Broadleaf species dominate Serbia’s diverse forests including the Srem Forest District, where oak regeneration is focused on the Ravni Srem portion of the district. Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) is the dominant species, making up about 50% of standing volume. The most important supporting species in mixed stands are narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl) and common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.). Seeding is used when acorn crops are poor or absent. In good mast years, acorns are incorporated into the soil or sown mechanically (about 450 kg ha^-1), 2 to 5 cm deep in rows 0.7 m apart with acorns spaced 15 to 20 cm in a row. Seeds are manually collected from registered stands and orchards, and subject to quality testing, thermotherapy, and fungicide treatment before storage. Herbicides and arboricides are used to control competition. Fencing protects seeds and seedlings from animals; rodenticides, fungicides, and insecticides are applied as required. Regeneration areas are limited to 56.25 ha, with seed trees left for shelter. Sowing is done in autumn–winter using machines, with acorns spaced in rows. Early competition is controlled by herbicides. Mechanical weeding and fencing continue during the sapling phase. Fire lanes are established and maintained for up to 15 years. Success is measured by seedling establishment and survival after the first growing season. Impacts of invasive plants and animal damage are mitigated by site management and maintaining fencing. Failure is mainly due to unfavorable climatic factors. The moderate-continental climate is expected to experience increased temperature and precipitation by 2040.

Container characteristics can influence seedling morphology and quality by affecting root development and seedling growth during nursery production. This study evaluated the effects of two container types, Plantagrah and Hiko, on the morphology and quality of one-year-old seedlings of Quercus frainetto, Q. petraea, and Q. pubescens. Twenty seedlings per species and container type were randomly selected. Morphological traits, dry mass traits, rooting intensity (ROIN), and Dickson Quality Index (DQI) were assessed. The effects of species, container type, and their interaction were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, while multivariate variation was explored using principal component analysis (PCA). Significant differences among species were observed for most measured traits. Quercus petraea generally exhibited the greatest diameter, height, and seedling dry mass, whereas Q. frainetto showed the lowest values for most growth-related traits. Container type significantly affected diameter, fine root dry mass, total root dry mass, H/D index, and DQI. Seedlings grown in Hiko containers exhibited larger diameters, greater root biomass, lower H/D values, and higher DQI values than seedlings grown in Plantagrah containers. Significant interactions between species and container type were detected only for shoot:root ratio, indicating that container effects were generally consistent across species. PCA showed clearer separation among species than among container types. The results indicate that container type influences several important indicators of seedling quality and that Hiko containers provide favorable conditions for the production of high-quality seedlings of the studied oak species during the first nursery year.

New terms have proliferated as international focus on forest condition surged because of the role forests play in climate change mitigation and adaptation. From umbrella concepts (e.g., forestation, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem restoration) to specific methods (e.g., forest landscape restoration, rewilding, and assisted migration), nuanced terms target different beginning conditions (non-forest, harvested, deforested, or degraded forest) and desired future conditions (forest cover, self-sustaining systems, ecological integrity). Human well-being may or may not be a relevant objective. Quality forest reproductive material is critical for the success of large-scale planting to meet current policy objectives and future needs as climate warming and increased intensity and frequency of extreme events add to reforestation backlogs embodied in the new terminology and attitudes toward forest management.

As a part of networking activities of PEN-CAFoRR COST Action (CA19128), the combined meeting took place in Mitzpe Ramon, Israel from 15 to 16 March 2023. In addition to the Core Group and Working Groups Meeting, a Thematic Workshop was organized by the local organizer Dr Ilan Stavi.

The seed of Pinus sylvestris L. originating from natural forest in Voronezh region, Russian Federation, was graded in four classes based on seed diameter size, using the operational equipment of screens with round openings. The ungraded seedlot was used as control. Seedlings were produced in Voronezh containerized forest nursery, from March to September 2015, following the standard procedure for Pinus sylvestris. Seed from each size class, plus control, is sown in containers with 120 cm³ cells, filled with peat-substrate, grown in greenhouse for eight weeks, followed by hardening in growing area until the end of the growing season. The results shows a week positive effect of seed grading on height of one-year old container-grown seedlings, but significant improvement of seed use efficiency by reducing the number of empty cells. Based on results of this study, we can recommend grading of Pinus sylvestris seed on two size classes.

This paper provides first report for European white elm potential for biomass production. High density plantation (71,428 seedlings ha^-1) was established on spring 2012^th near Belgrade from one-year-old seedlings, produced from seed. Weed control and irrigation was practiced only in the first growing season, without fertilization. In a three year rotation, European white elm plants in a high density plantation reach average height of 341.11 cm and average root collar diameter of 31.9 mm, with height increase of about 1 m, diameter increase of about 1 cm per year. At the end of three-years rotation total produced biomass was 90 odt ha^-1, or 30 odt ha^-1 year^-1. Biomass production of European white elm is in range or higher compared to traditionally used species, indicating the need for further research on planting material, plant density and cultural practices.  

The conference on "Reforestation Challenges" took place on 20-22 June 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia, at Faculty of Forestry of the University of Belgrade. This was the fourth meeting on reforestation challenges, after three successful meetings in three previous years (2015 – Belgrade, Serbia; 2016 – Krakow, Poland; 2017 – Session at the IUFRO Congress in Freiburg, Germany). This Conference, like the first one, was organized by Faculty of Forestry of the University of Belgrade, IUFRO (specifically by IUFRO Unit: 3.02.00 - Stand Establishment and Treatment), and Reforesta Scientific and professional Society.

Beech is the most important tree species in forests of Serbia. However, despite its significance, the taxonomic status of beech in Serbia is unclear. Morphology of the cupules can be successfully used to distinguish species and within species taxa. In this paper we report results on cupules morphology, measuring the same attributes reported by Mišić (1955): 1) Length of the longest valve of cupule, 2) Width of that valve (at widest point), 3) Distance between base of the longest valve and peduncle, 4) Length of cupule without peduncle, and 5) Length of peduncle. The length of cupule and peduncle length from 12 populations in Serbia are in the range reported for Fagus sylvatica in Serbia and western Eurasia. Results of cluster analysis shows a grouping of populations in two groups:1) the southeast group, and 2) group consist of populations from northwest, east and southeast of Serbia. Populations from this southeast group also consist the group of populations on altitude over 850 m, indicating presence of ecotypes. The exception is population from Stara Planina (1,520 m a.s.l.) which is grouped with populations from altitudes under 850 m.

Aiming to produce forest reproductive material at the family level, we tested quality of twenty Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl half-sib lines in the nursery experiment. We measured height (HT) and root collar diameter (DIA) of one-year old seedlings, and we monitored germination rate and mortality during the first growing season. Seeds of 20 half-sib lines originating from Sombor area (north Serbia) were sown in seedbed on autumn 2016. The seed dormancy was not broken in all seeds equally, resulting with un-uniform germination over a two months period. All measured attributes shows a statistically significant differences, indicating a strong effect of genetic control. The highest average and DIA were measured in half-sib line 7 (22.62 cm; 5.79 mm, respectively). The lowest average DIA was measured in half-sib lines 18 (2.85 mm) and 19 (2.94 mm), which can be result of growing density effect (104 seedlings m^-2 for line 18 and 126 seedlings m^-2 for line 19, compared to 40 seedlings m^-2 for line 7). The correlation between DIA and HT is strong and positive (R=0.90). Due to its morphological superiority, half-sib line 7 could be recommended for mass production of Fraxinus angustifolia seedlings at the family level.