Presentation of SCAN - DANUBE at the international conference “ForX25” supported by IUFRO and EFI

On the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of the Croatian Forestry Institute in Jastrebarsko, Croatia, the international conference “ForX25” supported by IUFRO and EFI was held with the participation of researchers from about 20 countries. The conference took place on the 12th of November, 2025.

The first invited lecture at the conference was delivered by Branislav Cvjetković, who presented a scientific paper titled “Challenges in conserving narrow-leaved ash: disease, reproductive constraints, and climate change,” in which he informed the audience about key issues related to working with narrow-leaved ash, such as:

·       the presence of the fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus,

·       climate change,

·       irregular seed production and challenges in producing forest reproductive material,

·       inadequate silvicultural systems and the problem of forest ownership structure,

·       dieback of narrow-leaved ash caused by other biotic factors,

·       the spread of invasive flora in narrow-leaved ash habitats,

and outlined the main challenges associated with managing this species.

He particularly emphasized the ongoing implementation of the INTERREG Danube project and programme titled SCAN–DANUBE, which addresses these issues and includes activities aimed at the conservation of narrow-leaved ash in the Danube Basin to safeguard the species.

It was highlighted that an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research approach is necessary in order to identify potential solutions and provide guidance to practitioners working with narrow-leaved ash in the field, with the aim of preserving the species and improving its condition.