Conservation and utilization of rare forest trees and indigenous woody shrub species in Rhineland-Palatinate

摘要

Integrated in the German national concept on the conservation and sustainable utilization of forest genetic resources, the elaboration of rare tree species as well as indigenous woody shrub species is one of the main field of activities in Rhineland-Palatinate. The establishment of presently more than 30 conservation seed orchards for 22 rare tree species is judged to be an highly efficient ex situ-measure for bringing about maintaining and securing the genetic resources of this tree class on the one hand. On the other hand, by bringing together different genotypes on these sites in order to form larger flowering and fructification units, the increase of genetic diversity in the progenies is effected. Similar activities, based on a regional-specific conception, are performed for those 22 indigenous woody shrub species that are meaningful for Rhineland-Palatinate. Both in situ- and ex situ-measures are applied according to the classification of either "most probably frequent" or "most probably rare" by designating shrub occurrences for seed harvesting and establishing seed plantings. These measures will contribute efficiently for growing future stabile and vital forests in our country on the base of a genetically diverse wide range of woody plantspecies.