Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in Bosnia and Herzegovina – state and perspectives

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in Southeast Europe, and more than half its area of 51.129 km² belongs to forests and forest lands. Our forests have a plenty of species, especially endemic, a great diversity of plant communities, and 93% of natural forests. We have eight oak species growing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The most important are Quercus robur (despite being almost extinct due to over-exploitation during the late XIX and early XX century), and Quercus petraea. Quercus pubescens and Quercus cerris are also ecollogicaly crucial. Today in Bosnia and Herzegovina, pedunculate oak is found in mixed stands with common hornbeam and in pure stands under exceptional conditions, with the total area of about 30.000 ha. The area of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the central part of the natural southern distribution of pedunculate oak. Because of that, it has a specific genetic structure and builds a connection of the south and east Balkan Peninsula provenances with the provenances of Central Europe and has a crucial role in gene movement from north to south and vice versa, and west to east and vice versa. According to the Ecological-vegetation regionalization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, forests of pedunculate oak and common hornbeam are potential vegetation on about 5% of the country's territory. It means that there are possibilities for the reintroduction of these valuable species, and it is necessary to work on its reintroduction to suitable habitats. Research indicates that it is a species with a potential for adaptation on climate change. Our research results showed that the remaining pedunculate oak populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina have a good genetic structure and can be used as a seed stands for collecting seed material and producing seedlings for afforestation with this species.