The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. Throughout the course of history, primarily in the 20th century, its share in stands has been declining due to ill-suited management practices, especially clear-cut management, air pollution (SO₂ and NO_X emissions), and wildlife-induced damage. This literature review compiles findings from 338 scientific papers. It describes futures for silver fir and its distribution, ecological requirements, threats and diseases, seed production and nurseries, and forest management practices with emphasis on ongoing climate change. Based on recent knowledge of fir ecology and population dynamics, small-scale shelterwood and selection management have been introduced in fir stands, which have also stabilized them. Fir is an essential species for maintaining high stability and biodiversity, especially on planosols and in waterlogged habitats. Owing to its shade tolerance and environmental plasticity, it can coexist very well with many tree species in mixtures, which can increase the productive potential of stands within the natural range in Europe. The average stand volume of mature fir stands ranges from 237–657 m³ ha⁻¹. For its successful natural regeneration, it is essential to reduce cloven-hoofed game and thus prevent bud browsing damage. The attractiveness of fir in terms of heavy browsing is the highest of all conifers (52% damage). On the other hand, fir is a species relatively resistant to bark stripping and the spread of secondary rot compared with Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Under global climate change, fir is expected to shift to higher elevations with sufficient precipitation, while in the southern part of its natural range or at lower elevations, outside water-influenced habitats, it is likely to decline. Climate change is intricately linked to the heightened prevalence of forest pathogens with significant damage potential in Europe, necessitating careful consideration and strategic adaptation within management practices of fir forests.

The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. In the course of history, primarily in the 20th century, its share in stands has been declining due to ill-suited management practices, especially clear-cut management, air pollution, and wildlife-induced damage. Based on recent knowledge of fir ecology and population dynamics, small-scale shelterwood and selection management have been introduced in fir stands, which have also stabilized them. Fir is an essential species for maintaining high stability and biodiversity, especially on planosols and in waterlogged habitats. Due to its shade tolerance and environmental flexibility, particularly at higher altitudes, it can coexist very well with many tree species in mixtures, which can increase the productive potential of stands. It can form stands of heterogeneous structure, ranging from single to multi-layer to selection. For its successful natural regeneration, it is essential to reduce cloven-hoofed game and thus prevent bud browsing damage. On the other hand, fir is a species relatively resistant to bark stripping and the spread of secondary rot compared to Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). During global climate change, fir is expected to shift to higher elevations with sufficient precipitation, while in the southern part of its natural range or at lower elevations, outside water-influenced habitats, it is likely to decline. This paper essentially reviews the description and distribution of the species, its ecological requirements, threats and diseases, habitat and stand conditions, and close-to-nature forest management practices with emphasis on ongoing climate change.

European yew (Taxus baccata L.) is a key tree species in forest ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem stability. However, its populations have declined significantly due to historical overexploitation, habitat fragmentation, and increasing environmental pressures, particularly under ongoing climate change. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the ecological characteristics, distribution, and silvicultural management of yew, emphasising its role in close-to-nature forest management. It discusses the species’ resilience to drought, shade tolerance and potential for adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Conservation strategies including natural and artificial regeneration, site-specific silvicultural interventions and the need for wildlife management to mitigate herbivore damage are also reviewed. The economic and pharmacological importance of yew, particularly as a source of taxanes for anticancer treatment, is also highlighted. The review also examines the sensitivity of the species to biotic and abiotic stressors and predicts its future distribution under climate change scenarios. The results highlight the need for targeted conservation measures, assisted migration, and adaptive forest management to sustain yew populations. Future research should integrate genetic diversity studies, climate modelling, and field-based silvicultural experiments to increase the species’ viability and ecological functions in European forest ecosystems.

