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Burnout imposes consequences and costs on the organization and employees, such as frequent job and workplace replacement, frequent absenteeism and permissions, and reduced work quantity and quality. So it seems necessary to perform institutional interventions to reduce the staff burnout. The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of burnout among forest workers in Mazandaran. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of workers in the forests of Mazandaran province. Result showed that a significant proportion of workers had burnout in terms of the three dimensions of Maslach Burnout Inventory. 46.90% of respondents suffered from high emotional exhaustion, 43.36% had high depersonalization and 49.56% of respondents suffered from low personal accomplishment. In this study it was shown that people with bachelor or higher degree (compared to people with a lower education level) were in better conditions in terms of all three dimensions of burnout; they had higher personal accomplishment and higher emotional exhaustion and lower depersonalization. It was shown that burnout is highly prevalent among chainsaw operators and skidder drivers.

Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS) have been introduced to forestry transportation in the last 30 years to the point the forest industry is one of the biggest users of the technology (Pletts 2006). The benefits of operating with this CTIS technology mentioned in the literature include: (i) reduced road surfacing and/or base course requirements, (ii) reduced road maintenance, (iii) reduced driver fatigue and medical complaints, (iv) lower vehicle operation costs, (v) increased vehicle mobility, (vi) extended haul seasons (Bradley 1995). This paper presents a literature review of previous international studies on the impacts of CTIS. This document can assist the forest industry and research users to gain basic information on this transportation technology.

Forest fires under conditions of the Czech Republic are evaluated from the aspect of their frequency of occurrence in 1992-2004 at a level of particular years, seasons, days and daytime, and causes of their origin. They are confronted with a situation in the CR in 1974-1983. Effects of climatic conditions are a limiting factor not only for the frequency of their origin but also for the size of the burnt area. Spring (April) and summer (August) culminations were balanced. The burnt area of the best part of forest fires (88.9%) was < 1 ha. The increased frequency of forest fires was noted in afternoon hours and during weekends. Areas threatened by fires are characterized by the increased visit number. In the spectrum of causes, a dominant position is taken up by fire raising, smoking and management in the forest. Railway operation and lightning represent minority causes of the origin of forest fires. In the course of the year, the structure of forest fire origin changes depending on activities in the forest and visit number.

We evaluated recreational and socioeconomic values of Masouleh forest park, north of Iran. Travel Cost Method (TCM) or Clawson method was used for evaluation. Therefore, 96 questionnaires were distributed among the visitors. The results indicated that the variables such as travel time to the park, travel costs, age and education were effective variables in using the park. The results show that there is a significant relation between travel time and the number of visitors whereas by increasing travel time the number of visitors decreased. Furthermore, there is a significant relation between the number of visitors as a dependent variable and travel costs whereas when the travel cost increases, the number of visitors decreases. Results indicated that the willingness to pay decreased by increasing the entrance fee. The models estimated an average willingness to pay 12,500 Iranian Rials per visit. The results also indicated that the average round trip travel cost was 85.5 (10,000 Iranian Rials).

The aim of the submitted work was to analyze the outlook of logging perspectives in the next two decades (2013-2032) for all forests in the territory of the Czech Republic. The analyses made use of the national database of forest management plans and guidelines. For the purpose of these analyses, the forests were divided into commercially exploitable forests and forests commercially exploitable with restrictions. The latter ones included protection forests and the category of special purpose forests, i.e. 31c - forests in the territory of national parks and national nature reserves, and 32a - forests occurring in the first zones of protected landscape areas, and forests occurring in nature preserves and nature monuments. In addition to the potential total volume of timber logging, perspectives were studied separately for coniferous and broadleaved tree species as well as for individual main tree species. The derived model mean annual cut of 15.51 mil. m³ corresponds to the current timber production in the Czech Republic. Results of the analyses indicate that reduced logging of coniferous, namely spruce, timber is to be expected in the next twenty years.

