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Current genetic conservation activities in situ and ex situ
Since the early 1980s, gene reserves have been designated as follows: 6789.1 ha for Q. robur,
265.2 ha for Q. petraea and 2820.4 ha for F. sylvatica. The distribution of gene reserves in
Ukraine is given in Table 1. The largest reserve areas are concentrated in forest regions.
Presently the inventory of gene reserves is being undertaken. This will provide the
opportunity to estimate the current situation of genetic resources.
For several years, studies on European beech diversity in the Carpathian region and
adjacent territories have been carried out by the Ukrainian State University of Forestry and
Wood Technology (Lviv), together with Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia. Genetic
diversity and differentiation of beech populations (20 European beech and 7 Crimean beech)
have been studied by electrophoresis.
Genetic differentiation was estimated on the basis of genetic distances. The results
confirm a low degree of differentiation within F. sylvatica compared with F. orientalis, the
values of subpopulation differentiation of European beech populations being only
approximately 30% of the differentiation among F. oriental is populations. Within European
beech populations from western Ukraine a slight differentiation between populations from
the southwestern and northeastern macroslopes of the Carpathians, and plain populations
from the northeastern limit of beech distribution range was observed. Crimean beech is also
much more differentiated than Carpathian beech. Crimean beech occupies an eccentric
position between both beech species; however, it is much more similar to F. orientalis than to
F. sylvatica (Paule et al. 1993; Vysny et al. 1995; Gomory et al. 1998a, 1998b).
The intensity of reproduction in beech root meristem cells was examined in cytological
studies by the University together with the Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration. The
results led to the conclusion that some differences exist in the mitotic activity of root
meristem cells of beech seedlings from different populations. Since the mitotic kinetics of
the meristematic cells of all plants depend not only on ext~rnal factors but also on internal
factors, it is quite possible that the results reflect the genetic diversity between populations
(Kyrychenko et al. 1995).
Clonal propagation of European beech and sessile oak is studied at the Laboratory of
Tissue Culture. For this purpose explants were taken from different vegetative and
generative plant parts of beech (buds of different-aged trees, hypocotyls, cotyledons)
(Bazyuk and Fedyaj 1995).
Relevant nature protection policies and activities
Among the legislative acts related to conservation of genetic resources, the Law on Natural
Reserves of Ukraine (of 5 May 1993) is in force. According to this law any activity which
might affect negatively the state of protected areas is forbidden. The Committee of
Environmental Protection is the administrative unit specialized in this field. The protection
is implemented by the institutions on the territory in which they are situated. Protection of
forest areas is carried out by regional forest offices.
Table 1. Gene reserves of Social Broadleaves in Ukraine
Quercus robur Quercus eetraea Faflus syJvatica
Natural zone Area {ha} Number Area {ha} Number Area (ha) Number
Mixed forest 2526.3 80 52.4 1 2.0 1
Forest-steppe 3935.8 160 29.0 2 1789.8 60
Steppe 269.0 1 128.0 7 0.0 0
Carpathians 58.0 1 22.1 2 1028.6 7
Crimea 0.0 0 33.7 4 0.0 0
Total 6789.1 257 265.2 16 2820.4 68