Die Höhenverbreitung von Esche, Buche und Tanne. Diskussion am Beispiel der Luzerner Voralpen | Altitudinal distribution of ash, beech and silver fir: Discussion using the example of the Prealps in the canton of Lucerne

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In the upper montane forests in the region of Entlebuch,Lucerne the current proportion of mixed stands of ash, beech and silver fir is low. Cultivation and management of stable,well-adapted stands is therefore illusory. If promotion of the missing species is to be encouraged in the future, the natural potential must first be ascertained. In order to achieve this the canton of Lucerne effectuated an expansive plant-sociological site map. The exact altitudinal distribution of each forest community first had to be ascertained, as the identification of the relevant species is hardly possible at a glance. In order to draw up a complete and accurate plant-sociological site map, the exact altitudinal distribution of each forest community had to be inventoried, as the determination of species is hardly possible at a glance. Only the systematic search for individual trees in the higher altitudes delivered a good database. In a survey,carried out from 1995 to 2000 along the northern slopes of the alps between Marbach and Pilatus, a total of 396 individual trees or tree groups of the three species were catalogued. By combining the collection of this data with the drawing up of the site map, the workload entailed in this survey remained within acceptable limits. The collected data show that scattered remnants of earlier mixed stands can still be found today. The maximum distribution altitude for silver fir lies at 1800 m.a.s.l., for beech at 1600 m.a.s.l. and for ash at 1400 m.a.s.l. In the uppermost 150 metres of distribution, trees only grow to the middle of this level and are not silviculturally relevant. Although in the next lowest 150 metres the three species do not generally attain numbers that are relevant regarding the function of stands, in certain adapted sites they can make up a considerable proportion and therefore greatly influence the structure, dynamics and stability of these stands. Today's underrepresentation of the three species in question can be plausibly explained within an historical context. The enormous requirement of wood in early industrial times,especially in the glass industry, played a central role. If the silvicultural management of protection forests is to be carried out in an economical sound manner with all embracing,long term goals the promotion of the examined tree species will play a considerable role. We have formulated a number of recommendations to help achieve these goals.