Progress of gene conservation of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) in Belgium

Alphonse NANSON
Station de Recherches Forestières 
Gembloux

As a recall, Norway Spruce is concentrated in Wallonia, the Southern Region of Belgium, where it extends over around 200 000 ha, i.e. on 40% of the forests of Wallonia (themselves around 500 000 ha or 80 % of Belgian forests). It is economically the first forest species in Wallonia, as well as in Belgium, with an annual production of around 2.5 millions m3. The average productivity amounts to around 12 m³ ha^-1 ye^-1.

The objective of our breeding programme that I have fixed in 1975 already, was to reach 18 to 24 m³ ha^-1 ye^-1 for our most advanced varieties (Evolving Seed Orchard or Multiclonal Varieties). Now, it seems to be probably a bit too ambitious but we are still hoping to reach 18 to 20 m³ ha^-1 ye^-1. Comparative experiments settled with these varieties will show in the future the level actually reached.

Though at the edge of the natural range, Norway Spruce in Belgium is an exotic with origins probably mainly from Austria, Germany and Poland. Stands were submitted to the natural selection of our climate with much rainfall (1 200 mm) and long period of vegetation. Furthermore, they were submitted to the rather heavy and selective thinnings of our Forest Service (much more than in Germany). Thanks to natural regeneration that is now performed in the best stands, a genuine "land race" is progressively arising. It could be called the "Ardenne race".

On another hand, according to previous results confirmed by a recent assessment of the Belgium experiment of the 3rd International Provenance Experiment (the "Polish one") in the Ardenne (NANSON and DESTEUCQ, 1997), Belgian provenances are appearing as the most productive ones in Europe with the Istebna ones (PL) and Westerhof (D).

It is therefore interesting, not only from the Belgian stand point but also from the European one, to conserve our best Selected Seed Stands, "Plus trees", Multiclonal varieties, etc. of this new "Ardenne race".

Some new valuable Selected Seed Stands are now being examined for insertion in the Belgian Catalogue of Basic materials.

Mainly with Germany-Lower Saxony (TERASA/KLEINSCHMIT), a European database is being constructed for douglas fir within the EU Contract EUDIREC. Possibly, this database could serve also for other European species, including Norway Spruce. New progress should be made in his respect before the end of 1998.

On request of EUFORGEN, an annotated bibliography of scientific papers on Belgian genetics, breeding and genetic resources of Picea abies in Belgium is going on (NANSON).

As well as in Germany, decline of Norway Spruce is now stabilised in Belgium. On the contrary, decline is still rising with hardwoods, especially with beech and indigenous oaks. During the last ten years, SO2 pollution has decreased whereas the NOx one has still increased.

We are hoping that new OECD rules regarding Forest Reproductive Materials will be adopted unchanged by the European Union in its new regulations.

Finally, as a serious negative aspect, no scientist is still existing anymore at our Research Station to continue Norway Spruce Forest Tree Breeding and Genetic Conservation.

NANSON, A. and DESTEUCQ, O. (1997) Third Norway Spruce international provenance experiment in Belgium - Main results. Invited paper, IUFRO S2.02.11 Meeting , Stara Lesna (Slovakia), Sept. 97, 14 p.

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