This article was aimed at assessment of selected factors of the work environment, which influenced the operators of harvesters and forwarders. The selection of the work environment factors was based on a thorough literature survey. From the survey exposure to whole-body vibrations, noise (equivalent and peak), microclimatic conditions and mental load were selected for detailed observations. The measurements were conducted according to international standards and assessed according to European or national legislation. Subjective assessment of the effects of the work environment was conducted through a structured interview. The exposure to whole-body vibrations was 0.5 m.s-2. The equivalent noise exposure was 78 dB, peak noise exposure was 130 dB. The average temperature inside the machine cabs was 17.9°C and average airflow velocity was 0.06 m.s-2. Mental load was high according to the Meister questionnaire, three operators considered the load inadequate, two considered it adequate. Subjective assessment showed that operators considered other factors to be light or no load

Preference of biotopes and selection of food by wild herbivores are more complicated in a cultural landscape used for agriculture than in natural conditions. Agricultural management significantly affects the feeding as well as cover conditions of the environment and changes in quality and accessibility of food sources occur throughout the year. We studied the consumption of agricultural crops and impact on tree shoots by herbivores in a mosaic landscape. Large herbivores utilized the food supply on the lands outside the forest environment during winter and early spring and in summer. In summer the cereal grains were preferred by herbivores and accounted for a significant share in their diet. The intensity of shoot browsing differed between the localities and between the studied woody species but was not lower due to the presence of attractive crops near the forest. The utilization of food outside the forest may help the animals to survive the winter but the potential of this food for reducing tree browsing in the forest is low.

The study deals with differences in the growth of 2-year mix of poplar clones MAX 4, MAX 5 in the first rotation period at a site with the average moisture regime and at a neighbouring site affected by waterlogging. Average diameter at breast height (DBH) at the site without the observable water influence was 19.6 mm (average height 380 cm). Average DBH at the water-affected site was 8.1 mm (height 220 cm). The difference was statistically significant, which corroborates the hypothesis of the adverse influence of waterlogging on the growth of poplar clones. Furthermore, moisture content was ascertained in wood samples. A comparison was made of samples from the butt, middle part and top part of the stem. Differences between the respective stem parts were not statistically significant. Total average wood moisture content at the time of harvest (January 2012) was 59.7%.

The research was aimed to estimate above- and below-ground carbon stock in Tankawati natural hill forest of Bangladesh. A systematic sampling method was used to identify each sampling point through Global Positioning System (GPS). Loss on ignition and wet oxidation method were used to estimate biomass and soil carbon stock, respectively. Results revealed that the total carbon stock of the forest was 283.80 t.ha^-1 whereas trees produce 110.94 t.ha^-1, undergrowth (shrubs, herbs and grass) 0.50 t.ha^-1, litter fall 4.21 t.ha^-1 and soil 168.15 t.ha^-1 (up to 1m depth). The forest in the study area is a reservoir of carbon, as it has a good capacity to stock carbon from the atmosphere. To realize the forest sector potentiality inBangladesh, the carbon sequestration should be integrated with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) carbon trading system of the Kyoto Protocol.

A realistic perception of the condition of forests, and the attributes of the forestry sector, by the public constitutes one of the basic prerequisites for successful implementation of forest policy in any country. Although data objectively demonstrate that the condition of Czech forests has improved, opinion polls show a gap between the public perception of the condition of Czech forests and the real status of these forests. The reasons for the discrepancy between reality and the perception of the public, and between the results of different surveys, are analysed. The most significant differences were found in perceptions of damage and threats to forests. The effectiveness of communication about forest policy is discussed, and some ways to create more effective communication are examined.

