Journal of Forest Science - Latest articles

Public perception of forest fires: The role of knowledge, socio-demographic factors, and implications for fire management

Agata Warczyk, Mateusz Szast, Lizardo Reyna Bowen, Salmon Johannes van Zyl, Anna Klamerus-Iwan

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(7):356-373 | DOI: 10.17221/46/2026-JFS  

Forest fires are becoming an increasingly serious environmental and social problem, driven by climate change and growing anthropogenic pressure. While their ecological aspects have been widely studied, less attention has been paid to social perception and its impact on fire management. The aim of this study is to analyse the social perception of forest fires among respondents residing in Poland, with particular emphasis on levels of knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risk. A quantitative (Computer-Assisted Web Interview, CAWI) survey was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026, involving 246 participants. Statistical analyses included non-parametric...

Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in supranational migration of the Czech Republic

David Fryč, Karel Hradil, Svatopluk Rychlý, Eva Hrudová

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(7):323-339 | DOI: 10.17221/45/2026-JFS  

This study analyses the bark beetle species spectrum (Scolytinae) in supranational migration across the Czech Republic (2020–2025) using a Johnson-Taylor suction trap network. Out of 2 129 identified individuals (45 species), Pityogenes chalcographus (Linnaeus, 1761) and Crypturgus cinereus (Herbst, 1793) were dominant, with their 2021 outbreak temporarily altering the community's proportional abundance. Ecological indices (H', J') confirmed an acute internal asymmetry caused by massive pest flights. The findings support the dispersal flight phenomenon, where individual scattering into vast air volumes explains the...

Optimisation of conversion of structurally homogeneous forest stands into uneven-aged forest structures using a multi-period Liocourt model

Jan Kašpar, Zohreh Mohammadi, Meryem Tahri

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(7):340-355 | DOI: 10.17221/44/2026-JFS  

Uneven-aged forest management and Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) are increasingly discussed as adaptive silvicultural approaches capable of improving forest resilience under climate change, increasing disturbance frequency, and growing uncertainty in forest ecosystems. However, the conversion of structurally homogeneous stands into uneven-aged structures represents a complex optimisation problem involving economic performance, structural stability, regeneration continuity, and long-term sustainability. This study presents a multi-period optimisation framework based on size-class dynamics, transition matrices, and Liocourt-based structural regulation....

Differential responses of BVOC emissions in Pinus massoniana to drought stress and rehydration: Implications for climate change and air quality

Ming He, Xin Guan, Bing Huang, Zhentao Feng

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(7):374-381 | DOI: 10.17221/39/2026-JFS  

Drought has been demonstrated to exert a substantial influence on the growth of plants and the chemical emissions thereof. The present study aims to examine the alterations in biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions and chemical compounds in Pinus massoniana seedlings under the conditions of drought stress and subsequent rehydration. The findings revealed that drought stress and rehydration significantly altered the emission of total BVOCs, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes, with isoprene emission showing only a marginal decrease. Under conditions of drought stress, the emission of total BVOCs, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes increased...

Comparison of indirect optical methods for estimating effective leaf area index in young Norway spruce stands

Jakub Černý, Jaroslav Čepl, Zdeněk Vacek, Jan Cukor, Stanislav Vacek

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):285-296 | DOI: 10.17221/42/2026-JFS  

Forest canopy structure is crucial for regulating light interception, carbon exchange, and water balance, making accurate estimation of leaf area index (LAI) essential for forest ecology and management. This study compared three indirect optical methods (LAI-2200 PCA, LaiPen LP 110, and digital hemispherical photography – DHP) for estimating effective leaf area index (LAI_e) in young Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stands. It evaluated the influence of the field of view (FOV) and seasonal timing on inter-method agreement. The research was conducted in young, even-aged Norway spruce stands at the Křivina...

Evaluation of selected forest ecosystem services in forest management planning using multi-criteria decision analysis: A pilot study in the Czech Republic

Jan Kašpar, Zohreh Mohammadi, Meryem Tahri

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):308-321 | DOI: 10.17221/43/2026-JFS  

Forest ecosystems provide multiple ecosystem services (ES), including timber production, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, soil protection, and cultural functions. Integrating these often conflicting objectives into forest management planning represents a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDA) problem. This study proposes a practical MCDA framework for evaluating selected ecosystem services within the Czech forest management planning system (LHP/LHO). The framework integrates forest growth simulation, ecosystem service indicators, GIS data, and MCDA methods. Five indicators were evaluated: wood production, carbon stock, erosion...

