In an interview for GEA magazine, the interviewee presents the current situation in the field of forestry and adaptation to climate change in the world and in Slovenia. Among other topics, he talks about the possibilities that non-native tree species present in the cultivation of forests, the situation after the ice in 2014 and in the adaptation to climate change, among which the American Douglas-fir in particular stands out.
B.06 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 5526694Paulownia (Paulownia spp.) are trees originating from Asia, which are being planted all over the world because of the characteristics of their wood and their fast growth. The purpose of our research was to determine how widely this species has been planted in Bela krajina, Slovenia, to assess how successful the plantations are, and to identify any signs of invasiveness. We located 28 plantations with a combined surface area of 15.5ha and a total of 11,765 trees. Most were of the Shan Tong variety; only one farmer had planted the Bellissima hybrid. More detailed analysis was carried out at four plantations, three in their fourth growing season and one in the third, and the trees were identified as healthy. Across the four plantantions, the lowest average diameter of the trunk was 11.7cm, and the highest 12.6cm; the lowest average height was 6.5m, and the highest 7.8m. Cutting seedlings back after the first year reduces height and diameter increments at the beginning, but the cut seedlings catch up after three growing seasons and even overtake uncut seedlings in height growth. We did not find any signs of invasiveness, although we spotted some root suckers and fruits on several trees in one plantation. All the seedlings were provided with sterile certification at the time of purchase, which inhibits the uncontrolled spread of these trees.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 5508774Acta Silvae et Ligni is a leading national scientific journal in the field of forestry and wood technology. In 2019, several original scientific articles were published in the journal, which dealt with non-native tree species and their characteristics and potential in Slovenia.
C.05 Editorial board of a national magazine
COBISS.SI-ID: 266761216