Alders are not often the focus of forest protection concerns in Europe in spite of the ecological
value of the genus being well recognized (Cech 1998). European alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.)
Gaertn.), also called black alder or European black alder, has considerable landscape value along
waterways, plays a vital role in riparian ecosystems, and the root system stabilize riverbanks
(Gibbs et al. 1999). Black alder populations have declined drastically throughout Europe in recent
years, partly as a result of deforestation and the disappearance of characteristic riparian habitats,
although mainly because of alder blight disease, caused by Phytophthora alni Brasier et al. and
subspecies (Brasier et al. 2004).