Effects of red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on early soil development during afforestation of nutrient-poor post-mining sands

Ondřej Špulák

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):297-307 | DOI: 10.17221/29/2026-JFS  

The article aims to raise the knowledge on how the Northern red oak affects the soil formation and nutrient cycling compared to Scots pine during the early-stage reclamation of nutrient-poor mineral soil that originated in the deep soil layers in a former sand quarry. Furthermore, the aim is to also answer the question if the admixture of red oak helps to regenerate the soil properties more effectively than pure stands. Three treatments were established: pure red oak, pure pine, and a mixed stand, where organic [composite samples of L+F (litter and fermented), F+H (fermented and humic)] and mineral (A, C) soil horizons were analysed. The oak significantly...

The role of hyperspectral imaging in forest seedling phenotyping

Martina Đodan, Sanja Perić, Karmen Vugdelija

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(6):269-284 | DOI: 10.17221/22/2026-JFS  

In recent years, hyperspectral imaging has been widely adopted in agriculture and plant phenotyping, while its application in forestry has been increasing. From that point onward, hyperspectral imaging has become a valuable tool for plant phenotyping, enabling the assessment of a broad range of plant traits. Given that seedlings of forest trees are one of the most widely used types of forest planting stock, advancements in hyperspectral technology have created new possibilities for improving seedling quality assessment. High-quality forest seedlings are important for the successful establishment of forest stands, especially after outplanting...

Drivers of silver fir regeneration success: Interactions between site conditions, game browsing and close-to-nature forest management

Michal Bledý, Jan Budínský, Zdeněk Vacek, Stanislav Vacek, Václav Šimůnek, Jakub Černý, Jan Cukor, Václav Trojan, Josef Gallo, Pavel Rus

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(5):236-245 | DOI: 10.17221/36/2026-JFS  

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is an ecologically and silviculturally important tree species in Central European forests due to its high production potential and increasing relevance under ongoing climate change. Therefore, its regeneration and promotion are of key importance for both ecosystem functioning and sustainable forest management. This study evaluates the potential of natural (four localities) and artificial (ten localities) regeneration of silver fir under close-to-nature silviculture across two natural forest areas (Křivoklátsko and Český kras; Brdská vrchovina) at altitudes of 362–570 m a.s.l. in Czechia. The objective...

Public communication in forestry: A focus on church property owners and entities in the Czech Republic

Kateřina Holušová, Jana Stachová, Eva Abramuszkinová Pavlíková, Pavel Fic, Otakar Holuša

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(5):256-268 | DOI: 10.17221/34/2026-JFS  

This study evaluates the approach to public communication within economic entities managing ecclesiastical forest properties. Following the extensive property restitutions in the Czech Republic after 2012, forests owned by the church and religious societies now account for more than 5% of the country's total forest area. The communication practices of these entities were assessed through a questionnaire survey of 221 respondents (comprising forest visitors as part of a general sample), nine in-depth interviews with employees, and, in addition, a detailed analysis of communication methods used by five selected forestry subjects. The results indicate...

Analysing economic factors and forest cover impacts on water resource management: A comparative study of seven Slovak reservoirs

Klára Báliková, Marek Trenčiansky, Ján Bahýľ, Martina Štěrbová, Jaroslav Šálka

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(5):246-255 | DOI: 10.17221/33/2026-JFS  

Water reservoirs (WR), as a key source of drinking water in Slovakia, face increasing challenges due to environmental pressures, economic aspects and technological limitations related to water collection and treatment. The aim of the study was to analyse and compare the economic external factors of seven major Slovak drinking water reservoirs (Málinec, Truček, Nová Bystrica, Hriňová, Klenovec, Starina, and Bukovec). The results of the study evaluated the following economic factors: (i) drinking water supply, (ii) drinking water demand, and (iii) average annual costs for drinking water treatment and purification. The last-mentioned...

Ozone phytotoxicity in the Czech Republic: Insights from exposure- and flux-based metrics and visible foliar injury in European beech and Norway spruce

Leona Vlasáková, Radek Novotný, Nina Benešová, Vít Šrámek, Václav Buriánek

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(5):213-235 | DOI: 10.17221/24/2026-JFS  

This study evaluated the phytotoxic potential of ground-level ozone (O₃) on native forest tree species at eight intensive forest monitoring plots in the Czech Republic. O₃ risk was assessed using the exposure-based AOT40F (accumulated O₃ concentration above 40 ppb for forest protection) and the flux-based POD₁ (phytotoxic ozone dose above a flux threshold of 1 nmol O₃ m⁻²⋅s⁻¹ per leaf area) indices, together with data on visible foliar O₃ injury. The analysis was based on data from the 2021–2023 vegetation seasons. AOT40F exceeded...

