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FAIR-CT95-0909
EUDIREC: Towards a sustainable productive Douglas-fur forest of high quality raw material in Europe
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Contacts
Further Information
To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain
:
Forestry
:
Solid Wood Products
:
Wood (Lignocellulose)
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Type of Project |
Shared Cost |
| Contract No |
FAIR-CT95-0909 |
| Total Cost |
1,921,400 ECU |
| EC Contribution |
1,170,000 ECU |
| Start Date |
01/01/1996 |
| Duration |
48 months |
Towards a sustainable and productive Douglas fir forest of high quality raw material in Europe.
European Douglas fir improvement research cooperative (EUDIREC)
Objectives
Technical Approach
The project EUDIREC is focused on Douglas fir a conifer originating from North America. It is
one of the most adaptable, productive and high wood quality afforestation species for use in variable
environmental conditions in Europe. The detailed programme of the project is divided into four
interrelated tasks:
- to study how genetic diversity is impacted after acclimation to various European environmental
conditions and after natural regeneration; to manage existing genetic resources in Europe (natural
resources are threatened of disappearing in the natural range), thanks to a common database; to extend
the European Douglas fir progeny test network
- to synthesise IUFRO provenance information; to collect measurements in the large EU
co-operative network of tests comparing more than 1000 open-pollinated progenies originating from
elite natural stands. These measurements will allow a better understanding of the factors involved in
Douglas fir adaptability, and therefore sustainability. It is an approach to define large ecological zones
in Europe in regards to adaptation of genetic materials and co-operatively share the Douglas fir
breeding programme in EU
- to understand the environmental and genetic control of forking and branching defects, frequent in
Douglas fir and considerably reducing the value of the final product; to evaluate the ability of Douglas fir
for industrial uses for which little information exists: peeled veneer, a high value product, and
thermo-mechanical pulp, valorising the great amount of thinning logs
- to develop flowering techniques in order to make Europe self-sufficient in Douglas fir seed,
thanks to existing seed orchards (up to now, 80% of EU needs are imported from the USA). As seed
from European seed orchards is to be used in the all EU, it is necessary to test its performance in the
various European afforestation zones, and promote its use through a demonstration network.
Controlled crosses in a Douglas fir seed-orchard
Douglas fir plywood for mechanical test.
Douglas fir progency test (end of first growing season).
Contacts
Coordinator
EC Scientific Officer
Participant
