The results and fruits of forest breeding work require a relatively long wait. Currently, LVMI “Silava” is still implementing the forest breeding programme developed in 2008, the results of which can mostly be evaluated after 10, 20 or even more years. However, there is some good news for forest owners – the first results from a study, obtained in an extensive progeny trial plantation of open-pollinated birch families, confirm that tangible benefits from a selected birch forest stand can be obtained relatively quickly.

In the 30-hectare trial plantation, more than 600 birch families (stands) of offspring are growing, and when the plantation reached the age of 14, the first thinning was carried out. The diameter of the remaining trees after thinning was 10 cm, with a height of 14 metres, while the diameter of the felled trees was 8 cm, with a height of 13 metres. On average, 28 cubic metres of timber were harvested when tending one hectare of the plantation. Calculating the value of the harvested wood, it could be concluded that the timber value of the fastest-growing families exceeded the average figure obtained in the same plantation by nearly 300–400 euros. Furthermore, the selected trees outperformed the offspring of the slowest-growing families by nearly 400–800 euros! Thus, by the age of 14, the additional effect gained from breeding has already covered the costs of forest stand regeneration!