Article

Adaptability of forest ecosystems is a common goal of forest management and nature protection. The adaptive potenti al of long-lived forest tree poplilations depends on the amount of their genetic variability. The management of populations under threat (e.g. by air pollution) has to integrate strategies for the protection or if necessary, for the increase of their genetic variability. A case study on severely threatened silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in the Ore Mountains illustrates thc research ac ti vities which are necessary for a geneti c management of the residual populations. Within a joint project, a comprehensive investigation on abundance and vitality as well as on the genetic constitution of residual silver fir provided basic results for decisionmaking in the fields or fore st management and nature protection. The resulls of the genetic investigations are the basis for in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.