The nun moth (Lymantria monacha /L./) is a polyphagous pest feeding on coniferous and deciduous trees in Eurasia. This paper, based on a literature review, presents an overview of the nun moth outbreaks in Czech forests from 1784 to 2010 in terms of host tree species. At least 22 genera of host trees, bushes and herbs were recorded in the Czech Republic. On the other hand 2 genera were evaluated like non-hosts and 4 genera like indifferent. The nun moth defoliated mainly coniferous forests (almost 90 % of all recorded outbreaks with known data about host trees) in the Czech Republic. Forests with mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees were defoliated nine times less frequent, and only insignificant portion were recorded in clearly deciduous forests. Although wide host range, the nun moth has defoliated predominantly spruce forests (almost 70 %). Mixed coniferous (with mixture of spruce, pine, larch, fir) forests were attacked three times less frequently then the spruce forests. Pine and larch forests were defoliated in low range. Defoliations were sorted also according the intensity. Spatial distribution of the recorded outbreaks was displayed in maps.

A survey was conducted in the Training Forest Enterprise called Masaryk Forest in Křtiny (TFE Křtiny) in order to determine the extent of recreational use of the area, visitors' travel costs and their willingness to pay for services provided by the forest ecosystem of TFE Křtiny in the years 2013-2014. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the partial results of the research from 2013 and 2014 which was focused on the economic assessment of the recreational potential of the TFE MF Křtiny. The busiest roads in the forest road network and bike trails located in the Bílovice nad Svitavou forest district were selected. The results can be used to assess the impact of the forest enterprise on the economic and social development of the area, to measure the attractiveness, quality and facilities offered in the forest.

The concept of sustainable development is currently known and used in many contexts across a wide range of industries. Nevertheless, specific approaches to achieving the strategy of sustainability can be found in the individual sectors. The beginnings of sustainable management in forestry go back to the mid-18^th century. Currently, certification systems contribute to sustainable behaviour in forests. In the Czech Republic, this concerns in particular PEFC and FSC certification systems. Both these certification systems include two different processes, forest management certification and chain of custody certification, i.e. including the wood-processing companies, where only certified wood must strictly be used. This article aims to evaluate the importance of certification for sustainable development in forestry. Given the clear superiority of the PEFC system in the Czech Republic, this paper focuses on the potential benefits for PEFC certificate holders. To determine the benefits of PEFC certification for sustainable development, a questionnaire survey was chosen. Assessment of the benefits for sustainable development depends on the subjective assessment of certification holders. The results suggest that the beneficial effect on sustainable development in forest management is clear in the forest property area of over 500 ha.

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) are considered amongst tree species as some of the most attractive forage for red deer (Cervus elaphus). The aim of this paper is to estimate branch and foliage mass browsing by red deer in young Sycamore maple and European ash in Central Slovakia and to analyze interspecific differences in browsing frequency and quantity. Altogether 665 ash trees and 701 maple trees were measured for height and stem diameter at the ground level. Red deer browsing, defined as leader shoot or lateral branch cropping, was recorded for all trees. A combination of the diameter of browsed branches and branch regression models allowed for the estimation of browsed (potentially consumed) mass by red deer. Results show that browsing occurred more frequently on maple (5 cases per tree) compared to ash (3 cases per tree); however, more total branch biomass was consumed in ash (10.7 g per tree) compared to maple (2.6 g per tree). This is because browsed branches were larger in ash than in maple. We assume that the difference in the size of browsed branches between ash and maple is relative to species-specific branch morphological and structural features.

Competitiveness of the forest sector is a necessary prerequisite for the multiple benefits that sustainable forestry provides to society. There is no universal indicator of competitiveness. GDP of the forestry and contribution of forestry to the GDP could be suitable indicators for the forest sector. Competitiveness of forestry may be evaluated by gross and net value added and by the entrepreneurial income as well. The aim of this paper was to compare the competitiveness of forestry in selected European countries based on the results of Economic Accounts for Forestry. On the basis of provided analyses it can be stated: there are great differences in profitability and competitiveness among the particular countries and between the indicators per employee and hectare of forest as well. The state of economy as well as the region has a statistically significant influence on profitability.

