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A lack or, conversely, an excess of water during the first growing seasons can bring about a slowdown in the growth of plants, their stagnation or even death. The necessary amount of water is not known for most hybrids of Paulownia. Therefore, one species and four hybrids were subjected to three regimes of watering to find out their impacts on plant height, radial growth, the amount of leaf biomass and leaf area. We planted 30 plants of each species/hybrid into plant pots under a shelter. At the end of the growing season, we measured the above-mentioned parameters. Our results showed that: (i) generally, a mean precipitation of 50 mm per month in the growing season ('per month') seems to be insufficient for optimal growth of Paulownia plants in the first years after planting; (ii) each species/hybrid reacts differently to the amount of water – P. Shan Tong grows better with 100 mm per month, P. tomentosa with 150 mm (and more) per month and the growth parameters of the others did not change (and remained low) with different amounts of water (P. Hybrid 9502, P. Bellissia^® and P. Clon in vitro 112^®).

The teak bee-hole borer [Xyleutes ceramica (Walker, 1865)] is considered one of the most serious pests of teak (Tectona grandis) in Thailand. The present study investigates climatic and topographic variables affecting the infestation of teak trees by X. ceramica in 10 plantations and predicts the risk of infestation by the species under current and future climatic conditions in Thailand. At each plantation, 48 plots evenly distributed among twelve teak stands were sampled. The infested teak trees in the plots were assessed, and the coordinates of the tree positions were recorded. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to assess the effects of environmental factors and predict the occurrence probability of the species using current and projected (2050) climate data based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios from multiple global climate models. According to our results, high accuracy values [AUC (area under the curve) = 0.852, TSS (true skill statistics) = 0.775] of the model prediction were obtained, and the infestation was found to be driven much more by climate than by topographic characteristics. Above all, X. ceramica was found to prefer moderate temperatures in a highly distinct seasonal climate. Additionally, relatively low amounts of premonsoon rainfall are also found to be favoured by the species. The predicted risk map revealed that the northern region is the core area of X. ceramica infestation in Thailand under current and future climatic conditions, but the severity of infestation is predicted to gradually decrease under the predicted future climatic conditions. Recommendations for management to minimise tree damage caused by X. ceramica are also presented in this study.

The forest dynamics of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory), Czech Republic, reveal a historical decline of natural mixed forests, especially those dominated by the Hercynian mixture and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), due to the expansion of metallurgy and glassmaking in the 15^th century. This led to large-scale reforestation with Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.], resulting in single-layered monocultures. Although these monocultures provided valuable timber, they proved highly susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stressors. Throughout the 20^th century, the stability of these forests further deteriorated due to air pollution (notably SO₂ emissions), the unsuitable selection of substitute species, and the proliferation of pathogens. The cumulative impact of these disturbances caused soil acidification, degradation, and weed encroachment, severely limiting the regenerative capacity of forest ecosystems in this region. This article presents model examples of species composition shifts, spatial structure changes, and evolving management practices in the Ore Mountains. It discusses strategies for establishing diverse and resilient stands that align with long-term forest planning goals. These approaches aim to maintain both productive and ecological functions of forests under changing environmental conditions while minimising restoration costs. Importantly, forest management and conversion strategies must also account for economic optimisation, ensuring that ecological goals are met in a financially viable manner. The strategies and case studies presented here offer promising, albeit preliminary, directions for future forest management. Their broader application will require further refinement and long-term experimental validation to ensure sustainability in both ecological and economic terms.

