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

Armin König and Heino Wolf

In 1995 and 1996, reports were already given on general aspects related to Norway spruce in Germany, factors threatening the gene resources of Norway spruce, conservation aims and status of gene conservation activities as well as research activities during the 1st network meeting in Stará Lesná/Slovakia and the 2nd meeting in Hyytiälä/Finland (Wolf 1995, 1997). Different aspects of the ex situ conservation of genetic resources in seed orchards and clone collections were included as contribution in the "Technical guidelines for genetic conservation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)" (Koski et al. 1997). Therefore, in the following only a summary will be given on the general situation, the priorities and the main principles of conservation methods and measures applied.

Picea abies is still one of the most important forest tree species in Germany. About 32.8 % (=3.5 million hectares) of the forest area (=10.8 million hectares) is covered by this species (BML 1994). In the last years, felling of spruce, including other softwood species of similar wood properties like fir, amounted to about 22 million m³/year, or 56 % of the total felling volume. At present, the growing stock would allow an annual felling volume of Norway spruce of about 28 million m³/year without violating the principle of sustainable forestry. But it has to be taken into consideration that the efforts of proper forestry may be influenced heavily by natural disasters. For example in 1990, the planned felling volume for Norway spruce was 19.2 million m³, but due to disastrous storms in several parts of Germany the total logging volume amounted finally to 54.6 million m³.

In several parts of Germany, Norway spruce gene resources are still affected by air pollution. Figure 1 shows the development of visible damages (=loss of more than 25 % of needles) in Norway spruce from 1984 to 1997 (data from BML 1996 and 1997). In the left, the figure shows only the damages assessed in the western part of Germany which have decreased significantly from 1985 to 1989. After the reunification, the presentation of damages is based on data from both Western and Eastern Germany beginning in 1991. Especially from 1991 to 1994, the average damages in Eastern Germany remained on a very high level. Reason for the damages was the heavy influence of air pollution in most of the forest areas in Eastern Germany. Since 1994, a slightly decrease of the visible damages can be observed, mainly caused by a significant improvement of the general air pollution situation due to the rapid change or the shut down of the industrial structure. In 1997, the level of visible damages observed in Norway spruce stands is lower compared to some other species like oak. However, in the south of Eastern Germany, especially in the Ore mountains, several populations of Norway spruce and other species are still highly threatened or endangered by air pollution.

Already in 1985, the working party "Conservation of Forest Gene Resources" (Bund-Länder-Arbeitsgruppe "Erhaltung forstlicher Genressourcen" [BLAG]) consisting of members of federal and of state institutions was established with the mandate to develop a concept for the conservation of forest genetic resources in the Federal Republic of Germany (abbreviation in the following "the concept"). The first version was published in 1987. In 1997, an English wording of the concept was issued (BLAG 1997). Another very important legal basis for the gene conservation activities in Germany are the relevant resolutions of the Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe in Strasbourg (1990) and Helsinki (1993).

The BLAG has the task to co-ordinate all activities for the conservation of forest genetic resources in the Federal Republic of Germany. The working group meets about twice a year and issues a progress and a summary report on the conservation activities every two years. Also "the concept" has been further developed to account for new scientific knowledge or new necessities or priorities. Due to the federal structure of Germany, the responsibility for the implementation of the proposed activities is with the single federal states.

In Germany, the promotion of Norway spruce by forestry for two centuries led to an increase of the percentage of Norway spruce up to 100 % on suitable sites and to an extension to not suitable sites within the natural distribution area as well as to an extension to sites outside the natural distribution area of the species. This process was accompanied by the transfer of reproductive material. In many cases, the origin of this material was not known or the material proved not to be suitable in the long-term (Wolf 1995). These facts and the small scale distribution of Norway spruce stands with different genetic origin make it very difficult to identify and delimit natural autochthonous Norway spruce forests from nearly natural or artificial formations of Norway spruce forests (Wolf 1995).

Therefore, conservation activities take into account if a certain unit, e. g. a stand or a remnant tree, is worth to be conserved and if there exists a necessity for conservation. The adaptedness to the given site conditions is important. Autochthonous populations are given a higher priority than non-autochthonous populations. Marginal populations and populations growing on specific sites receive special interest. The aim of the conservation activities is to include as much as possible of the genetic variation of the species. However, the declaration of large gene conservation areas is not possible in many cases due to the patchwork-like mixture of Norway spruce stands with different genetic background in many regions.

The necessity for conservation is determined by the degree of threat or of damage, the rarity as well as the economical or ecological importance. Priorities are strongly influenced by the specific regional situation. Due to the air pollution situation Norway spruce has still a high priority with regard to conservation activities.