We analysed the formulation of Rural Development Programme of the Slovak Republic for 2007-2013 applying the theory of actor-centred institutionalism and its interaction forms. Approaches accentuating the role of actors and their interactions are an appropriate tool for the better understanding of cross-sectoral relationships and the improvement of public policy coherence in the formulation process of strategic documents in rural development. Methodologically the study is based on a qualitative analysis of documents and standardized interviews. The formulation of RDP SR 2007-2013 is showing signs of cross-sectoral coordination between different actors in the form of bargaining, as well as signs of hierarchical coordination among public and private actors. In the formulation process of RDP SR 2007-2013 a negative mechanism of coordination was dominant with negative consequences for the policy coherence of the final document. A positive element for the coherence of rural development policy is the observation of decision-making elements in networks.

Currently, recreation is the most common use of protected areas and there are scarce data on the users and their opinion. The research was focused on visitors to the Blaník Protected Landscape Area (hereafter referred to as PLA), a well-known recreational area where data on visitors, important for PLA management, are missing. Therefore, the aim of the paper is find out: what kind of visitors comes to the study area; the type of forest trails and tourist facilities the visitors prefer. A questionnaire survey of forest visitors was used. Results show that the visitors mostly prefer maintained trails. According to forest visitors' opinion, the most convenient facility to place near the forest tourist trail is the nature trail panels. Furthermore, based on the acquired data, it was possible to create a visitor's profile which is important for respective research and other case studies in similar areas, and for managers of protected landscape areas to comply with both the visitors' needs and the needs of the protected area.

Increasing productivity and reducing cost in long-distance transportation have become increasingly important in the logistics of forest harvesting operations. This paper presents the research results of the performance of loading with Volvo 4500 BM and timber trucking using two types of common trucks in the Nav watershed in Iran. Both trucks can carry logs shorter than 7.8 m in length. The study used a time study based on empirical data for loads collected from one procurement district in the Nav watershed. The models included the following explanatory factors: driving distance, number of logs, and load volume. The time consumption and productivity of loading and timber trucking depends on several variables such as volume and number of logs per cycle. To evaluate the current transportation system in the Nav watershed, the empirical time study was conducted. Since transportation includes several phases and since many factors affect the work performance, significant variation in the total transportation time was observed. This makes planning and cost accounting more difficult. The models developed in the study are a promising way to support route planning and optimization, and cost and profitability calculation for trucking en­trepreneurs and the forest industry. The average productivity of log transportation was 2.84 and 3.4 m3.effective h-1 for the dump truck and chassis truck, respectively. The average hauling unit cost was 18 and 15 USD.m-3 in the dump truck and chassis truck, respectively.

The present study examines the relationships between the indicators of tree species and structural diversity and the quality of timber production in young even-aged forest stands with the average age below 40 years. The study is based on the forest inventory data from University Forest Enterprise Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Czech Republic, performed from 2009 to 2011. The examined young stands were recorded in 256 sample plots representing 21.2% of the enterprise area. On each sample plot, we quantified 171 partial biodiversity indicators. In total, we analysed 16,416 different variants of the relationship between the diversity indicator and the quality of timber production. The analysis revealed that similarity indicators such as the range of tree heights, Canberra distance, Bray and Curtis index, and index of species evenness and heterogeneity were the most frequent basic indicators occurring in significant correlations. The results indicate a positive relationship between the proportions of assortments in quality classes I to IV and stand diversity expressed by the number of tree species and Canberra distance.

The survey was conducted in three selected areas of the Czech Republic in 2008, with the results processed in 2009. Forests visitors received inquiry forms (face to face interviews, random sample). The total number of visitors on 8 survey days was 7,369. The total number of filled-in questionnaires in the three areas was 1,122. Tree planting and tree protection are considered as the most important forest operations, followed by road and stream bank maintenance. On the contrary, timber transport and harvesting are considered as the least important activities. The nature-protecting function is considered as the most important forest function, followed by soil-conservation, climatic, hydrological and health (recreational) functions. Timber production and non-timber production are the least important functions according to the respondents. 20% of respondents claimed that increased costs needed to improve non-market forest functions, used by the visitors, should be partially or fully financed from the timber sales revenues, while only 6.5% of respondents say the costs should be partially or fully financed from payments by the users of forest functions.

