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Wi<strong>de</strong> distribution of oriental beech in Turkey results in the creation of seed transfer zones to facilitate<br />
seed production and afforestation. Beech forests have different growing regions according to site<br />
quality, productivity and floristic composition. Therefore all ecological properties which affect the<br />
growth of beech are consi<strong>de</strong>red when establishing these seed transfer zones. Oriental beech forests<br />
are divi<strong>de</strong>d into four main seed transfer zones and 30 subzones which have been established taking<br />
into consi<strong>de</strong>ration precipitation, temperature, aspect, altitu<strong>de</strong> and the floristic compositions of the<br />
regions (Atalay 1992).<br />
Oriental beech is important economically. Average prices of the third class beech round wood in<br />
Turkey was approximately 135 Turkish Liras (TL)/m 3 (83 €/m 3 ) in 2005, 138 TL/m 3 ( 0 €/m 3 ) (http://<br />
www.ogm.gov.tr/ip1/in<strong>de</strong>x) in 2008, 165 TL (84 €/m 3 ) in 2010.<br />
GeNeTIc coNservaTIoN iN situ aNd EX situ<br />
Gene pool conservation of oriental beech in Turkey is mainly through in situ conservation. These are<br />
seed stands, gene conservation areas and national parks. In Turkey there are 23 gene conservation<br />
forests of oriental beech. The area of these gene conservation forests is 3,042.9 ha. There are 28 seed<br />
stands which cover 3,439.6 ha.<br />
The most important ex situ conservation activities are grafting and establishment of clonal archives<br />
and seed orchards. Although there are many seed orchards with conifers and some with broadleaves<br />
such as Liquidambar orientalis and Sorbus torminalis in Turkey, there is no seed orchard with oriental<br />
beech. There are other conservation programs in other locations such as National Parks and Nature<br />
Conservation areas where oriental beech stands can be used as seed sources if allowed. Seeds collected<br />
from these areas can be used for reforestation according to the seed transfer zones.<br />
Fig. 1: Natural distribution of oriental beech in Turkey<br />
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