Due to past human activities, Abies alba Mill. (European silver fir) now covers only 0.7% of the forest area in the Sudety Mountains. A large-scale restitution program has been launched to produce, plant, and effectively protect over 200 million seedlings. This study aims to validate commonly used seedling stock types and provide critical insights into identifying the most effective one. Three-year-old bareroot seedlings were produced in the open-canopy nursery (3/0) or under-canopy nurseries in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (3/0 Sp) or Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst] (3/0 Ns) stands. Two stocks were produced in a greenhouse and transplanted to an open-canopy nursery (2/1) after the second year or into containers designed by Kosterkiewicz (2/1 K). Seedlings have been planted in four regions in the Sudety Mountains. Two performance characteristics have been measured: height and survival rate. Our findings demonstrate a clear gradient in sapling performance among seedling stock types (survival rate): 2/1 K (81%), 3/0 (73%), 3/0 Sp (73%), 2/1 (70%), 3/0 Ns (62%). This paper has shown that under favourable environmental conditions, bareroot seedlings can sufficiently achieve stable regeneration. Containerised seedlings perform better in harsher and more challenging microclimatic or trophic conditions. Kosterkiewicz's method presents a relatively low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative for silver fir restitution.

Protecting sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] seeds from rodents is crucial to ensure successful germination and emergence in activities such as artificial regeneration, afforestation, and seedling production. This study examined the effects of 12 natural or nature-identical substances, believed to have repellent properties, on the germination, emergence, and survival of sessile oak acorns under both laboratory and field conditions. Acorns were coated using a diatomaceous clay-based pellet system, and a Y-maze experiment was conducted to evaluate rodent behaviour. As a result of the research, among the tested substances, Ferulago confusa and Foeniculum vulgare were recommended as rodent repellents due to their success in laboratory and field trials. Diesel fuel + hair, a conventional repellent, showed poor performance and is not recommended. This study underscores the potential efficacy of natural or nature-identical coatings for protecting seeds from pests in forestry applications.

Volume models are essential tools for quantifying timber stocks and optimising forest utilisation. This study aimed to develop additive volume systems based on one- and two-entry simultaneous equations for Pinus ayacahuite Ehrenb. ex Schltdl. and Pinus douglasiana Martínez. Destructive sampling of 55 P. ayacahuite trees and 65 P. douglasiana trees was conducted in the communal forest of Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca, southern Mexico. The additive systems were fitted using non-linear seemingly unrelated regression to estimate tree-volume components: stem and branch volumes, with whole-tree volume being the sum of both. The systems were evaluated using the relative ranking method, considering statistical indicators of accuracy, variability, and relative errors. Additionally, the predictive capacity of the equations was assessed through linear regression between observed and predicted values for each volume component, and the biological consistency was verified. The results indicate that two-entry additive systems provide greater accuracy in estimating stem, branch, and whole-tree volumes for both species. These equations are based on the Schumacher-Hall model, and their recommended range of application for both species is for diameter at breast height (DBH) between 9 cm and 75 cm, and for total height (H) between 9 m and 34 m. Therefore, their application is recommended for forest inventories and the planning of sustainable forest management.

Soil nitrogen (N) cycling plays a pivotal role in forest ecosystem productivity and nutrient regulation. This review synthesises recent advances in understanding how forest management practices influence soil nitrogen cycling and highlights future research priorities for elucidating underlying mechanisms and optimising forest ecosystem functioning (Figure 1). Management interventions such as thinning, species composition adjustment, and understory vegetation control have been shown to affect N inputs and transformation pathways by modifying litter quality, microbial community structure, and N-cycling enzyme activities. However, current findings remain inconsistent, and mechanistic insights are still limited. Future research should focus on disentangling the multi-scale, multifactorial interactions through which forest management regulates soil N cycling. Integrative approaches that link molecular biology with ecosystem-level processes are needed to clarify the interplay among microbial dynamics, enzyme activity, root exudates, and soil physicochemical properties across spatial and temporal scales. In addition, research should explore how forest management affects community structure, litter inputs, soil aggregation, and subsurface biochemical processes to reveal the synergistic regulation of nitrogen cycling by biological, physical, and chemical drivers. Establishing long-term monitoring networks across a range of forest types and climatic regimes, combined with tools such as metagenomics, high-throughput sequencing, and stable isotope tracing, will enable the precise characterisation of key nitrogen-cycling genes and fluxes. In the context of global environmental change, it is also crucial to assess how forest management modulates the coupling of nitrogen, carbon, and water cycles and the resultant ecological feedbacks.

