IUFROS ROLE IN DOUGLAS-FIR (PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII (MIRB.) FRANCO) TREE IMPROVEMENT

Douglas-fir, today one of the most important timber species in the world, was first discovered in 1792 by ARCHIBALD MENZIEs and introduced to Europe in 1826 by DAVID DOUGLAS. About 1850, extensive plantations were started in different European countries, which were initially very successful. With increasing seed import from the interior part of the natural range, problems occurred in plantations. This stimulated interest into the provenance question. First provenance experiments, which covered only limited parts of the natural range and a limited number of plantation sites, were established in Europe and the Pacific North-West of America in 1910/1912. To get more complete information about Douglas-fir variability adaptability, physiology, and provenance suitability, IUFRO started in 1967 under the leadership of HELMUTH BARNER from Denmark a systematic and representative collection of 182 indigenous provenances, covering the whole natural range. These were distributed to 59 institutions in 36 countries. The IUFRO working party "Douglas-fir provenances" stimulated a lot of research activities, exchange of ideas and information, and created cooperation and friendship among scientists all over the world. Today the IUFRO provenance experiments together with the research of other institutions, especially in North-America on provenance variability, form an unique basis for decisions on seed transfer, gene conservation, and tree improvement for Douglas-fir. They have had far reaching consequences, especially for European forestry, for which Douglas-fir will be one of the most important timber species in the future.