Network Wild Fruit Species: Opportunities and limitations of in situ conservation of related wild species at the example of wild fruit species in forests and forestry

Abstract

In Germany, about 32% of the total land area is covered by forests. Their distribution in the landscape, their species composition and their structures are the result of human influences of different intensity. These include the removal of forests on 2/3 of the area, the over-exploitation of the remaining forests, the preference of economically important trees species and the changes of site conditions whether by littering or by air pollution. Through these the occurrences of many demanding broadleaved species were forced back a lot, by nature rare species still more scarcely. To the latter mentioned group of tree species also the wild fruit species belong to such as Wild apple (Malus sylvestris [L.] MILL.), Wild pear (Pyrus pyraster [L.] BURGSD.) or Wild cherry (Prunus avium L.).

In the following contribution, the objectives, strategies and activities are described for the conservation and sustainable utilization of forest genetic resources in Germany. Based on a national concept commissioned by the Bundesrat, the work is coordinated by the Federal-State-Working Group “Forest Genetic Resources and Legislation on Forest Reproductive Material” and carried out by the forest institutions in charge of the states together with federal institutions since 1985.

From the three Wild fruit species Wild apple, Wild pear and Wild cherry, the latter has the greatest economical and therefore silvicultural importance. Wild cherry is subject to the Law on Forest Reproductive Material. Wild cherry occurs in all Germany, however has a very small share on the forest area of less than one percent. Due to its importance, conservation activities related to Wild cherry have increased steadily in situ as well as ex situ. Over and above Wild cherry is object of further genetic research and breeding activities.

In opposite to Wild cherry, Wild apple and Wild pear are very rare and endangered species. A first assessment of occurrences on the national level was done with the project “Assessment and Documentation of Genetic Resources of Rare and Endangered Tree Species in Germany” promoted by the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture. It was possible to assess most of the wild apples and wild pears growing on forest sites in Germany. Taking into account the number of individuals, the age structure and the vitality of the respective occurrences, 80% of the occurrences assessed must be considered as endangered.

At the example of the project “Conservation of the within Species Variation of Wild Fruit Species indigenous to Saxony” also promoted by the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture, the opportunities and limitations of the in situ conservation of rare wild fruit species in forests and forestry are presented and discussed. For the implementation of activities for the conservation of genetic resources of wild fruit species public forest enterprises of the Federal Government as well as the State Governments have a specific responsibility including the advice of private and municipal owned forest enterprises.