Field Performances of Mediterranean Oaks in Replicate Common Gardens for Future Reforestation under Climate Change in Central and Southern Europe: First Results from a Four-Year Study

Climate change imposes severe stress on European forests, with forest degradation already visible in several parts of Europe. Thus adaptation forestry applications Mediterranean areas and central Europe is necessary. Proactive management may include the planting oak species oak-bearing Central regions. Five replicate common gardens Greek Italian provenances Quercus ilex, Q. pubescens frainetto seedlings (210 each per plantation) were established Italy, NE Greece (two) Southern Germany (two, including robur) to assess their performance under different climate conditions. soil data plantation sites are given seedling establishment was monitored for survival morphological parameters. After 3 years (2019) rates satisfactory German sites, whereas exerted extremely harsh conditions seedlings, extreme frost drought events. In Germany, suffered heat periods 2018 2019 but responded well. Provenances ranked country after plantation. best performing species. robur performed best. We suggest that or be effectively used future forestation purposes For plantations Northern Greece, irrigation appears a crucial factor establishment.