The pristine forest of Bhutan offers valuable prospects for dendrochronological research, which involves investigating past weather conditions and examining how trees grow and regenerate to support the development of sustainable forest management practices. This review presents the dendrochronological research conducted in Bhutan using available literature with the aim to determine the potential of tree species for climate or forest ecological studies and to identify gaps by comparing the methodology, collaboration, and prospects. Based on the systematic review of tree-ring research literature and studies conducted in Bhutan from the 2002 to January 2023, the search yielded a total of 36 dendrochronological studies in Bhutan. Bhutan's first tree-ring research publication studied the relationship between three pine ring-width chronologies and temperature. Bhutan's longest-known tree-ring chronology of 638 years (A.D. 1376 to 2013) from Eastern Himalayan spruce (Picea spinulosa) was used for seasonal and annual temperature reconstructions. Many other tree species of temperate conifer and broadleaved forests are continuously being discovered as potential candidates for use in climate and ecology work in Bhutan. Our review identifies that both national and international collaborations are necessary to conduct robust studies spanning different aspects of dendrochronology including dendrogeomorphology, dendroglaciology, dendroentomology, and dendroseismology to contribute to science and informed decision-making.

Black pine (Pinus nigra) is a widely distributed tree species across southern Europe and Asia Minor. This article summarizes a dendroclimatological study of subannual P. nigra ring width conducted during an international summer course “Tree Rings, Climate, Natural Resources, and Human Interaction” in 2022. Increment cores were collected from 15 young (oldest 105 years) P. nigra trees in the Araç Forest District in Kastamonu Province, Turkey. Site chronologies of earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) width were developed to investigate climatic signals using correlation analysis. Results show that EW and LW chronologies are significantly correlated with one another (r = 0.56, n = 105, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with precipitation in the months April–September of the growth year. The month of strongest correlation shifts from April for EW to July for LW. Analysis of seasonally aggregated climate data further shows that EW but not LW responds positively to precipitation in the preceding summer (July–September). These results suggest that future tree-ring studies aimed at tree-growth impact of climate change in the Black Sea region of Turkey exploit the climate signal in subannual ring widths of P. nigra.

Willow trees (Salix alaxensis) growing along the Peel River floodplains near Teetł'it Zheh (Fort McPherson), Northwest Territories, Canada, have been identified as a species of interest because of their impressive height and novel growth form. These willow stands are characterized by tree-form individuals covering 2000–3000 ha. Little research has been directed at understanding the climate–growth relationships of willow in this growth form or region. In this case study, we evaluate the dendrochronological potential of these willows, and assess climate–growth relationships for monthly temperature, precipitation, and SPEI (Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index) variables. We found that individual trees exhibited a common stand-level pattern of growth variability. Climate–growth correlation analyses indicate willow growth is positively related to May SPEI (r = 0.392) and the mean of June and July maximum temperature (r = 0.341). Willow growth exhibited a negative relationship with May maximum temperature (r = -0.458) and mean June/July SPEI (r = -0.338). These findings suggest there is a general climate response, where willow growth is greater in years with cool, wet springs, and warm, dry summers. Our results provide the first documentation of climate–growth relationships for willow in tree growth form and provide promising preliminary uses of tree-form Salix spp. for dendrochronological analyses.