The large number of charcoal kiln sites (CHKS) preserved as cultural heritage monuments demonstrates how extensive forest management for charcoal production has influenced the present forest dynamics and contributed to industrial expansion. Therefore, it is necessary not only to have a reliable methodology for detecting and documenting individual kiln sites for management and protection purposes but also to present the results in a meaningful way to the public. The aim is to optimise the data processing workflow from airborne laser scanning (ALS) point cloud to printable model (from LAS format to STL), determine the influence of vegetation cover at the time of data collection on the quality of the resulting model, verify the quality of printed models using photogrammetry, and finally, produce printed models of CHKS as cultural heritage objects in a form that can be effectively presented to the public. After comparison of different ground filtering methods, we conclude that the most accurate method for creating a precise ground representation for our area of interest was the Cloth Simulation Filtering (CSF) algorithm. From the filtered point cloud, a high-resolution raster surface was generated, which served as the basis for CHKS detection. Using our proposed methodology – combining the topographic position index (TPI) with a 0–5% slope threshold – we achieved a significant improvement in detection performance compared to using a zero-slope threshold alone, with the F1 score increasing from 0.667 to 1.000. Subsequently, the most representative kiln site was selected, which was then processed and optimised using various software tools, resulting in an exchangeable STL file suitable for dissemination and 3D printing. The accuracy of the printable model was then evaluated. We conclude that point cloud from the winter flight campaign achieved higher accuracy. The average height differences were similar; however, the spatial distribution varied between the two clouds. The model from the winter flight campaign had more evenly distributed deviations and overall was better for modelling the CHKS.

The natural regeneration of the sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] is an important aspect of sustainable forest management, especially given the ongoing global climate change and the need to maintain forest stand stability and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various regeneration methods on the growth of naturally regenerated sessile oak in the Masaryk Forest Training Enterprise Křtiny, Czech Republic. The research was conducted in seven forest stands where regeneration felling was applied after masting in 2022 (winter 2022/2023) using clear-cut (CC) and shelterwood (S) systems. A total of 531 seedlings were collected from these seven research plots, and the following morphological traits were measured: shoot length, root collar diameter, and biomass allocation. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in shoot length, main root length and total seedling length between the CC and S variants. However, there were no significant differences in root collar diameter or any of the dry-mass parameters between the clear-cut with standards (CC1) variant and the shelterwood plots. Individuals from the CC variants have a 10.3–47.0% wider root collar diameter, 22.3–91.4% more dry mass of the root system, and 51.7–90.4% more dry mass of the aboveground part than individuals in the S variants. These results indicate that the early growth of sessile oak seedlings is greatly influenced by light availability: full sunlight stimulates the development of above- and below-ground parts, whereas canopy cover restricts early growth, particularly in terms of height. The findings highlight the need to consider light and site conditions when planning silvicultural treatments aimed at establishing stable and vigorous oak stands in the face of changing climate conditions.

Global climate change (GCC) and increasing drought frequency pose a threat to the stability of European forests, particularly those of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] plantations. We investigated how different pre-commercial thinning (PCT) intensities affect leaf area index (LAI) and its relationship to soil water content (SWC) in young spruce stands in northeastern Czechia. Three permanent research plots in a 13-year-old monoculture were subjected to mild PCT, heavy PCT, or left as an unthinned control in winter 2019/2020. Thinning caused an immediate decrease in LAI, with averages of 8.3 ± 1.1 m²·m^–2 (mild), 3.8 ± 0.5 m²·m^–2 (heavy) and 11.1 ±1.1 m²·m^–2 (control) in 2020. By 2023, LAI in the mildly thinned stand had largely converged with the control, whereas the heavily thinned stand maintained significantly lower LAI. The strongest relationship between LAI and SWC occurred in the heavily thinned plot (R² = 0.715 in 2021), while correlations were weak or transient in the mildly thinned and control plots. These results indicate that PCT intensity influences both the magnitude and duration of LAI reduction and is associated with differences in stand water dynamics. Appropriately adjusted thinning may therefore modestly affect water availability and could contribute to adaptive management of spruce forests under GCC.

