Current Status of Genetic Conservation of Norway Spruce (Picea abies) in Austria : Picea abies Network. Report of the First Meeting 16-18 March 1995, Tatra National Park, Stara Lesna, Slovakia
In Austria, Norway spruce is a naturally occurring forest tree species that is of outstanding ecological and economic importance. In total, 1870 000ha or 56.1% of the production forest area is covered by spruce. Genetic resources of this species are not at stake in general. However, owing to unvontrolled forestry in former times the natural geographical pattern of genetic variation has been strongly modified. This complicates the study of natural genetic differentiation and the identification of gene resources. Anthropogenic activities have often blurred effects of local selection regimes and postglacial immigration. The preservation of the adaptive potential of Norway spruce is done within the frame of a federal conservation programme that was launched in the 1980s. This predominantly pragmatic programme focuses on the declaration of gene reserves, i.e. in situ stands that represent ecologically important forest communities. In total, 3073ha of large-scaled Norway spruce gene reserves (42 stands) and an additional 1069ha of small-scale conservation units (82 stands) have been declared as genetic resources. As a backup, 318kg of Austrian Norway spruce seeds are currently stored in the federal seed bank. In the long term, identification of valuable spruce genetic resources should be based on a synoptic assessment of ecological (predominantly forest communities) and genetic parameters (results derived from field trials and genetic inventories).
