Does Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani A. RICH.) provide an alternative forest tree species for mitigation of climate change effects on Austrian forests ?

In the face of climate change, Austrian forests and forestry are facing major challenges. Drought events increasingly cause large-scale forest damage and raise the question whether local tree populations can adapt fast enough to changing climate conditions. Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) is characterized by high ecological integrability and can well tolerate prolonged dry periods in summer. In its natural range, it usually occurs in mixed stands, being associated with both light and shade tree species. In Central Europe, this forest tree species has not been cultivated so far, with a few exceptions. So far, several studies have indicated differences between specific occurrences concerning the morphological, phenotypic and molecular level. In addition, first provenance trials in France, Italy and Turkey show clear differences between provenances regarding mortality, ecological plasticity and growth performance. Therefore, the choice of origin for afforestation in Austria is crucial for silvicultural and forest ecological success. The aim of the project "CEDRUS4clim" is to: 1.) to investigate provenances of Cedrus libani for their future suitability for cultivation in Austria, by means of provenance trials and climate modeling. 2) to take precautions for a long-term securing of the seed supply with Cedrus libani. 3) Parallel to this, genetic marker sets are to be established (SSRs); (a) to investigate the genetic diversity of the populations studied and (b) as a basis for future origin controls (seed trade).