Abstract

Human induced pressures on the natural resources are still in progress and the conservation efforts, too. The need for sufficient knowledge and data for the decision makers is obvious. This study is aimed to contribute this absence. The study area Çamlıhemsin district Kito mountain is situated in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey and characterized by a humid climate covered with natural growth oriental spruce stands. The canopy closures of the Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) stands (Treeline, Timberline, Regular forest) varies between 0 to 90% in the study area, including Kito mountain occupied forest and pasture lands. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) simulation model was used to predict the soil loss amounts in the study area. The results show that the predicted average soil loss amount is 29.79 (ton/ha/year). The average soil depth is about 26 cm and the soil loss tolerance limit is widely exceeded especially in the pasture lands, control plots, tree line zone and timberline zone in the study area.

Key words: Soil loss, tolerance tree line, timberline, subalpine zone.