Conservation of forest genetic resources at the locality „Jelak ” in the National Park „Kopaonik" - Serbia

Abstract

The main long-term goal of conservation and sustainable development of National Park (NP) „Kopaonik” is to conserve and improve the natural values, including forest genetic resources. It is located in central Serbia, covering an area of 11,969.04 ha. One of the 13 localities with the first protection regime is „Jelak” (60.39 ha, 1000-1490 m a.s.l.). This research aimed to identify rare, endangered, relict, endemic, or species „at-risk” at the locality „Jelak”, as a basis for proposing a program for its conservation. Its main value is a presence of a mixed forest of yew and fir. By terrain reconnaissance, a total of 13 forest tree species were recorded, among which Ulmus glabra (rare), Betula pendula (rare/endangered), Populus tremula („at-risk“), and Taxus baccata (relict), which indicates a significant diversity. In addition, 14 species were recorded in the shrub layer, among which Acer heldreichii (endemic) and Acer platanoides (rare/ endangered). English yew (Taxus baccata L.) is a very rare species that occurs only in the locality „Jelak” in the entire area of NP „Kopaonik”. This species is under varying degrees of nature conservation in different European countries, and it is categorized on the European Red List Category and Criteria („least concerning”). Since it is considered a tertiary relict in the forest fund of Serbia, it is important to conserve the available gene pool. Based on the results, measures of in situ conservation and monitoring of the Taxus baccata population and all identified rare and endangered species at the locality „Jelak” have been defined.