Hydrology and carbon pool characteristics regulate dissolved carbon export in a subtropical forest headwater stream

Zemin Zhao, Fuzhong Wu, Yan Peng, Qiqian Wu, Qiao Yang, Chaoxiang Yuan, Xiangyin Ni, Kai Yue

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(4):188-201 | DOI: 10.17221/68/2025-JFS  

Headwater streams are key pathways for carbon (C) transfer from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems. Sediments and plant litter constitute major C pools in streams, yet their roles in regulating dissolved carbon (DC) exports remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and export through monthly sampling over one year in a subtropical forest headwater stream. DOC export peaked during the wet season (98.9 ± 171.8 kg·h^–1), whereas DIC export showed no significant seasonal variation. During the wet season, C pool characteristics were...

Hydrological risks of clear-cuts after the bark beetle outbreaks and related forest management decisions in Central Europe

Vít Šrámek, Kateřina Neudertová Hellebrandová, Věra Fadrhonsová

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(4):161-173 | DOI: 10.17221/19/2026-JFS  

The review synthesises current knowledge on the hydrological and hydrochemical risks associated with large-scale clear-cutting following unprecedented bark beetle outbreaks in Central Europe. By analysing 107 sources published primarily between 2000 and 2026, we evaluate the divergent impacts of natural forest dieback versus intensive salvage logging. The rapid loss of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] canopy has fundamentally altered the microclimate, shifting the energy balance from latent to sensible heat flux, which results in ground temperature increases of up to 5.2 °C. Hydrological consequences include a 16–48%...

Soil temperature and weather factors as key drivers of flowering phenology and nectar production in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) in Hungary

Alexandra Porcsin, Tamás Ábri, Helga Déri, Edit Zajácz, Bence Bolla, Katalin Szakálosné Mátyás, Károly Rédei, Zsolt Keserű

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(4):202-211 | DOI: 10.17221/6/2026-JFS  

The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is the second most planted tree species worldwide, and the most common in Hungary. Phenotypic traits, particularly flowering patterns, are well-established indicators of the species' response to climate change. This study examined four forest subcompartments across three Hungarian regions: Northern-Central, Eastern and Southern-Central. The aim was to identify climatic factors correlating with the onset and duration of the flowering period. Additionally, the relationships between these factors and nectar weight and sugar concentration were defined. Results indicate a strong negative correlation...

Tree-ring based climate reconstruction and growth–climate analysis of Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon in Doi Khuntan National Park, northern Thailand

Kritsadapan Palakit, Khwanchai Duangsathaporn, Nathsuda Pumijumnong, Supasit Sriarkarin, Thanyaporn Bungbai, Pichit Lumyai

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(4):174-187 | DOI: 10.17221/78/2025-JFS  

Tree-ring analysis is a valuable tool for understanding long-term climate patterns and their influence on tree growth. This study investigates the climate–growth relationships of Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon) in Doi Khuntan National Park, northern Thailand (at elevations of 850 to 1 035 m a.s.l.), to reconstruct past climate and inform forest management. Using 48 cross-dated increment cores, we developed an 83-year chronology (1936–2018). Standard dendrochronological methods and regression models were applied. The radial growth of P. kesiya was primarily influenced by moisture availability, showing...

Balancing conservation and intervention: Managing forest diebacks in Slovakia's Tatra National Park

Paula Puškárová, Mikuláš Černota, Ján Slivinský

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(3):119-135 | DOI: 10.17221/87/2025-JFS  

Disturbance regimes in Central European mountain forests are changing under the ongoing climate change, raising questions about how protected areas should respond to increasingly frequent windthrow and bark beetle outbreaks. In Tatra National Park, a major windstorm in 2004 triggered a landscape-scale bark beetle eruption that challenged long-standing expectations that non-intervention alone could safeguard forest ecosystems. Using the Socio-Ecological Systems framework, we combined long-term field observations with archival sources and stakeholder interviews to examine how ecological dynamics, governance structures, and actor perspectives interacted...

Are Czechs interested in employment in forestry?

Eva Abramuszkinová Pavlíková, Jana Stachová, Kristina Somerlíková, Eliška Svobodová, Zdeněk Šilhan, Kateřina Holušová

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(3):136-147 | DOI: 10.17221/10/2026-JFS  

This study analyses the professional interests and motivations of people regarding forestry careers. An online survey (N = 162) was conducted in May 2025. The study identifies the profile of a typical forestry candidate as an individual from a rural area, regardless of gender, who prioritises job security and personal satisfaction over high financial reward. The findings confirm that while forestry students show the strongest interest, intrinsic motivation and a personal relationship with nature are the primary drivers across the board. The key results indicate that practical field experience and communication with professionals significantly...

