This study addresses the concept of genetically sustainable forest management. Principles of this concept and of genetic aspects of adaptation are described. Genetically relevant fields of forest management are surveyed with main emphasis on regeneration of forests.
The experimental section refers to results of recent genetic inventories in mountain forests of the Alps. These inventories deal with adult stands and natural regeneration of Norway spruce, silver fir, European larch and dwarf pine. For each of these species, intra- and interpopulational variation is quantified and compared among species. Species specific differences are evident such as smaller amounts of genetic variation in the case of silver fir and European larch as compared to Norway spruce and dwarf pine. Differences between the genetic structures of the adult stands and the corresponding natural regeneration are relatively small. Based on these results, preliminary conclusions are drawn with respect to silvicultural management.