Journal of Forest Science, 2026 (vol. 72), issue 5
Ozone phytotoxicity in the Czech Republic: Insights from exposure- and flux-based metrics and visible foliar injury in European beech and Norway spruceOriginal Paper
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...
Drivers of silver fir regeneration success: Interactions between site conditions, game browsing and close-to-nature forest managementOriginal Paper
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...
Analysing economic factors and forest cover impacts on water resource management: A comparative study of seven Slovak reservoirsOriginal Paper
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...
Public communication in forestry: A focus on church property owners and entities in the Czech RepublicOriginal Paper
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...