Most activities mentioned in "the concept" correlate with the recommendations given in the "Technical guidelines" worked out by the EUFORGEN-working group (Koski et al. 1997). However, the activities are taking necessarily into account the specific national, regional or local situation of Norway spruce genetic resources in Germany. In situ and ex situ conservation measures in the field are considered more appropriate and have reached so far a higher degree of realisation than ex situ conservation in gene banks.

The recently published report of the BLAG covers the years 1996 and 1997 (BLAG 1998). In table 1 the conservation activities during this period with regard to Norway spruce are summarised. Furthermore biochemical-genetic research was done in 31 Norway spruce stands with 3,055 trees. Additionally, 139 single trees were investigated.

In the report period, several papers were published concerning investigations on the genetic structure of an autochthonous Norway spruce population and its progenies as basis for the evaluation of the efficiency of gene conservation measures (Gaertner et al. 1996), investigations on the relationship between genetic variation and stability of Norway spruce model populations (Hertel and Kohlstock 1996) as well as investigations on the relationship between forest decline and origin of damaged populations (Ruetz et al. 1996).

The state of the conservation activities related to forest genetic resources of Norway spruce in Germany is summarised in table 2. The activities are grouped in the same way as in the "Technical guidelines". Seed stands which are also considered as forest genetic resources are not included in this statistics. In 1997, Norway spruce stands approved for the collection of selected reproductive material amounted in Germany to about 44,000 hectares.

BLAG (Bund-Länder-Arbeitsgruppe "Erhaltung forstlicher Genressourcen") 1997: Concept for the Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources in the Federal Republic of Germany. Silvae Genetica 46, 24-34.

BLAG 1998: Tätigkeitsbericht der Bund-Länder-Arbeitsgruppe "Erhaltung forstlicher Genressourcen", Berichtszeitraum 1996-1997. Hessische Landesanstalt für Forsteinrichtung, Waldforschung und Waldökologie, Hann. Münden, 133 S.

BML 1994: Nationaler Waldbericht der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten, Bonn, Nr. 611-7/94, 94 S. + Anhang.

BML 1996: Waldzustandsbericht der Bundesregierung 1996. Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten, Bonn, Nr. 615-41/96, 100 S.

BML 1997: Waldzustandsbericht der Bundesregierung 1997. Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten, Bonn, Ref. 615, 210 S.

Gärtner, G., Wolf, H. und Braun, H. (1996): Untersuchungen zur genetischen Struktur der autochthonen Fichtenpopulation Carlsfeld im Erzgebirge und ihrer Nachkommenschaften als Grundlage zur Beurteilung der Effektivität von Generhaltungsmaßnahmen [Investigations on the genetic structure of the autochthonous Norway spruce population Carlsfeld in the Ore mountains and its progenies as basis for the evaluation of the efficiency of gene conservation measures]. Silvae Genetica 45, 294-301.

Hertel, H. und Kohlstock, N. 1996: Forstpflanzenzüchtung und Biodiversität: Ein Modellversuch zur Untersuchung des Zusammenhangs zwischen genetischer Variation und Stabilität am Beispiel der Fichte (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) [Forest tree breeding and biodiversity: A model experiment to investigate the relationship between genetic variation and stability at the example of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)]. In: Biodiversität und nachhaltige Forstwirtschaft (G. Müller-Starck, Ed.), ecomed-Verlagsgesellschaft, Landsberg am Lech, 93-104.

Koski, V.; Skrøppa, T.; Paule, L.; Wolf, H. and Turok, J. 1997: Technical guidelines for genetic conservation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, 42 p.

Ruetz, W. F.; Konnert, M. und Behm, A. 1996: Sind Waldschäden auch eine Frage der Herkunft? [Is forest decline also a question of the origin of seed sources?] Allgem. Forstz./Der Wald, 51, 759-761.

Wolf, H. 1995: The conservation of Norway spruce gene resources in the Federal Republic of Germany. In: Turok, J.; Koski, V.; Paule, L. and Frison, E. (Comp.): Picea abies Network. Report of the first meeting, 16-18 March 1995, Stará Lesná, Slovakia. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, 70-78.

Wolf, H. 1997: Research and further development of conservation and use in Germany. In: Turok, J.; Koski, V. (Comp.): Picea abies Network. Report of the second meeting, 5-7 September 1996, Hyytiälä, Finland. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, 20-22.

Table 1: Summary on gene conservation activities related forest genetic resources of Norway spruce during 1996 and 1997 (from BLAG 1998)

Table 2: State of conservation activities related to forest genetic resources of Norway spruce in Germany (state: 31.12.1997) (from BLAG 1998)

Fig.1: Development of forest decline in Norway spruce (after BML 1996 and 1997). From 1984 to 1989, figures for Western Germany only.

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