Reintroduction of the European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Białowieża Forest

Abstract

In 1996 and 1998, Professor A. Korczyk created a half-sib plantation of the European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in the Polish part of Białowieża Forest (Hajnówka Forest District, sub-district Wilczy Jar, subcompartments 416Ag and 416Сf). The planting was carried out in furrows at a spacing of 1.3 x 1m in three plots of 0.22 ha each in an area of fresh forest. To grow the seedlings, seeds from the “Tisovik” tract (in the Belarusian part of Białowieża Forest) were used. According to some researchers, the Abies alba in this tract has a natural origin and is a relic of Białowieża Forest. Given this circumstance, and also in connection with the mass drying-out of the Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), there is a practical interest in studying the growth of fir crops in this territory. The results of our studies (2018) indicated the very intensive growth of this species in 22-year-old cultures (subcompartment 416Ag, plot 1, 10 half-sib families). The trees showed no signs of disease or insect damage, the crowns were conical in shape and the shoots were densely covered with needles. The good state of the forest planting can be considered as evidence of soil hydrological conditions suitable for growth and meeting the A. alba’s ecological and biological needs, as well as confirmation of its autochthonous nature.