Is there a Future for the Isolated Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) Forests in Southern Turkey?

• Main Author: YILMAZ, Mustafa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2010-01-01
• Series: Acta Silvatica & Lignaria Hungarica
• Subjects: Fagus orientalis; Eastern Mediterranean; relict distribution; in situ conservation
• Online Access: http://aslh.nyme.hu/fileadmin/dokumentumok/fmk/acta_silvatica/cikkek/Vol06-2010/09_yilmaz_p.pdf

Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) is mainly found in the northern region of Turkey.There is also an approximate 40,000 ha of isolated relict oriental beech forest in southern Turkey. Thisrelict population differs somewhat from the northern distribution in terms of average altitudinaldistribution, health conditions, and reactions to climate change. Beech forest distribution in southernTurkey starts at about 1000 m, contrary to the northern distribution, which begins at about 150-200 m. Insouthern Turkey, the average temperature is higher, and summer drought occurs due to irregular rainfall.Beech trees in the south decay at earlier ages due to their sprout origins and higher temperatures than in thenorth. In recent decades, some part of the beech forests have shed leaves during the summer in response tosevere drought. Therefore, these relict populations are on the verge of extinction under unfavorableconditions.