246.0 individual per hectare. The highest Importance Value Index among all the aspects is related to Quercus libani (146.3). The least chord was observed from northern, northeastern and northwestern aspects to south, southeastern, southwestern and southeastern and the most chord was identified from northern aspects to northwestern and south aspects and from southeastern and southeastern to eastern aspect.