Journal of Forest Science, 2026 (vol. 72), issue 3
Hormetic growth of Pinus pseudostrobus seedlings exposed to low-dose gamma and X-ray irradiationOriginal Paper
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 
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...
Balancing conservation and intervention: Managing forest diebacks in Slovakia's Tatra National ParkOriginal Paper
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?Original Paper
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 PolissiaOriginal Paper
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...