Road ecology studies are very important and valuable for monitoring the impact of forest roads on biodiversity. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of forest roads on the biodiversity of herbaceous species, tree regeneration and lichen in the Kal
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Road ecology studies are very important and valuable for monitoring the impact of forest roads on biodiversity. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of forest roads on the biodiversity of herbaceous species, tree regeneration and lichen in the Kalardasht forests. Sampling was done in the sample plots at distances of 0, 15, 45, 75, and 105 meters from the roadside in two controlled and harvested areas. The indices used were Margalf's species richness, Shannon-Wiener's biodiversity and Pielou's evenness index. The effects of roads on vegetation diversity in relation to soil characteristics were also investigated. The results showed that road construction in the harvested stand caused the destruction of tree regeneration, herbaceous and lichen, but the physical and chemical properties of the soil were not affected. By increasing the distance from the road, the diversity and richness of regeneration in both control and harvested areas has increased and the evenness index has decreased. On the other hand, the diversity and richness of herbaceous species has shown a significant decrease. This study reports the distance of 15 to 45 meters of the buffering effect of the roadside on the indices of biodiversity and the richness of tree regeneration, herbaceous cover and lichens. Most of the physical and chemical properties of the soil have also increased with increasing distance from the road. Also, there was a significant correlation between most of the physical and chemical properties of the soil with the regeneration of trees and herbaceous species.
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