As a consequence of climate change and damage to coniferous forests, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the preferred plant species for forest restoration in Central Europe. European beech is generally regarded as pest-resistant. However, its vulnerability to secondary pests, for instance, gall-forming midges, may increase with environmental stress such as long drought periods. We analysed the abundance of two gall-forming insects, Mikiola fagi and Hartigiola annulipes, on European beech at 26 forest sites across the Czech Republic, spanning diverse climatic and environmental conditions, using generalised linear mixed models to evaluate the effects of abiotic factors and host tree characteristics. The results revealed that M. fagi was more abundant on younger trees, in stands with lower canopy closure, and under warmer spring conditions. In contrast, the abundance of H. annulipes declined in drought-affected areas. These patterns demonstrate species-specific responses of gall midges to host tree characteristics and climatic variables, suggesting that climate change may favour higher M. fagi abundance. Accordingly, our findings support the establishment of young beech stands under higher canopy closure, for example, beneath the shading of mature trees.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread and economically important coniferous species in the Northern Hemisphere. However, its regeneration success has recently been increasingly affected by global climate change (GCC), particularly through increasing mortality. This research aimed to evaluate the early establishment success of 30 400 bare-root and containerised Scots pine seedlings and saplings of different height classes, planted at various times on acidic and gleyed sites (479–610 m a.s.l.) across four locations in the Czech Republic. On acidic sites, seedlings exhibited 16% higher height growth and 11% lower mortality compared to gleyed sites. Containerised planting stock achieved significantly (P < 0.05) greater height growth (by 83%) and lower mortality (by 36%) than bare-root stock. For containerised material, spring plantings showed superior growth and vitality compared to autumn plantings. Planting stock height class had a stronger influence on height growth than on mortality. Based on the results, planting containerised saplings of 26–35 cm or 36–50 cm height in April is recommended for optimal establishment success of Scots pine under GCC.

This study investigates the long-term effects of pine (Pinus nigra) afforestation on soil characteristics in comparison to adjacent pastureland in central Kosovo. Soil samples (n = 24) were collected from two land-use types, pine plantations and grassland, over three topographic positions (lower, medium, upper) and two depths (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm). Standard laboratory techniques were used to determine soil organic matter (SOM), organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), pH (H₂O and CaCl₂), available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and bulk density (BD). The data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation matrices. The top soils (0–10 cm) beneath pine had higher soil organic matter (mean 2.45%) compared to the pasture lane (1.59%). The SOC and TN levels increased by 43% and 36%, respectively. Soil pH was lower under pine (mean pH_H₂O = 6.3) than under pasture land (pH_H₂O = 6.81), particularly on middle and lower slopes. Exchangeable calcium and magnesium declined by up to 20% under pine plantations, and bulk density also decreased (for example, 1.15 g·cm^–3 under pine land compared to 1.29 g·cm^–3 under pasture land), signifying reduced compaction. Phosphorus concentrations were slightly higher under pasture at a depth of 0–10 cm (mean 12.4 mg·100 g^–1), but under pine, they increased at a depth of 10–20 cm on top slopes. PCA showed differentiation based on land use, with the initial two components representing 70.1% of the overall variance.

Wood density is a fundamental functional trait influencing ecological adaptation, hydraulic safety, and timber utilisation in temperate hardwoods. This study investigated variation in wood density (12% moisture) across mature stands of two economically and ecologically vital European oak species, sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] and English oak (Quercus robur L.), growing in their characteristic vegetation zones in the Czech Republic. We assessed wood density at two heights (at 1.3 m and at the crown base) across six trees per plot and examined its relationship with tree-ring width and height. Results demonstrated statistically significant interspecific differences, with Q. petraea consistently exhibiting higher wood density (721 kg·m⁻³) than Q. robur (662 kg·m⁻³) at 1.3 m. Q. petraea showed a statistically nonsignificant higher density of 710 kg·m⁻³ at the crown base and an overall average of 717 kg·m⁻³, while Q. robur had densities of 701 kg·m⁻³ and 669 kg·m⁻³, respectively. Radial density profiles revealed species-specific patterns, with Q. robur showing a more uniform density distribution than the pronounced pith-to-bark gradients observed in Q. petraea. Regression analysis indicated that tree-ring width explained only 12–13% of the variance in density, so other anatomical factors, such as latewood proportion and tree-ring structure (number and cell size), should be examined as anatomical drivers of wood-density variation.

