Session: European Beech – Multiple Perspectives on Growth, Vitality, and Usability under climate change
Übersicht / Overview
Titel / Title: European Beech – Multiple Perspectives on Growth, Vitality, and Usability under climate change
Thema / Topic: 1. Waldökosysteme der Zukunft / Forest ecosystems of the future
Leitung / Coveners: Elena Larysch, Mareike Hirsch, Arthur Gessler, Harald Bugmann, Andreas Rigling
Bevorzugte Sprache / Preferred language: Englisch (deutsche Poster möglich) / English (German posters possible)
Inhalte / Content: Vorträge & Poster-Session / oral presentations & poster session
Beschreibung / Description
The series of extreme heat and drought years in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 induced visible, massive changes and damage to beech (Fagus sylvatica) in large parts of Europe, the extent of which had previously hardly been considered possible by researchers and practitioners. Physiological and structural responses can be observed in tree ring width analyses, revealing growth trends, alterations in wood anatomy affecting timber quality, and variability in wood formation influencing long-term forest productivity. Based on the experience of these recent developments, how likely is it that beech will suffer considerable area losses in European lowland forests? Will it just lose dominance on marginal site, or will it be affected also on mesic sites in the center of its distribution area in Central Europe? How large will these effects be, how quickly will they occur, on which sites and soils? Where and how might beech adapt or even spread? Will beech forests represent an important stock of timber also in the future? Will the usability remain significant in the future? Despite the many uncertainties and open questions, the usability of beech is predicted to increase in construction and engineered wood products such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL) but its future availability is questioned. Hence, do we need alternatives such as e.g. Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) given its greater resilience to heat and drought?
In this session, we will discuss the perspectives of beech, taking into account the latest scientific evidence on, e.g., soil and site ecology, tree physiology, forest growth or ecosystem functioning, from experiments, monitoring and modelling as well as economic and ecological importance of beech timber, opportunities for expanding its use in construction and industry, and sustainable harvesting practices ensuring long-term availability. The results will be compared with practical experiences, and the consequences for climate-adapted forest management will be discussed.
Keywords: European beech (Fagus sylvatica), drought, pests, diseases, soils, growth, vitality, productivity
