COST Action E 52 - vTI - Bund.de

during the last five years, a system of management by selection was developed (Matić 1985) and
implemented in stands in the age category 40 – 60 years, with a small financial gain (Koričić 2004).
Based on this system, smaller stands in western Bosnia have been converted into high forests over
several years. The experiences with artificial planting of beech forests are unsatisfactory because
beech plants are produced occasionally in small amounts as plant production requires seed crops,
which are very rare. This is one of major factors causing a lack of experiences with artificial planting
of beech and implementation of improving measures. On several occasions, there were attempts of
seeding beech stands, but it was done sporadically and on a smaller scale.
PreservaTIoN aNd coNservaTIoN oF GeNeTIc resources oF
euroPeaN beech
The area of Dinarides is very specific both by its terrain shape and its climate and this is the main
reason why it represents an important center of vegetation diversity. Therefore, many experts
suggested that forests trees in the Dinarides area show higher levels of genetic variability compared
with the north. This applies also to beech, as confirmed by research conducted by Gömöry et al.
(1999) and Brus (1999), which showed that a high variability is characteristic not for central Europe
but the Balkans, and especially for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As beech gained in importance in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the last fifteen years, there were
attempts to extend the sources of reproductive material, seed bases. Thirteen seed stands were
Fig. 2: A typical beech forests in eastern Bosnia, Mt. Konjuh (Fagetum montanum)
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