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absTracT<br />
8<br />
curreNT sTaTe oF euroPeaN beech<br />
(Fagus sylvatica L.) GeNeTIc resources<br />
coNservaTIoN IN The cZech rePubLIc<br />
PETR NOVOTNÝ – JOSEF FRÝDL<br />
Forestry And Game Management Research Institute<br />
Strnady 136, 156 04 Praha 5-Zbraslav, Czech Republic<br />
The paper <strong>de</strong>scribes the current state of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the Czech Republic.<br />
It provi<strong>de</strong>s information on the horizontal and vertical distribution of the species, together with data<br />
on its actual representation in forest stands, plant communities and on the site conditions, in which<br />
it occurs. While in the past E. beech natural composition in the Czech Republic forests was 3,1 0,000<br />
ha or 40.2% of the current total area of the Czech Republic, the present composition of the species is<br />
very different, with just 182,048 ha, or approximately .0% of the present area of forests in the Czech<br />
Republic. The reasons for this are that most beech stands were harvested for glass manufacturing and<br />
for charcoal production. Another factor is that in the past some mixed beech stands were replaced<br />
by Norway spruce monocultures. However, at present the area of European beech has increased and<br />
this is reflected in a higher proportion of this species in the present tree species composition. As well<br />
as information on the E. beech gene pool preservation and conservation programme, there is also<br />
information on E. beech current in situ and ex situ gene conservation activities. The current state of<br />
forestry research on beech and other related activities are also <strong>de</strong>scribed.<br />
Key words: European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), buk lesní (in Czech), distribution, gene-pool<br />
current state, Czech Republic, forestry research<br />
euroPeaN beech dIsTrIbuTIoN IN The cZech rePubLIc<br />
Forest land covers 2,660, 34 ha in the Czech Republic out of a total area of ,886,519 ha. The<br />
composition of forest tree species has consi<strong>de</strong>rably changed in the past two and a half centuries as<br />
a result of intensive forest management. Replacement plantations of coniferous tree species have also<br />
been recommen<strong>de</strong>d since the 18th century.<br />
While the natural species composition inclu<strong>de</strong>d beech (40.2%), oaks (19.4%), fir (19.8%), spruce<br />
(11.2%) and pine (3.4%), the present species composition is rather different. The proportions of<br />
spruce (<strong>52</strong>.4%) and pine (1 .0%) are higher. Oaks (6.8%), beech ( .0%) and fir (< 1%) are un<strong>de</strong>rrepresented<br />
with regard to the original species distributions (Report about Forest State and<br />
Management of the Czech Republic in 2008). Most beech stands were harvested and the wood was<br />
used in glass manufacturing as well as for charcoal production. Mixed beech stands were replaced by<br />
Norway spruce monocultures and oak stands by pure pine stands.
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