The paper presents results of an assessment of needle age classes in Scots pine partial populations in the period of three and five years after outplanting in a lowland site in relation to conditions created by climatic elements. The method is based on Skuhravý's (1987) description when the state of needle age classes of the third whorl (from the apex) is evaluated just once. Five-year summary of meteorological data was assessed according to the criteria of determination of periods of heat waves and dry spells. Differences in numbers of living needle age classes in the groups of Scots pine populations in the period of three and five years after their outplanting in permanent lowland sites proved the highest total number of living needle classes in the group of local lowland populations. On the contrary, the lowest total number of living needle classes was found out in the group of mountain populations. Critical climatic periods are overlaps of heat waves and dry spells that illustrate the complexity of moisture and temperature conditions of lowland sites. Although the Scots pine is a xerophytic species, it responded to the cumulation of adverse factors by accelerated needle senescence. Its physiological response to heat and dry stress consists in needle shedding, i.e. reduction in the assimilating area. As mountain populations are not usually exposed to heat waves, the impact of this phenomenon on them was the highest. On the other hand, the local (lowland) populations carrying information on the patterns of local climate from the reproduction period do not undergo any marked reduction in needle age classes.

Studies were undertaken to investigate the composition, structure and diversity of four different types of North Mongolian montane forest near the southern border of the taiga. These forest types, classified as willow-poplar, larch-birch, spruce-fir and Siberian-pine forests, were found to be significantly different with respect to the elevational gradient. In the study area, two fire regimes could be distinguished at lower and drier elevations, frequent surface fires resulted in less diverse forests comprising coniferous species, which in their adult form were found to be fire-resistant, burn-colonizing and light-demanding deciduous tree species. In contrast, the forests colonizing the moist, higher elevations and shaded slopes had a higher diversity of tree species with greater basal area, higher proportion of deadwood, and more regenerating trees; here the coniferous shade trees experienced infrequent but destructive treetop fires. Overall, our results showed that the four forest types differed in composition according to the tree species, diameter and height classes.

Although examples of payments for ecosystem services (PES) can be traced back at least as far as the 1980's, it is still a relatively new instrument, and the hitherto experience in many parts of the world is not extensive yet, or based on a very long timeframe. In addition, PES is being introduced in more and more sectors (agriculture, water supply, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, etc.) and in relation to more and more ecosystems (surface water, groundwater, forest, etc.). But such PES can work only with good governance in place, comprising an effective political, legislative as well as institutional system. Nevertheless, an effective introduction of PES system into national legislation calls for an appropriate analysis of the current legal system so that duplications can be excluded and only valuable measures can be added. The main goal of this paper is to analyze if the current legal framework of the Czech Republic provides an appropriate basis for establishing payments for a forest ecosystem services scheme.

The aim of this study was to investigate the wood density of Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.), an introduced species in the Czech Republic. Sample trees coming from a Czech site were tested for basic wood density and oven-dry density according to Czech national standards. Four sections were taken from each tree to evaluate the variability of wood density along the stem height and along the stem radius. The mean values for the basic density and the oven-dry density were 544 kg.m^-3 and 627 kg.m^-3, respectively. The results show that the highest density can be found in the bottom part of the tree, followed by a decline with the increasing height of the stem. For the radial direction from the pith to the bark, the pattern of density variability was more complex, reaching its highest value close to the cambium. Practically no correlation between annual ring width and density values was found out.

This paper contains the information about some principles of sustainable forestry which are still relevant in the world. In 2002, Lithuania started research on the nutrient balance in forest ecosystems when the forest fuel is harvested. The consequences of the intensive forest fuel harvesting on the forest ecosystem were analysed. At the same time, the experiment on the compensatory wood ash fertilizing was established in Lithuania. After the initial calculations, having the experimental data, the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania has initiated the preparation of the Recommendations for compensating wood ash fertilization in the forests. This review briefly systematizes and analyses the main results of the related research and some ideas for the future studies are also presented.

