Acronym: Introspeces
Project number: BI-BA/24-25-007
Project duration: 24 months, 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2025
Budget for Slovenia: 1800 €
Cofinancing: for Slovenia ARIS
Lead partner: Slovenian Forestry Institute
Abstract
A significant number of non-native tree species have been introduced into natural forests and/or tested in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia since the middle of the 20th century, including Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Douglas fir is one of the most important introduced species in southern and central Europe. Provenance trials have been established in over 20 European countries, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. Even though Douglas fir is non-native, it regenerates naturally, even outgrowing native regeneration in some parts of both countries. The productivity of individual provenances of Douglas fir, in provenance tests, far exceeds the productivity of native tree species. Douglas-fir shows best results in the mountain belt in the zone of beech and oak forests, but such habitats have recently been significantly threatened by climate change. Currently, Douglas fir of mostly unknown origin is found in such habitats at various ages and stages of natural regeneration. Research on adaptability in such forests will shed light on the adaptability of Douglas fir of unknown origin. The proposed research will be conducted in provenance tests of Douglas-fir, as well as in artificially established Douglas-fir forests. Tree-level measurements will be made on representative samples in individual stands or trials across both countries: tree height, height of the crown start and diameters at different heights (to estimate tree taper) will be measured. The origin of the planted material in established Douglas-fir forests will be determined by either examining old documents or with the use of genetic markers. In mature trees, increment cores will be extracted to study past growth and resilience to climatic events in relation to the origin of the planted material.