The effect of exclosure on cultural services of semi-arid shrublands of Kerman province, Iran

Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services provision are of the main ecosystem management objectives. Despite the enormous importance of cultural services, they are often ignored in ecosystem management plans due to the difficulty in quantifying. This study was done to investigate the impact of exclosure on cultural services in semi-arid shrublands. Flowering plants were considered as a proxy for cultural services. The canopy cover and the number of plant species inside and outside the exclosure were recorded in two vegetation types Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia aucheri- Zygophyllum eurypterum. The results showed that exclosure significantly increased diversity, abundance and richness of plant species. The exclosure also significantly increased the diversity, richness and abundance of flowering species in both vegetation types. A positive relationship was found between diversity indices and flowering species diversity. The results also showed that perennial forbs had a greater role in providing cultural services. It can be concluded that exclosure can promote both plant species diversity and cultural services in semi-arid shrublands.