Ve dnech 17. – 18. května se naši zástupci účastní semináře k zalesňování zemědělských půd. Program konference naleznete zde.
Jiří Sádlo, Michaela Vítková, Jan Pergl a Petr Pyšek z Botanického ústavu AV ČR přednesou příspěvek o ekologických rizicích zalesňování zemědělských půd nepůvodními dřevinami – invazní akát jako modelový druh. Níže přinášíme anglický souhrn jejich příspěvku:
Short-lived plantations for renewable bioenergy production are currently fashionable. Poplars and willows are usually used for this purpose, however other species including dangerous invasive (e.g. Robinia pseudoacacia or Ailantus altissima) are tested in the Czech Republic. Current legislation both within the EU and on the national level deals with the species selection suitable for short-lived plantations only marginally.
We chose a North American black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) as a model species because it is abundant and commonly planted, and has a great impact, both commercially and environmentally. Using black locust for energy production is profitable due to high, early and easily produced dense, fast drying and combustible wood, on the other hand it poses great risks for surrounding communities. It is necessary to prevent spread of Robinia into habitats in the vicinity. As light-demanding species, it threatens especially open sites, such as thermophilous grasslands, abandoned vineyards, orchards or fields, as well as forest margins or disturbed sites. The eradication should be rapid and persistent although expensive and risky. Mechanical control (e.g. cutting or girdling) without the use of herbicide produces prolific sprouts and is not advised. Extreme caution should be taken when such plantations are abandoned. Spontaneous succession by native vegetation of such sites is usually very slow due to changed physical-chemical soil properties, dense cover of ruderal weeds or grasses, a low pool of native trees in the vicinity and a lack of serious natural enemies. Managed conversion is costly and time-consuming with uncertain result.
For the above reasons, black locust as well as other invasive species with similar life strategy can not be recommended for afforestation of agricultural land in the Czech Republic.