Global climate change is reshaping Central European conifer forests, affecting growth and ecosystem dynamics. At the same time, tree species differ in their productivity and responses to climatic conditions. Across mid-elevation monocultures of European yew (Taxus baccata L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.), we quantified stand structure, volume, biomass carbon sequestration, and growth–climate responses (1971–2023). Silver fir reached the highest stand volume (711 m³ ha⁻¹), with lower productivity in pine (−17.0%), larch (−22.9%), spruce (−26.0%), and yew (−70.6%). In contrast, larch maximised biomass carbon sequestration (267.7 t ha⁻¹), whereas yew had the lowest value (87.7 t ha⁻¹), but the greatest stand diversity (except high differentiation), while pine showed the lowest diversity. Radial growth was most constrained by warm Junes and dry Julys; an early-season multi-month drought compounded by heat further suppressed radial increments, and severe winter frosts added stress. Among the studied species, spruce was the most climate-sensitive, whereas fir and pine showed comparatively more resilience. From a practical forestry perspective, promoting structurally diverse stands with high production potential and prioritising climate-resilient tree species, especially fir, can help sustain production and stability at mid elevations under climate warming. Our results provide species-specific benchmarks for adaptive silviculture and identify the seasonal windows when growth is most vulnerable.

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is a key native tree species in Central European forests, exhibiting high production capacity and ecological and adaptive potential under ongoing global climate change (GCC). This study focuses on a comprehensive evaluation of fir cultivation, from seed material collection through seed quality and planting stock performance to the economic aspects of stand establishment and securing under the conditions of the 3rd and 4th forest vegetation zones in Czechia (Central Bohemian and Plzeň regions). The results revealed pronounced interannual variability in seed purity, ranging from 5.8% (2022) to 18.9% (2024), with a mean value of approximately 14%, representing the highest values among native conifers. Seed germination capacity did not differ significantly from long-term averages during the evaluated period (46% in 2018, 52% in 2020, and 57% in 2022); however, a marked decline to 23% was observed after one year of frozen storage. The frequency of strong seed years was estimated at approximately four years. Mean absolute planting stock yield for the period 2018–2025 reached 3,262 seedlings kg-1 on substrate and 2,582 seedlings kg-1 on mineral soil. Post-planting losses over a ten-year period ranged between 10% and 15%. Economic analysis indicated that the costs of establishing and securing 1 ha of silver fir stands, including minimum planting densities, five years of follow-up management, fencing, chemical protection of plantations, one removal of undesirable tree species, and one thinning operation, amounted to 229,000–238,800 CZK/ha. The obtained results confirm the high production, ecological, and adaptive potential of silver fir as a promising species for the conversion of spruce-dominated and other monocultures and for developing structurally stable forest stands with substantial carbon sequestration potential under GCC conditions.

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) represents a key forest tree species whose ecological and silvicultural importance is increasing under conditions of global climate change (GCC) in Europe. This study assessed stand structure, biodiversity, productivity, and radial growth in relation to climatic variables (air temperature and precipitation) in 109–126-year-old mixed stands of silver fir and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) in the West Bohemian Uplands, Czech Republic (408–602 m a.s.l.). Stand volume in these mature mixed silver fir stands ranged from 237 m3/ha on nutrient-poor pine sites to 459 m3/ha on more fertile sites. Overall biodiversity, expressed as the comprehensive diversity index (B), ranged from 3.87 to 5.76 and increased with a higher proportion of mixed-species admixtures. Climatic fluctuations significantly influenced the radial growth of both species. Silver fir exhibited greater tolerance to variability in air temperature. Still, it was susceptible to late-spring frosts, whereas Norway spruce was negatively affected by the synergistic effects of high air temperatures and summer drought. July emerged as the most influential month for radial growth in terms of air temperature, while February was critical for precipitation. Silver fir demonstrated a stronger growth response to monthly air temperature and precipitation variations compared to Norway spruce, particularly on nutrient-poor sites. These findings confirm silver fir as a keystone species due to its shade tolerance, high ecological plasticity, and resilience to variable climatic conditions, highlighting its potential role in adaptive management of mixed forests under GCC scenarios.