Inventory and mapping of non-wood forest products and modelling productivity of lime tree, chestnut and bay leaves: A case study in Yenikoy planning unit

In this study, first of all plant based Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) were inventoried in Yeniköy Planning Unit and a spatial database was created. As a result, total 140 taxa were documented and 88 of them were identified as NWFP(s). Only three species, Erodium olympicum Gemici& Leblebici, Ranunculus trichocarpus Boiss. & Kotschy ex Boiss. and Cirsium leucopsis DC, determined as an endemic value. Last stage of this study is modelling the productivity of Lime tree, Chestnut and Bay leaves which distribute widely and contribute considerably to the rural development based on some stand, climate and topographical variables by using multiple regression analyses. For this purpose, at least 30 sample points from different strata determined based on age class and site index were selected randomly. Then at least two trees or two cohorts for Lime tree, Chestnut and Bay leaves were selected to measure non wood products. As a result, coefficients of determination Values (R2) for fresh flower, fresh bract and fresh flower+bract of Lime tree were found as 58%, 60%and 59% respectively. These values were observed as 39% and 53% for chestnut based on a tree and stand structure, respectively. Similarly, R2 for fresh leafy shoot yield of laurel was 73%. These results show that the increasing of tree diameter and height caused to increase Lime tree productivity. The increasing of stand basal area and stand increment caused to increase chestnut productivity. Chestnut productivity increased in the north aspects. Older cohorts provided more amount of fresh leafy shoot yield of laurel then younger ones based on crown width and crown height of the cohorts. Besides, the productivity of bay leaves has negative correlation with slope. Sustainable planning of NWFP is possible when such inventory, mapping spatial distribution and modelling of productivity are in place. Consuquently, it is highly recommended that, similar studies be developed and implemented particularly for the economically valued species across the country to realize ecosystem based multiple use forest management plannings.