The paper deals with the analysis of price changes of roundwood (spruce, fir and beech sawlog, fuelwood) and energy wood in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria during the period of 2008-+September 2011. At the beginning of the article, the authors identify the major factors influencing timber price trends such as legislation regarding technical standards for the quality grading of round wood, global economic recession, incidental felling and political influence. Consequently, detailed analysis of timber price changes in selected European counties is provided by means of line graphs. The results of the analysis revealed that demand for wood and wood products began to decrease in mid-2008. The most critical situation was in 2009, primarily in the softwood market, when prices bottomed out. However, recent trends indicate a gradual rise in timber prices. In the future, a slight increase of timber prices is expected, however other factors (such as economic development, lobbyist pressure, incidental felling and many others) may influence prices, which makes it difficult to predict their trend.

Important parts of the forest sector are forest engineering constructions and capital construction of forest road network which improve the optimal management of forests and forest stands and their reasonable opening by a forest road network. The basic frameworks of forest road network are forest transport roads of various grades and categories. The paper discusses the basic parameters of forest transport roads such as the length of forest transport roads and their density outspread to the area of a particular district above all. The conditions of forest opening in 41 Natural Forest Regions of the Czech Republic and in the Czech Republic as a whole are shown and confronted on the basis of these parameters. A dilemma of the double division of forest transport roads according to the standard ČSN 73 6108 - Lesní dopravní síť (Forest Transportation Network) and according to the methodology used by Forest Management Institute in Brandýs nad Labem is also described in the paper. Although it is not suitable to use two methods of evaluation, there is no tendency to unify it.

The life cycle operation phase of John Deere 1490D energy wood harvester from the aspect of energy audit and environmentally negative influence caused by emissions were evaluated. Energy audit quantifies energy used in the form of fuels and oils as well as energy expended for manufacture, transport and distribution of these fuels and oils. Emissions produced by operation are determined according to the consumption of fuels and oils based on emission factors. We also made a comparison of the general calculation of costs based on data provided by the manufacturer with costs ascertained in real operating conditions. The costs are divided into purchase, operating and other costs. Total costs are subsequently converted into unit costs according to the assumed productivity of the machine, its estimated lifetime, and the mean real throughput of the machine. The machine throughput, and thus also its operating economics, is greatly dependent on the character of the processed material, its stem volume, moisture, way of dendromass preparation, and operator's skills. Energy use was calculated at 74.4 MJ.FU^-1 (functional unit) related to fuel consumption and 13.4 MJ.FU^-1 related to the consumption of oils. The total energy use of the life cycle operation phase of the slash bundler was determined as 87.8 MJ per each bundle produced. The real productivity of the machine in the given operating conditions was several times lower than the productivity indicated by the manufacturer.

In an Island of the Netherlands, Pine (Pinus nigra) was planted to stabilize the dunes and to protect the arable lands from the blowing sand. This research was conducted to understand the most important environmental factors responsible for a vegetation change in the Pine plantation and effect of this change on the rare orchid population: Goodyera repens and Listera cordata. Vegetation sampling was carried out according to the Braun-Blanquet phytosociologic method within the three sites of this Island. Twinspan analysis confirmed the definition of three site types and redundancy analysis showed a significant difference between the pure Pine stands and the plots with regeneration. The results revealed that the most significant explanatory variables were litter cover, broadleaved tree cover, and shrub cover indicating the vegetation change under the Pine plantation. The abundance of Goodyera repens is strongly associated with the Pine forest and negatively related to broadleaved cover. Listera cordata could apparently cope with vegetation change. Controlling the herbaceous layer in the Pine plantation can promote the orchid population but on the contrary, promoting the natural regeneration of broadleaved species might endanger them.