Degradation of Betula spp. under the influence of biotic factors in the forests of Ukrainian Polissia

Ivanna Kulbanska, Maryna Shvets, Svitlana Matkovska, Tetiana Melnyk, Vasyl Zayachuk, Nataliya Horbenko, Oleh Zymaroiev, Anastasiia Zymaroieva

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(3):148-160 | DOI: 10.17221/96/2025-JFS  

The paper examines the impact of biotic factors – mainly pests and pathogens – on the degradation of Betula spp. in the forests of Ukrainian Polissia. The taxonomic structure of the identified mycobiota includes representatives of 9 genera, 8 families, 5 orders, 4 classes, and two divisions (Ascomycota 44.4%, Basidiomycota 55.6%). Xylotrophic Basidiomycetes, particularly Fomitopsis betulina and Fomes fomentarius, pose the greatest threat due to their ability to destroy wood tissues. The bacterial pathogen Lelliottia nimipressuralis, the agent of wetwood, also plays a major role, impairing xylem water transport...

Hormetic growth of Pinus pseudostrobus seedlings exposed to low-dose gamma and X-ray irradiation

Laura Yasmin Flores López, César Valenzuela Encinas, Eulogio De la Cruz Torres, María de Lourdes Palafox Chávez, Ivar Diego Aceves Sánchez, Lourdes Georgina Iglesias Andreu

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(3):107-118 | DOI: 10.17221/83/2025-JFS  

Mexico ranks among the countries with the highest deforestation rates, increasing the demand for high-quality forest seedlings of valuable species such as Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl., which face germination limitations due to seed dormancy and low viability. Ionising radiation has emerged as an alternative pregermination treatment capable of inducing adaptive responses in plants through hormesis. This study evaluated the effects of different doses of gamma radiation (⁶⁰Co) and high-energy X-rays (linear accelerator, 6 MeV) on the germination, growth, and quality of P. pseudostrobus seedlings. A total of 1 440 seeds were irradiated...

Corrigendum: Changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content in resistant and non-resistant forest trees in response to bark beetle attack

Petr Soudek, Jan Rezek, Kateřina Moťková, Šárka Petrová, Pavlína Máchová, Adam Véle, Martin Fulín, Petr Hošek

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(2):106 | DOI: 10.17221/16/2026-JFS  

Boulders as functional microrefugia: Quantifying a continental-like microclimate supporting Pinus cembra at its oceanic range margin

Yann Fragnière, Stéphanie Morelon, Alain Müller, Gregor Kozlowski

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(2):82-92 | DOI: 10.17221/8/2026-JFS  

Climatic microrefugia allow some forest tree species to persist outside their main distribution range by locally decoupling site conditions from the regional climate. At its western, oceanic range margin in the Swiss Prealps, the Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) occurs on large boulders embedded within subalpine forests dominated by Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.]. We hypothesised that these landforms generate a continental-like microclimate enabling P. cembra persistence under otherwise sub-oceanic conditions, and we aimed to quantify this phenomenon. Using high-resolution data loggers, we measured air and soil...

Height growth of Quercus petraea coppices: Effects of tree type, stand management, and site conditions – A case study from the Czech lowlands

Jan Kadavý, Michal Kneifl, Barbora Uherková

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(2):93-105 | DOI: 10.17221/7/2026-JFS  

This study examines height growth and its driving factors in stools and standard trees, the two key structural components of coppice-with-standards stands. We focused on sessile oak [Quercus petraea agg. (Matt.) Liebl.] stands over 90 years old at two contrasting sites near Brno (South Moravian Region, Czech Republic): one actively managed and one left unmanaged for more than 40 years as a strict nature reserve. Tree heights were analysed using two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests and multinomial logistic regression. A total of 1 239 trees were measured (584 stools and 655 standards). Standard trees were the tallest...

Coppice forests: Between management, conversion and restoration

Valeriu-Norocel Nicolescu, Gavriil Spyroglou, Sanja Perić, Martina Đodan, Cornelia Buzatu-Goanță, Milun Krstic, Joao Carvalho, Iryna Matsiakh, Halil Bariş Özel, Pande Trajkov, Miriam Piqué, Ćemal Višnjić, Debbie Bartlett

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(2):57-72 | DOI: 10.17221/5/2026-JFS  

Coppice is the oldest form of systematic and sustainable use of forests, and is currently applied on about 29 million ha (about 14% of total forest land area) in Europe. It had its maximum spread in the 16^th century, when an estimated 36% of all forested land in Europe was managed for coppice. Coppice forests were the most important source of fuelwood until the mid-19^th century, when firewood and charcoal were substituted by alternative fuels, and the demand for construction wood increased. Consequently, coppices (both low and coppice-with-standards) started to be converted to high forests, and the process was driven by national...

