Poplar
2012, Issue 189-190, p. 117-123

Original scientific paper
UDC: 582.632.2(497.11)

The Use of Forest Aridity Index for the Evaluation of Climate Change Impact on Beech Forests in Serbia


Dejan B. Stojanović 1*, Bratislav Matović 1, Saša Orlović 1, Aleksandra Kržić 2, Vladimir Đurđević 3, Zoran Galić 1, Ana Vuković 4, Mirjam Vujadinović 4


1 University of Novi Sad, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Novi Sad, Serbia
2 Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
3 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physics, Department of Meteorology, Belgrade, Serbia
4 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author:
Dejan B. Stojanović, E-mail: dejan.stojanovic@uns.ac.rs


Abstract

The future of beech as the most widespread and most important tree species is an issue of great importance for the forestry in Serbia. The projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that in this region the average annual temperature for the A2 scenario could increase by as much as 3.8 degrees Celsius in the 21st century. The objective of this paper was to quantify changes in aridity in Serbia over the past 50 years by the aims of forest aridity index (FAI). Obtained results showed that the period 1981-2010 was drier in comparison with the period 1961-1990. In order to forecast the future impact of climate change on the beech forests in Serbia it was suggested using of climate projections together with forest aridity index.


Keywords: beech, climate changes, Serbia