Scientific exchange on beech under climate change conditions

The occurrence of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in our forests has increased significantly in recent decades. Only a few years ago, it was considered a competitive, largely adapted tree species that would cope well with the challenges of climate change. However, the past and climatically extreme years have caused severe damages in beech forests, driving the species towards its ecological and physiological limits in some areas of Germany.
In order to present the current state of knowledge on the future of beech under climate change conditions for the entire German-speaking region, the Forest Research Institutes of the German state and federal governments as well as the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) invited researchers to the Scientific Conference on Beech. The Thünen-Institute of Forest Genetics was also involved in the organization and implementation of the event.
About 150 researchers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland gathered in Würzburg and presented their work in 21 lectures and on 45 posters. In addition to worrying information on the current state of beech forests, the contributions also gave hope that the adaptation of beech to a changed climate can succeed, at least in part, and that the tree so characteristic of our Central European forests will continue to be an important element of our native flora.

Katharina Liepe from the Thünen-Institute of Forest Genetics presented a 25-year provenance trial comparing the growth performance and quality of 100 provenances from all over Europe. The long-term observation showed that there are clear differences in growth and quality between the provenances but no origin-environment interactions and that particularly high-quality provenances are therefore suitable for cultivation on a wide geographic scale.

Additionally, work from the institute was presented on eight posters:

• Pascal Eusemann presented results from the genetic monitoring of European beech. More information
• Heike Liesebach presented recommendations for the treatment of seed crop stands to produce high quality and genetically diverse reproductive material. More information
• Franka Thiesen gave insights into currently ongoing trials for the establishment of beech in in-vitro culture. More information
• Hilke Schröder presented genetic markers for the identification of beech in wood and wood composite products. More information
• Mirko Liesebach presented the international network of European beech provenance trials. More information
• Khira Deecke provided insights into the genetic and environmental components of drought stress tolerance in beech. More information
• Niels Müller showed how genetic variation can be used to assess the adaptive capacity of local beech populations under climate change. More information
• Tobias Brügmann bridged the gap between genetics and physiological response of beech to drought stress. More information