J. D. Sauerländer's Verlag, Bad Orb

The article explains, on the basis of literature and archival data, the use of exotic conifers in Estonian forest plantations from 1918 to the present. Forest plantation projects in Estonia have tested about 100 exotic species from 11 genera, among which the European larch (Larix decidua) and Siberian larch (L. sibirica) and, to a lesser extent, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) have been of practical importance. More than 3500 ha of larch plantations have been established in Estonia, of which about 1000 ha have survived as stands. Also some smaller stands of fir species and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and clusters of trees of other exotic conifer species, can still be found today. The use of exotic species in the establishment of forest plantations has ceased by now since exotics are, as a rule, no match for native conifers in either their growth parameters or timber value. Nevertheless, they (larch species, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, etc.) are considered to be promising as pioneer species for the afforestation of farmlands and unused lands in extreme growth conditions, such as in exhausted oil shale opencast mines and opencast phosphorite mining areas.

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