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. Tree and shrub density and basal area increased with elevation, particularly on northern slopes. Juniperus phoenicea L. emerged as the most dominant tree, while Phlomis floccosa D. Don and Pistacia lentiscus L. dominated the shrub layer. Diversity indices showed negative correlations with altitude, indicating declining species richness and evenness at higher elevations under cooler temperatures and greater environmental stress. Ten endemic woody species were documented, with endemic richness positively associated with altitude, reflecting the role of habitat isolation and environmental filtering. These findings provide essential insights for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and ecosystem management in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar and comparable mountainous ecosystems.

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 significantly, while the emission of isoprene decreased slightly. Following rehydration, the discharge of each chemical compound essentially recovered to the level prior to drought stress. Given the inconsistent response of different plant BVOCs to drought stress, it is imperative to closely monitor the effects of drought stress and global change on plant BVOC emissions in future research.

Environmental valuation studies in the context of developing countries have become more frequent in recent years. However, literature which reviews and examines the environmental valuation studies is limited. Thus, this paper performed a literature review on forest contingent valuation studies conducted in the Ethiopian context in the past two decades (2000 to May 2022), focusing on two specific objectives: (i) to examine amounts of resources that households are willing to pay (WTP) for forest conservation, and (ii) to identify determinants of households' WTP. Results indicate the mean lower annual WTP of USD 0.41 (2.63 birr) and 7.04 man-days per household in money and labour time, respectively. Whereas the mean upper annual WTP of USD 53.52 per household in monetary payment and 94.34 man-days per household in labour time contribution are found for the management and conservation of forest in Ethiopia. The finding reveals that there is a limited proportion of the examined studies that included and estimated WTP in a non-monetary payment vehicle, implying a need for future researches on the topic. The result shows that demographic and socio-economic variables, physical assets ownership, institutional and infrastructural services and bid price variables were the main determinants of households' WTP. This suggests that the forest conservation intervention program involving public participation in the country needs to consider the identified determinants of WTP in design and implementation of the program. Moreover, the finding indicates the presence of mixed results on the effect and direction in which some determinants of WTP are affected. This recommends a pressing need for comprehensive future studies on the research theme.

Mixed forests play a key role in terms of stability, production potential, and adaptation to climate change. In addition, the studied Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) belong to the most economically important tree species in Europe. The objectives were to determine the effect of the species composition of these two tree genera on the production, structure, diversity, and growth of mixed stands at lower elevations in the Czech Republic. Based on dendroecological samples, research was also carried out on the influence of climatic factors and climate change on the radial growth of these trees of interest. Mixed forests showed higher timber production by 29.8% compared to spruce and pine monocultures. The production of mature stands ranged from 328 to 479 m³·ha^–1. Spruce achieved higher radial growth, but its growth variability was higher than that of pine. Compared to precipitation, temperatures had a greater influence on the radial growth of both tree species, especially in the growing season. In terms of diversity, mixed stands achieved significantly higher structural differentiation and overall diversity compared to monospecific variants. Mixed stands can achieve higher production potential, diversity, and especially resistance to climatic extremes in the lowland regions of the Czech Republic. The differences between mixed stands and monocultures, i.e. the effect of tree species mixing, depend on the appropriate proportions of tree species and their spatial pattern.

