The physical structure of pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) and economic value of its turpentine in the Zagros region, Western Iran

The ecosystem value, wild pistachio species importance, and the product of raw turpentine in terms of creating employment, villager’s income and supplying raw materials for chemical, pharmaceutical, food industries and exporting it to European countries is a main interest to the government. The aim of this study was to investigate the ecosystem characteristics of pistachio species and the economic value of its gum in the direction of production rise in the Zagros in the Gilan-e Gharb forests that are located in Kermanshah province. The studied forest stands with ۷۰۰, ۲۱۰۰, ۷۰۰, and ۱۰۰۰ hectares area, respectively, are located in Kamreh Alirezavandi, Cheshmeh Sefid, Bapir, and Balaleh in Gilan-e Gharb in a mountainous and forested area. The desired area was determined using the available maps after field visiting. Then, for griding, the study area in ۱۰,۰۰۰-scale maps, was identified. Sampling by the regular random method was performed. In addition, the area of the sample plots is ۴۰۰۰ m۲, have been surveyed. The results showed that the mean diameter at breast height in Kamreh, Bapir, Cheshmeh Sangi, and Balaleh areas equal ۳۱.۹, ۳۵.۵, ۳۹.۳, and ۳۰.۲ cm, respectively. Furthermore, the mean number of exploitable pistachio trees in the Kamareh, Bapir, Cheshmeh Sefid, and Balaleh areas is ۳۰.۱۵, ۵۸.۳, ۴۴.۴۵, and ۳۲.۲۵, respectively. The profit amount for the wild pistachio gum exploitation includes ۸۲۱۷۰۰۰۰۰, ۱۶۲۳۰۰۰۰۰۰, ۱۷۴۰۵۰۰۰۰۰, and ۲۱۱۶۰۰۰۰۰۰ Rials in the Kamreh, Bapir, Cheshmeh Sefid, and Balaleh, respectively. Protecting valuable wild pistachio trees in the Gilan-e Gharb region's forest ecosystem and properly extracting their sap is a step towards empowering local communities and enhancing production.

Keywords:

Canopy cover , Exploitable pistachio , income , Turpentine production , Wild Pistachio