Common beech Fagus sylvatica L; survival and longevity in changing times

Abstract

Veteran trees not only have an intrinsic interest in themselves; they also provide information about climatic conditions and masting over periods equal to many human generations. This paper endeavours to highlight existing records of veteran populations of Fagus sylvatica L. in Europe, especially in Sweden, and also provides fresh information regarding trees in Germany and the Carpathian Mountains of the Ukraine.For reasons of space it is not possible to list all the very many papers dealing with the influence of climatic warming on forest trees, but it is clear from those quoted here that common beech is particularly influenced by it. In general the effect has been to move the areas favourable to the species northwards in the lowlands and upwards in mountainous regions. This is very much the case in Britain where the Forest Authority no longer approves of beech planting in southern and eastern England. The use of sweet chestnut Castanea sativa as its replacement in broad-leaved forests is likely to result in ecosystems markedly different from those which evolved under beech. Sweet chestnut is predicted to increase in growth and productivity in the east of England as beech retreats north and west.The English Beech Mast Survey was initiated in 1980; its recorders have in consequence observed the storm damage to beech stands, particularly in the south, during that time. The remarkable response by beech to lava flows on the presently dormant volcano of Etna, Sicily, is both described and illustrated. In many cases lava that engulfed the trees had destroyed the main trunks, but left scorched bases from which the trees had coppiced successfully.