Tree volume is a characteristic used in many cases, such as determining fertility, habitat quality, growth size, allowable harvesting, and the principles of forest trade. It is imperative to develop methods that predict forest stand volume to obtain this extensive information quickly and cost-effectively. This study used supervised self-organising map (SSOM), multi-layer perceptron (MLP), and radial basis function (RBF) neural networks to predict forest stand volume based on physiography, topography, soil, and human factors. A sensitivity analysis method called the importance of prediction was used to determine how input variables influenced network output. First, the map of homogeneous units was prepared with ArcMap (Version 10.3.1, 2015) by combining digital layers to measure the tree's volume per hectare. Then, separate tree species in different diameter classes were measured in a circular grid of 200 m × 150 m, 0.1 ha of coverage, 3.3% sampling intensity, and a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 7.5 cm using systematic sampling on a homogeneous unit map in a regular random method. The neural network modelling results showed that SSOM, MLP, and RBF predicted forest stand volume most accurately according to physiography, topography, soil, and human factors. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis results found that altitude above sea level, soil depth, and slope are the most influential input variables. In contrast, soil texture variables are the least effective at predicting forest stand volume.

This study analyses the perception of the relationship between forest certification and the production of ecosystem services by Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable forest management (SFM) certification holders. In addition, the psychological constructs that govern the use of certification for ecosystem services are investigated. Specifically, online questionnaire surveys were submitted to a sample of Italian and German forest owners and managers to study reasons for and against and global motives to adopt certification for ecosystem services through the application of Behavioural Reasoning Theory (BRT). Results show that respondents believe that certification can better support ecosystem services related to 'regulation and maintenance' and the conservation of biodiversity. On the other hand, the application of BRT has only been partially useful in explaining the psychological factors towards the adoption of ecosystem services certifications. In any case, attitudes and reasons for certainly had a significant influence on the intention to adopt certifications. Apart from the scientific implications, these results have practical applications for policymakers who can focus on the dissemination of the certification of ecosystem services by trying to support through eco-policies, the attitudes and reasons for expressed by forest owners.

Old plant communities are of utmost importance for nature conservation, carbon sequestration, as well as gene pool maintenance. Shrub populations occurring in extreme environments beyond abiotic tree-lines provide diverse ecosystem services and have potential as proxy archives because they often inhabit areas with scarce and short instrumental records. We provide dendrochronological insight into one such population made up of prostrate Juniperus communis shrubs in the northern Scandinavian tundra (Norway), growing on a competition-free boulder field. We dated and provided a growth chronology of the oldest living shrub population (190 ± 148 years) from Scandinavia with the oldest individual being 683 years old. This is a conservative estimate, as shrubs in extreme environments do not form even a single row of cells in some years. The cross-dating issues of poorly growing shrubs do not fully allow to rely on climate sensitivity of the juniper population studied, although the species' potential for dendroclimatological reconstructions is generally considered high, also because the common juniper is an abundant woody species distributed globally. Old populations present an important gene source in plant recruitment, particularly in the context of the present environmental change.

The primary objective of this paper was to compare the nutrient content (N, Ca, S, K, P, Mg) of bilberry biomass, both aboveground and underground, growing in different habitats along the altitudinal gradient. The research was conducted in protected areas of the High Tatras National Park (Slovakia). Two different habitats subjected to study, namely spruce forest stands affected by disturbances (D – disturbed forest stands) and stands unaffected by disturbances (U – undisturbed forest stands), were located at different altitudes: 1 100 m a.s.l., 1 250 m a.s.l., and 1 400 m a.s.l. We found significant differences in the soil nutrient content along the altitudinal gradient. The highest content of nutrients was detected mostly at the highest altitudes in both habitats. The minimum reached 0.01 g·kg^–1 (phosphorus), while the maximum was 8.33 g·kg^–1 (nitrogen). In the case of the bilberry biomass, we found statistically non-significant differences in the content of nutrients among the altitudes within both habitats (D vs. U). The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the aboveground biomass of bilberry had a significantly higher nutrient content compared to the underground biomass. Nutrient content in aboveground and underground biomass ranged from 1.00 g·kg^–1 (phosphorus) to 13.49 g·kg^–1 (nitrogen) and from 0.38 g·kg^–1 (magnesium) to 7.55 g·kg^–1 (nitrogen), respectively. The biological absorption coefficient (element content in dry biomass/element content in soil) reached the highest values mostly at the lowest altitude for both aboveground and underground biomass.

