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Hackberry (Celtisaustralis L.) is native to the Mediterranean region and is distributed in Europe, Turkey, North Africa, and Iran. To the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted on C.australis L. in the Arasbaran region, Iran. In the present study, total phenol (TP), flavonoid (TF), antioxidant capacity based on DPPH and FRAP assays and phenolic compounds and sugars profiles were investigated. According to the results, the range of antioxidant capacity based on DPPH and FRAP assays was 14.12–88.24% and 44.35–117.87 mg Fe2+/100 g, respectively. Also, the range of gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, p-coumaric acid, rosmaric acid, cinnamic acid, and apigenin content was 2.59–26.32, 2.03–9.32, 0.94–11.35, 1.80–4.857, 2.32–9.52, 4.74–51.38, 0.18–2.10 and 0.27–1.37 mg/g, respectively. The results of factor analysis showed that the C12, C14, C15, C20, C8, C16, C3, and C20 genotypes are positively characterized by the first principal component (PCA1) that have a higher caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, p-coumaric acid, rosmaric acid, quercetin, cinnamic acid, and apigenin phenolic compounds. Based on cluster analysis, the twenty genotypes were located in 2 main clusters. In general, the obtained results can be useful for breeding programs and the introduction of cultivars in Celtisaustralis L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecotourism plays a critical strategic role in regional development. In many remote communities, ecotourism is the main contributing factor in their economic growth. The role of ecotourism development in the sustainability of the local economy is widely known. However, the local communities' role in the development of the industry has been neglected. The presented study, therefore, examines the importance of community engagement as the missing link in the successful development of the ecotourism industry. This research uses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats methodology and analytic network process technique to determine the importance of the strategies directly related to the local community in comparison to other ecotourism development strategies. Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve, in northwest Iran, was used as a case study. A decision-making model containing 20 clusters, 69 sub-factors, and seven alternatives were developed in SuperDecisions software. The results showed in overall, the strategies directly related to the local community are more effective than all the other strategies. There were significant differences between the local community's point of view and local authorities on the importance of community engagement. The results also indicated lack of trust and willingness of local authorities had been the main contributions in unsuccessful community engagement programs in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foetid juniper (Juniperus foetidissima Willd.) is one of the most important coniferous species faced with multiple threats and it is difficult to propagate it with sexual reproduction. Therefore, the main goal of this study was finding appropriate salt concentrations and growth regulators for shoot regeneration and rooting of J. foetidissima under in vitro conditions and also shortening time of mass production. The effects of 6 different basal culture media (Olive Medium (OM), Murashige and Skoog (MS), Driver and Kuniyuki (DKW), Woody Plant Medium (WPM), 1/2 MS, and 1/4 MS) on shoot proliferation and two different methods of root induction on explants were investigated. Results revealed that OM culture medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (1 mg L−1) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.1 mg L−1) was the best medium for shoot proliferation of J. foetidissima (P < 0.05). The highest percentage of shoot regeneration (100%), maximum number of shoots (6.38 shoots per explant), and the maximum shoot length (6.74 mm) were observed in this culture medium. The lowest percentage of shoot regeneration (50%) was obtained in 1/4 MS medium (P < 0.05). In addition, the minimum number of shoots (3.44 shoots per explant) and shoot length (4.46 mm) were observed in WPM medium. The highest root induction rate (88.9%) was obtained in OM medium containing 0.5 mg L−1 of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). In conclusion, type of basal culture medium considerably influenced proliferation, shoot growth, and root induction in J. foetidissima explants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arasbaran forests are located in East Azerbaijan (northwest Iran). Increasing of socio-economic problems in this area causes destruction of biodiversity and structure of these forests. Using multipurpose trees such as cornelian cherry ( Cornus mas L) to encourage villagers to produce forest by-products is a basic approach for preserving these forests. This species grows naturally in Arasbaran forests and the fruit is annually exploited using traditional harvest methods. This study aims to assess the ecological requirements of cornelian cherry and the important factors affecting its distribution. For this purpose, 40 circular sampling plots (300 m) on various slope aspects were demarcated for sampling the occurrence of cornelian cherry in forest stands. DBH and crown cover percentage on north aspects were significantly greater than on other aspects and 4.5% of all trees were cornelian cherry in mature forest stands. North aspects had more seed-origin trees (standards) of cornelian cherry than coppiced trees, while west facing aspects had more coppiced than standard trees. This species had the highest regeneration rate in the sapling stage of 0-2.5 cm DBH. Thus, I recommend cultivation and development of cornelian cherry as a multi-purpose tree in the Arasbaran region on degraded forest lands on north and west aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]