COST Action E 52 - vTI - Bund.de

ForesT maNaGemeNT
European beech in Denmark is mostly growing in even aged monocultures, perhaps with a few trees
of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). The species is both planted and
naturally regenerated. Additionally, beech is the constituent part in the understorey of oak forests. The
management regime might change to natural regeneration in smaller plots combined with mixtures
with other species to ease natural regeneration (Larsen 2005). Planting of beech is subsidized by the
state when planted in existing conifer forest and as afforestation.
In 2005 the harvest of beech was 224, 00 m3 , 60,400 m3 of which were used for logs and veneer and
the remaining for fire wood (Statistics Denmark 200 ).
GeNeTIc resources
Beech in Denmark is largely naturally regenerated. From 2001 – 2006 the average annual seed harvest
and import of seed was 13.9 tons. The annual seed harvest from approved Danish stands of Danish
origin was .5 tons and the annual seed harvest from approved Danish stands of any origin 11. tons,
while the annual import was 2.2 tons (Bastrup-Birk et al. 2008). Danish seed sources should be
approved (Bekendtgørelse om skovfrø og planter 200 ). The total area with approved seed stands, i. e.
in the category of selected resources is 485 ha. The country is considered as one seed zone concerning
beech.
The Forest and Nature Agency has recently approved a number of beech stands of known local origin
around the country. These stands will serve as gene conservation stands and restrictions will be made
concerning planting of beech in surrounding stands (units) (Ditlevsen, pers. comm.).
Provenance field trials have only shown small differences between Danish provenances as regards
growth and stem form and actually only statistical certain differences as regards growth. Provenance
field trials with European provenances have revealed larger differences as regards the percentage
of trees with straight stems and timing of bud burst (e. g. Hansen et al. 2003). Especially the Swiss
provenance Sihlwald has shown to be superior as regards stem straightness and two approved Danish
seed stands are of this origin. The use of this species, however, should be restricted to areas less prone
to late frost since the buds of this provenance (like Slovak provenances) burst early.
research ProJecTs
Research topics focussing on beech are dealing with natural regeneration, nutrient leaching, and
carbon sequestration in near natural managed forests and with the development of individual tree
growth models.
reFereNces
Bastrup-Birk A., Riis-Nielsen T., Hansen J. K., Rune F. 2008. Biologisk Diversitet. [Biological
diversity.] In: Nord-Larsen T., Johannsen V. K., Jørgensen B. B., Bastrup-Birk A. (eds.): Skove og
Plantager 2006. [Forest and Plantation 2006.] Hørsholm, Skov & Landskab: 8 -105.
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