The environment is characterised by subtle and major mutations that cause changes in land use/land cover. Analysis of its dynamics and identification of vulnerable areas are critical to maintaining ecosystem services. The aim of this research is to quantify and qualify land cover dynamics over a 30-year period. It will also highlight forest degradation from a supervised classification of Landsat satellite imagery (L5 TM1987, L7 ETM+ 2000, and L8 OLI/TIRS 2019). The dynamics of land use/land cover were investigated by a maximum likelihood approach using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). Six major land use and land cover (LULC) types were mapped (build-up, agriculture, forest, clearing, matorral and olive cultivation). The classification reports made it possible to assess a reduction in forest cover (from 14 470.11 ha to 5 203.26 ha) and an increase in buildings (from 6 033.69 ha to 9 515.61 ha), and agricultural land (from 9 517.59 ha to 12 338.19 ha). The results were validated by a kappa coefficient of 0.93, 0.91, and 0.96, which showed that the model had successfully predicted LULC changes. We anticipate that the results will provide a basis for decision-making as well as a starting point for further in-depth studies in sustainable management and development of natural resources in the study region.

Robinia pseudoacacia L. is a deciduous tree planted almost all around the world for a wide variety of uses such as ornamental in urban ecosystems and forest trees in afforestation. This study aims to evaluate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relations of R. pseudoacacia using some selected populations in Istanbul and Kocaeli cities. For this aim, molecular marker-assisted and DNA sequence-based analyses were performed. According to the results, nine of 15 inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers gave clear and distinguishable bands with a total of 100 loci. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) was calculated as 100% for multi-populations and ranged from 46% to 76% for single populations. Nei's gene diversity value was calculated between 0.165 and 0.251. The lowest and highest PPL were found in populations of Barbaros Boulevard and Dilovası District, respectively. Population structure analysis showed seven different genetic structures for five populations. Internal transcribed spacer 1 region (ITS1) and trnL-F intergenic spacer region were used to examine the phylogenetic relationships of R. pseudoacacia, and both regions showed a high discriminative power at the family level. Based on the findings, R. pseudoacacia, as a forest tree residing in the urban ecosystem, may face the risk of population decline in the upcoming years due to its moderate/low genetic diversity and susceptibility to environmental pressures.

The study evaluates the results of a long-term research trial lasting 50 years in two research plots established in the 1970s aimed at solving the decline of the silver fir in the Czech Republic. A total of 103 different provenances occurring naturally across 12 countries were planted in research plots No. 67, Černovice (Českomoravská vrchovina), and No. 77, Nové Hrady (Novohradské hory). The total tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and assessment of the health status of all trees in the area were measured with the same methodology. Subsequently, the volume of large wood was calculated by the volume equation, and the growing stock per hectare was recalculated. Based on our analysis of average height growth, it was found that trees with the best growth came from provenances that included the Czech provenances CZ 70 – Ždírec nad Doubravou, CZ 82 – Vizovice, CZ 42 – Lukov, CZ 76 – Nýrsko, Suchý Kámen, and CZ 53 – Opočno. The last three mentioned provenances also dominated in other growth parameters (DBH and volume of large wood). Of the foreign provenances, D 146 – Schwarzwald mit Baar, S 9 – Kriváň, and S 6 – Čierny Váh produced trees that showed above-average values. The smallest growth in height was found in the trees from the provenances BG 132 – Rila, Borovets, F 104 – Departement de ľ Aude, I 228 – Vallombrosa, A 93 – Wörschachwald. Although some trees of Italian provenance achieve above-average volume, due to high mortality, they are not suitable for economic use in the forests of the Czech Republic. Based on the European zoning for forests, the units from the Central European region (3.11.0 – České Polabí, 3.32.0 – Schwarzwald with foothills and Baar, and 9.14.0 – Southern Apennine Mountains) were the best rated in all parameters. Specimens from 9.12.0 – Mountain forest of the northern Apennines, and 4.05.0 – Vosges showed the lowest parameters.

