The Basophilic Pine communities forest site type comprises natural stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and (or) black pine (Pinus nigra) that occur on very steep to precipitous dolomite slopes or in erosion hazard areas on lithosols or shallow rendzinas, from the submontane to the upper montane belts in the Alpine, pre-Alpine, Dinaric, pre-Dinaric, rarely also in the sub-Pannonian and sub-Mediterranean phytogeographical regions of Slovenia. Natural localities of basophilic pine stands are some of the most extreme forest sites, where deciduous trees (especially beech) are not competitive. The composition of the upper tree layer can comprise individual specimens of Picea abies and Larix decidua. Deciduous trees (Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus, Sorbus aria, S. aucuparia, Laburnum alpinum) occur individually only in the lower tree layer. In addition to conifers, which sporadically include Pinus mugo, the shrub layer is dominated by thermophilic species that also occur in hop hornbeam and oak communities. Basophilic pine stands are classified into two habitat types of European conservation concern – priority habitat type (Sub)Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines (9530*) and habitat type Dinaric dolomite Scots pine forests (91R0). Basophilic pine communities also comprise dwarf pine stands of Alpine valleys (Amelanchiero ovalis-Pinetum mugo) that form (long)lasting pioneer stages on torrential fans and glacial material in Alpine valleys or in very steep erosion areas that are still within the beech forest belt. In terms of floristic composition, they are still dominated by the species of pine forests (class Erico-Pinetea) and are therefore classified within this class rather than into the class Vaccinio-Piceetea that comprises subalpine dwarf pine stands on calcareous bedrock. They belong to a habitat type of Community interest 4070* Mugo-Rhododendretum hirsuti.
F.01 Acquisition of new practical knowledge, information and skills
COBISS.SI-ID: 279568384The final conference of the project EUFORINNO - European Forest Research and Innovation (7th FP EU Capacities - Regional Potential Programme, RegPot; RegPot No. 315982, 100% financing from EU; Project coordinator: Prof. Dr. Hojka Kraigher; Project budget: 2,910,724.93 €, 01.10.2012 – 31.03.2016) named "EUFORIA: European Forest Research and Innovation Area", was organized from 31.8. – 4.9. 2015 on Rogla; 127 participants were form 24 countries (Europe (including non-EU countries), USA, Japan, India and Turkey). The lectures were scheduled in 5 sessions: • Climate change and biotic diversity • Forest genetic resources • Carbon dynamics in time and space • Modelling in forests and forested landscapes • Stress and disturbance in forests and forest management On 04.09.2015 a round table was organized on Problems of regional and European forest policies and science; the invited participants were from the Slovenian and European forest research and scientific fields. Further information is available at: http://eprints.gozdis.si/1440/1/ZBORNIK_EUFORIA_2015_10_TISK_corrTG.pdf
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 281007616The extent of forest regeneration with seeding and planting is decreasing in Slovenia; forest seed production and nurseries are deteriorating. Difficulties exist with seed production, nursery operations, lack of local nurseries as well as with the financing of regeneration with seeding and planting. For removal of the consequences of damages caused by sleet in 2014 an estimated 2.26 mio seedlings are needed, twice as much as usual yearly needs. We analyse the state of forest seed husbandry in Slovenia. Recommendations for improvements are presented.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 4103078We analysed two groups of Quercus robur trees, growing at nearby plots with different micro-location condition (W-wet and D-dry) in the floodplain Krakovo forest, Slovenia. In the study we compared the growth response of two different tree groups to environmental variables, the potential signal stored in earlywood (EW) structure and the potential difference of the information stored in carbon isotope discrimination of EW and latewood (LW). For that purpose EW and LW widths and carbon isotope discrimination for the period 1970–2008 AD were measured. EW and LW widths were measured on stained microscopic slides and chronologies were standardised using the ARSTAN program. α-cellulose was extracted from pooled EW and LW samples and homogenized samples were further analysed using an elemental analyser and IRMS. We discovered that W oaks grew significantly better over the whole analysed period. The difference between D and W oaks was significant in all analysed variables with the exception of stable carbon isotope discrimination in latewood. In W oaks, latewood widths correlated with summer (June to August) climatic variables, while carbon isotope discrimination was more connected to River Krka flow during the summer. EW discrimination correlated with summer and autumn River Krka flow of the previous year, while latewood discrimination correlated with flow during the current year. In the case of D oaks, the environmental signal appears to be vague, probably due to less favourable growth conditions resulting in markedly reduced increments. Our study revealed important differences in responses to environmental factors between the two oak groups of different physiological conditions that are preconditioned by environmental stress. Environmental information stored in tree-ring features may vary, even within the same forest stand, and largely depends on the micro-environment. Our analysis confirmed our assumptions that separate EW and LW analysis of widths and carbon isotope discrimination provides complementary information in Q. robur dendroecology.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 4235430The objective of this study is to assess drivers and barriers to primary forest fuel (PFF) supply in the wide-stretched South East Europe (SEE) countries and to develop strategies to improve PFF supply involving dozens of stakeholders from different SEE countries. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analyses were used to evaluate country supply chains. Based on those a regional SWOT analysis was compiled and strategies were developed and evaluated in a participative decision process. Results show that strategies for increasing biomass utilisation are of high relevance in all participating countries. Additionally, strategies for knowledge dissemination are also important. The evaluated regional strategies for the forest fuel sector examined have great potential to improve cooperation, increase efficiency and strengthen competitiveness of PFF based bioenergy production.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 4194726