COST Action E 52 - vTI - Bund.de

According to the Report about forest state and management of the Czech Republic in 2008, the average
quality of tested seeds of European beech was described as having the following characteristics: 0%
viability of pure seeds and 69% germination. The stock of seed and raw seed registered in the Seed
Production Plant at Týniště nad Orlicí was 1 ,688 kg of pure seed and 5, 64 kg of raw seed. Artificial
regeneration of European beech recorded in recent years are as follows: 3,386 ha (2000), 2,908 ha
(2001), 3,143 ha (2002), 3,032 ha (2003), 3,406 ha (2004), 3,2 5 ha (2005), 3,433 ha (2006), 3,625 ha
(200 ) and 3,865 ha (2008).
According to the long-term monitoring of forest condition, average defoliation of European beech in
stands older than 60 years was 22.5% in the period 1991 – 2006. Within this period, mean defoliation
decreased in 1998 to the lowest level (14.6%), then increased slightly, and there has been only a minor
change from 2000 to date.
In 2008, average prices of beech round wood in the Czech Republic were as follows: Assortments of
logs of the 1st class = 3,8 CZK (ca 152 €)/m3 , 2nd class = 2,829 CZK (ca 111 €/m3 ), 3rd A/B class =
1, 62 CZK (ca 69 €/m3 ); 3rd C class = 1,389 CZK (ca 55 €/m3 ); 3rd D class = 1,111 CZK (ca 44 €/m3 )
and pulpwood of the 5th class = 908 CZK (ca 36 €/m3 ).
For current legislative rules in the Czech Republic, there is a valid Forest Act no. 289/1995 Gaz.
together with several executive decrees of the Ministry of Agriculture, implementing this act.
Marketing of forest reproductive material is regulated by Act no. 149/2003 Gaz. and its executive
decrees.
The following basic materials of European beech had been registered in the Czech Republic up to 31.
12. 2009 (www.uhul.cz):
• Category identified (seed source – 9 trees; 56 stands of phenotype class C /23,045.38 ha/; 2
stands of phenotype class B /252. 8 ha/; 1 stand of phenotype class A / .38 ha/).
• Category selected (692 certified stands of phenotype class B /10, 40.29 ha/; 63 certified stands
of phenotype class A /2,613.50 ha/).
• Category qualified ( seed orchards /9.69 ha/; 28 plus trees).
In the Czech Republic 10 European beech genetic conservation units (60,0 3.2 ha) have been
registered. These measures are aimed at the preservation and conservation of European beech gene
pool.
euroPeaN beech GeNe PooL PreservaTIoN aNd coNservaTIoN
As already mentioned, the proportion of European beech has decreased from an original 40.2% to
a current level of .0% as a consequence of forest management over the past 200 years (Report about
forest state and management of the Czech Republic in 2008). However, regeneration of European
beech has been steadily increasing and this is reflected in the higher portion of this species in overall
tree species composition (Tab. 1). Mean age of beech forest stands has also been increasing up to
2000 ( 3 years), which implied total aging of European beech population in the Czech Republic.
However current data show that an increase of mean age has stopped ( 0 years in 2008). The plan
to increase the proportion of European beech in the Czech Republic to 18% is now evident, but
it will be necessary to pay attention to additional artificial regeneration, despite increasing natural
regeneration. The origin of reproductive material to be used for artificial regeneration has to meet
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