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curreNT sTaTus oF euroPeaN beech<br />
(Fagus sylvatica L.) GeNeTIc resources IN croaTIa<br />
absTracT<br />
Mla<strong>de</strong>n IvankovIć 1 – SAŠA BOGDAN 2 – Joso Gračan 3 – IVAN PILAŠ 4<br />
1 Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division for Genetics, Tree Breeding and<br />
Forest Seed Husbandry, Cvjetno naselje 41, 10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia<br />
2 University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Genetics,<br />
Dendrology and Botany, Svetošimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia<br />
3 Hrvoja Macanovića 43, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia<br />
4 Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division for Ecology and Silviculture,<br />
Cvjetno naselje 41, 10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia<br />
This paper presents general data on European beech genetic resources in Croatia and provi<strong>de</strong>s an<br />
overview of forest genetics research activities. In the first part, the paper <strong>de</strong>als with the horizontal<br />
and vertical distribution range of the species and its habitat characteristics. Basic information on<br />
forest management, seed zonation as well as general information about threats to genetic resources<br />
follows. Finally, a review on conservation efforts, including the <strong>de</strong>velopment of in situ and ex situ<br />
conservation units as well as research work on provenance testing are presented.<br />
Key words: beech, distribution range, habitat, conservation, provenances, research<br />
dIsTrIbuTIoN aNd habITaT<br />
The European beech (Croatian names: obična bukva, bukva prosta, bukva šumska, buk, bukva) is<br />
one of the most important forest tree species of the Republic of Croatia. Pure or mixed beech stands<br />
constitute quite stable ecosystems, and are mostly naturally regenerated. It is the most common tree<br />
species in Croatia, where it accounts for 4 % of the forest area (Vukelić, Rauš 1998) and forms<br />
45% of total wood growing stock. According to Klepac (1986), pure beech stands occupy an area<br />
of 200,000 ha, mixed stands with sessile oak and hornbeam accounting for 00,000 ha while mixed<br />
stands of beech, silver fir and Norway spruce occupy an area of 200,000 ha. It is consi<strong>de</strong>red as one of the<br />
most vital forest tree species in Croatia, since pure and mixed stands are not significantly damaged by<br />
pests, diseases and air pollution (Glavaš, Harapin, Hrašovec 1992, Potočić, Seletković 2000).<br />
The European beech woodland appears in many types of forest communities and is wi<strong>de</strong>spread both<br />
horizontally and vertically. In the lowlands it occurs as a secondary species in forests of pedunculate<br />
oak and common hornbeam. Its share in the low hills increases and reaches its culmination and the<br />
highest commercial value in the highlands up to 800 m, where it forms climatozonal communities<br />
in which it has distinct dominance. Above this area it occurs in mixed stands with silver fir.<br />
Horizontally, the para-Mediterranean vegetation zone occurs in the Dinaric Alps that extend along