Forest pathological investigations on the extensive hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) dieback in the natural oak-hornbeam forest community

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is an interesting tree species for climate fit forests of the future. It belongs to those species that are rarely affected by severe damaging factors. However, since 2024 extensive dieback of hornbeam trees in the natural oak-hornbeam forest community in forests of the owner “Urbarialgemeinde Schattendorf” (Northern Burgenland) has been observed. The aims of the pre sent project are to clarify the cause of this hornbeam dieback, which is presumably incited by pathogenic fungi. Likewise, the importance of tree species composition, density of hornbeam and environmental factors on hornbeam dieback shall be investigated. Moreover, differences regarding susceptibility respectively tolerance shall be examined, in order to assess the risk of the native tree species hornbeam towards the causal agents of horn beam dieback. Based on the forest pathological analyses, preventive and control measures as well as silvicultural measures will be reviewed, discussed with the forest owners and finally recommended for implementation. The investigations are carried out in the affected oak-horn beam forest of the “Urbarialgemeinde Schattendorf” as well as in the laboratories and experimental areas of the Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection of BOKU University (IFFF-BOKU).