LIETUVOS MIŠKŲ INSTITUTO 2003 METŲ VEIKLOS APŽVALGA

ACTIVITY REVIEW OF LITHUANIAN FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN 2003

Summary

The Lithuanian Forest Research Institute is a state scientific institute. Fundamental and applied forest research to obtain new knowledge with the purpose of social, ecological and economical country development, the dissemination of scientific and technical information about forest and environmental as well as education of PhD students in forest and environmental sciences are the main goals of the Institute.

The new Statute of the Lithuanian Forest Research Institute has been approved according to the decision of the Government of the Lithuanian Republic (No. 669, May 27, 2003). The new Council (19 members) was elected. Prof. Stasys Karazija, a corresponding member of Lithuanian Academy of Science, became the chairman of the Council. Council elected prof. Remigijus Ozolinčius as a director of Institute.

At the Institute there were 86 employees in 2003, among them 21 scientists and 22 PhD students.

In 2003, the scientific work has been performed in the following research departments: Department of Ecology and Silviculture, Department of Forest Genetics and Reforestation, Department of Forest Soils, Typology and Hydrology, Department of Forest Resources and Economics, Department of Forest Protection and Game Management, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology.

The following research directions were confirmed by the Government of the Lithuanian Republic (No 1102, 10-07-2002):

• Biodiversity and sustainability of forest ecosystems;

• Reforestation, forest productivity increment, protection and usage;

• Forest genetic resources and breeding of forest trees;

• Forest policy, social and economical problems (in the context of new modes of ownership).

In 2003 Lithuanian Forest Research Institute carried out 11 research projects funded from the State budget. Some more important findings are presented below.

New knowledge about genetic variability, the adaptation levels and changes in the traits of Quercus robur L., Alnus glutinosa L. and Betula pendula Roth. as well as their regularity in the aspect of geography of origin and ontogenesis has been obtained. Genetic heredity determination of the traits, plasticity of the phenotypes, genotypes and the particularity of the environmental interactions were estimated and the possibilities for the genetic traits conservation in changing environment were assessed.

Five DNA haplotypes of oak originated from South Europe and only one haplotype of ash originated from Balkans have been detected within Lithuania in the post-glacial period.
The flushing of terminal buds in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) provenances from the Baltic region and the stem quality are more related to their origin from North latitude than to their origin from East longitude.

In Lithuania, the trees from Northern and Eastern provenances start their vegetation earlier and they have lower height; among them there are more trees with two stems than among progenies from Southern and Western provenances.

The plants-regenerants from the hybridical aspen (Populus tremuloides x Populus tremula, Populus tremula x Populus alba) in vitro propagated were more genetically stable and identical.

The physical properties of the natural and former agricultural Arenosols in long-time period became more similar, otherwise, in the plots where the agricultural activity was processed the sandy soils were less fine and had higher porosity in 0-10 cm depth while the reverse situation was found in 10-20 cm depth where the soils were finer but less porous.

More intensive natural regeneration of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) plantations was found only in a distance of 100-130 m from the forest edge in studied abandoned agricultural lands. The most intensive natural regeneration was found on poor soils. The vegetation typical to forest ecosystems appears after 30-50 years.

Heterobasidion annosum observed to be persistent in the roots system of the infected trees for long time (more than 25 years).

The new species of the insects (Poecilium alni L.) was found for the first time in Lithuania.

It was observed that the natural destruction process in the aspen (Populus tremula) and birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stands is very slow and almost without progress until 90 years old. Therefore, the succession by Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) is not rapid as well because of small number of trees in the second storey and low class vigorousness (low class development). Therefore, the possibility to form various-aged spruce stands was determined.

The droughts progressing repeatedly in recent decades had no significant influence on oak growth in Lithuania. Though, in last five decades the positive influence of the precipitation in August-September has increased the radial increment of the oak stands on mineral soils of normal moisture. It could be related to the deficiency of the humidity, which is usually observed at the end of summer.

The preliminary list of the plant species that are sensitive for the ozone injures territory of Lithuania includes 31 species of the trees and shrubs as well 17 perennial herbs. Ozone-induced visible foliage injuries on forest plants (Rubus idaeus L., Alnus incana L., Salix caprea L. and Frangula alnus Miller) were recorded for the first time in Lithuania. They are the first vegetation damage symptom in Eastern Europe as well. The rate of injured plants varied from 1 to 15% per sampling site (injures were recorded on 40% of sites investigated; grids - 52x52 km; sampling plot size - 20x25 m).

The variability of wood properties of trees on different forest sites and the various-aged stands were assessed. In younger stands the trees growing at the edge of the gap have about 0.14-0.25 cm thicker branches.

The main means to increase profitability of state forest enterprises have been analysed: the improvement of roundwood assortment structure, employment contractors (logging companies) for logging, reduction of administration (management) costs. The main problems of private forest owners have been surveyed: high level of bureaucracy for restitution forest property rights, lack of information for private forest owners, too strict legal regulations of private forest property management. The regularities of spruce stem delimbing work time expenditures were estimated and the mathematical model for the calculations was set.

Except 11 projects funded from the State budget, 43 research projects funded from other sources were carried in 2003. They include various recommendations for the forestry practice (oak reforestation; forest fire protection; biodiversity conservation; optimisation of final cutting; seed stands restoration and usage; nursery establishment and modernisation; nursery irrigation and soil fertilisation, reforestation on very entrophic temporary overmoistured mineral soils (forest site Lf), regulation of the game populations, seed orchards in greenhouses, profitability improvement in the forest enterprises and etc.

The institute was involved in 3 State research programs: Investigation of genetic resources of the forest tree species and their conservation in conditions of changeable environment, The integrated impact of anthropogenic climatic and environmental changes to vegetation of forest and agro-ecosystems, Adaptability of plants and it’s regulation by means of biotechnology. The institute participated in EU project WOOD-EN-MAN and in 11 international projects (ICP-Forest, Harverthead, SNS projects, COST programs and etc.). The monograph “Genetics and Breeding of Norway spruce in Lithuania”, annual report “Lithuanian Forest Research Institute. Activity review in 2002”, “Scientific Issues Related to Sustainable Forest Management in an Ecosystem and Landscape Perspective”, “Wood Fuel Resources and Bottlenecked of Utilisation in Baltic and Nordic countries” (last two together with other institutions) were prepared and published. In peer-reviewed international and Lithuanian scientific journals 24 scientific articles were published. More than 50 reports were presented at the scientific conferences, among them 35 – at international conferences. In cooperation with Lithuanian University of Agriculture the Lithuanian Forest Research Institute publishes the national peer-reviewed scientific journal “Miškininkystė” (Forest Science), and also the peer-reviewed international journal “Baltic Forestry” in cooperation with Latvian and Estonian Forest Research Institutes.

In 2003, 7 students have started their PhD studies in forestry (together with Lithuanian University of Agriculture) and environmental sciences (together with Vytautas Magnus University).

The international conference for young scientists and PhD students “The present and perspectives of the development of sustainable forestry” was organised in September 18-19th, 2003.

The Lithuanian Forest Research Institute is a member of the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IURFO). The agreements on collaboration with forest research institutes in Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Latvia and etc. have been signed. The institute is participating in an international exchange of researchers and teachers.