Altitudinal patterns of woody vegetation diversity in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, a Mediterranean mountain

Moussa Masoud, Hazandy Abdul-Hamid, Johar Mohamed, Attia Alsanousi

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(2):73-81 | DOI: 10.17221/92/2025-JFS  

This study examines the floristic composition, structural attributes, diversity patterns, and distribution of endemic woody species along an altitudinal gradient in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar mountain of northeastern Libya. Stratified sampling was conducted across four elevation zones on the northern and southern slopes. Phytosociological parameters – including density, basal area, importance value index, and diversity indices – were assessed, and Pearson correlations were used to evaluate relationships with altitude and aspect. A total of 61 woody species from 43 genera and 26 families were recorded, highlighting the region's biodiversity....

List of reviewers 2025

Editorial Department

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(1):I-II  

Unearthing the hidden domain of epicormic shoots: Insights into forest management impacts on Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.

Igor Štefančík, Stanislav Vacek, Zdeněk Vacek, Michal Kuběnka, Václav Šimůnek, Josef Gallo

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(1):28-41 | DOI: 10.17221/2/2026-JFS  

Forest management of durmast oak stands [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] is focused on the production of high-quality assortments for the furniture industry. Due to various forest management factors and impacts of climate change, their vitality and quality are often reduced. Sudden illumination of the oak trunk caused by management cuts can lead to epicormic shoot formation. This study compared two localities and nine long-term research plots at the stand age of 62–68 years in Slovakia. While one locality was affected by the massive dieback of oak in the past, the other was not. The epicormic shoot occurrence was monitored separately in...

Biomechanical optimisation strategy for selecting native shrubs and herbaceous plants with superior soil and water conservation properties in combating land degradation in central-western Inner Mongolia

Rile Ge, Wei Zhao, Hui Zhi, Yahui Lu, Shuaixin Wei

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(1):42-55 | DOI: 10.17221/95/2025-JFS  

To enhance the biomechanical database of plant root systems for soil reinforcement and erosion control in arid and semi-arid regions, and to provide a scientific basis for selecting superior native shrub and herb species in forestry and grassland measures for desertification control in central and western Inner Mongolia, this study investigated the root-soil interfacial friction characteristics of five typical native plant species – Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides, the semi-shrub Hedysarum mongolicum, and the perennial herbs Medicago sativa and Astragalus adsurgens – in two widely distributed...

Effect of livestock and vegetation structure on Carabidae (Coleoptera) diversity in dehesas of the Iberian Peninsula

Ana M. Cárdenas, Carmen Torres, Juan M. Hidalgo

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(1):14-27 | DOI: 10.17221/54/2025-JFS  

The response of carabid beetles to extensive livestock farming and vegetation structure in two traditionally managed 'dehesa' ecosystems was investigated. From March 2011 to January 2012, sampling was done, using pitfall trapping, on two forestry farms located in the Sierra de Hornachuelos Natural Park (Córdoba, Spain), both with hunting use, but one of them also with a heavy livestock load. On each forestry farm, two sampling plots were selected according to the vegetation structure. Faunal differences were proved through the ecological indices, and the faunal uniqueness was checked by the Coldwell and Coddington Complementarity Analysis. To identify...

Soil macroarthropod dynamics in response to environmental disturbances in a forest remnant ecosystem: A case study at Cibodas Botanical Garden

Anita Rianti, Fenky Marsandi, Taufikurrahman Nasution, Musyarofah Zuhri, Muhammad Efendi, Hari Prayogi, Setyawan Agung Danarto, Hidayatul Fajri, Vivin Silvaliandra Sihombing, Dian Anggraini Indrawan

J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(1):1-13 | DOI: 10.17221/38/2025-JFS  

Disturbing the remaining forest ecosystem in the Cibodas Botanical Garden (CBG) has affected the dynamics of the soil macroarthropod communities. This study was conducted in three remaining forest locations in the CBG with different levels of disturbance. Soil macroarthropod samples were collected using the pitfall trap method with 30 traps and analysed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Pielou's evenness, Simpson's dominance, and Margalef's species richness to assess the dynamics of the soil macroarthropod community. This study analysed how these communities respond to different levels of disturbance in the garden, namely Jalan Akar (JA;...