Effect of Seedling Provenance and Site Heterogeneity on Abies cephalonica Performance in a Post-Fire Environment

Kostas Ioannidis, Marianthi Tsakaldimi, Katerina Koutsovoulou, Evangelia N. Daskalakou and Petros Ganatsas
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Kostas Ioannidis: Laboratory of Silviculture, Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 11528 Athens, Greece
Marianthi Tsakaldimi: Laboratory of Silviculture, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Katerina Koutsovoulou: Green Fund, Ministry of Environment and Energy, 14561 Kifisia, Greece
Evangelia N. Daskalakou: Laboratory Forest Management & Forest Economics, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 11528 Athens, Greece
Petros Ganatsas: Laboratory of Silviculture, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Reforestation constitutes a challenge in post-fire ecosystem restoration, although there are limitations such as species and genotype selection, planting and management design, and environmental conditions. In the present study, the basic issue is the longevity of Abies cephalonica Loudon—the Greek fir seedlings planted extensively in Parnitha National Park (Central Greece), located near the metropolitan city of Athens, following the large-scale wildfire of 2007. Seedling performance was assessed for a 3-year monitoring period (2013–2015) through the establishment of 8 permanent transects, including 400 seedlings at the burned, reforested sites. According to the long-term reforestation project, two seedling provenances were used: (a) from Mt. Mainalon (South Greece, Vytina provenance) and (b) the local one from Mt. Parnitha. Both provenances showed a relatively successful survival rate reaching, in average, 73.8%, with the first summer after planting being crucial for seedling survival. The overall mean seedling height was 39.2 ± 1.1 cm, with a mean crown diameter of 47.3 ± 1.4 cm in the last monitoring survey. Although Parnitha seedlings seem to perform better in terms of growth, seedling performance in both provenances was affected by reforestation site characteristics, mainly altitude and aspect. Approximately one third of seedlings exhibited damage in their crown architecture (29.8%), while apical bud damage was less extensive (12.2%) in the final field measurement. Data indicate that seedling performance has proved to be quite promising for post-fire restoration, although long-term monitoring data should be considered.

Keywords: Greek fir; reforestation; species conservation; provenance; seedling survival and growth; ecological restoration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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