The article presents the results of research on the impact of Sawadaea bicornis (Wallr.) Miyabe on the state of photosynthetic apparatus in Acer platanoides L. seedlings using a technique of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (ChlF) measurement, which at the present time can be implemented through the use of biosensors. The research was conducted in September 2022 in the territory of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. To diagnose a violation of the native chlorophyll photosynthesis in fresh leaves of A. platanoides, a portable fluorometer 'Floratest' was used (the selected spectral range for fluorescence intensity measurement was 670–800 nm). The research was carried out on fresh leaves of Norway maple seedlings both not unaffected and affected with powdery mildew. Analysis of the data obtained indicates a high sensitivity of the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence induction to damage by the disease regardless of environmental conditions of local growth of A. platanoides seedlings. The high informativeness of induction changes in chlorophyll fluorescence in the structural organisation of chloroplasts in Norway maple leaves determined by the parameters Fo, Fm, Fv, Fv/Fо, Fv/Fm, (Fm – Fst)/Fst, (Fp – Fо)/Fv was revealed. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using the studied chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to detect severe stress in Norway maple seedlings caused by powdery mildew exposure when the fungus affects more than 50% of the leaf blade area. It is further necessary to conduct dynamic studies throughout the growing season to determine the effectiveness of using these parameters to detect mild stress in the early stages of infection.

In the present study, 20 sycamore maples (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) were evaluated on eight plots (160 trees) affected by sooty bark disease (SBD), caused by Cryptostroma corticale (Ellis & Everh.) P.H. Greg. & S. Waller in Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Mortality and presence of common pest taxa were assessed for each tree. Data were statistically evaluated using frequency and principal component analyses. The presence of C. corticale and Prosthecium pyriforme Jaklitsch & Voglmayr were positively related, with a significantly higher occurrence on dead trees. Rhytisma acerinum (Pers.) Fr. and Aceria macrorhyncha Nalepa were also positively related. However, the presence of Drepanosiphum platanoidis Schrank was not clearly related to the other evaluated taxa. Furthermore, C corticale was not present on Norway maple trees (Acer platanoides L.) growing on the plots. The results suggest that (i) the mortality of the sycamore was caused by C. corticale, while P. pyriforme was only an accompanying weak pathogen; (ii) R. acerinum, A. macrorhyncha, and D. platanoidis did not cause the mortality of the sycamore and their presence was not related to C. corticale infection; and (iii) planting more resistant maple species on sites susceptible to attack by SBD, particularly when stressed by drought, is recommended.

Afforestation of agriculturally used land has many benefits which are described in different publications. As stated in these publications, afforestation of agricultural land can influence soil water content because of rainfall interception and concentration, transpiration, and properties of forest floor layer and soil; also, hydraulic lift may occur. In this study, we attempted to find changes in volumetric soil water content values (at depths of 20 cm, 40 cm, and 60 cm) on agriculturally used land afforested with a mixture of forest tree species (Quercus robur L., Quercus rubra L., and Acer platanoides L.) or Pinus sylvestris L. in the year 2011 (and on agriculturally used land = control). This study was performed in the period from the end of March 2021 to the beginning of April 2022. In this study, we proved our hypothesis on the reduction of volumetric soil water content after afforestation; it is probably because of higher rainfall interception and evapotranspiration as described in different studies. Concerning the afforestation, the average volumetric water content was higher on the plot afforested with broadleaves compared with Scots pine. It was especially in the period after defoliation when the proportion of throughfall (and stemflow) increased on the plot with broadleaves. Our results indicate a higher water-storage capacity of forests compared with agriculturally used land. During the leafless period, this capacity was found to be higher after afforestation with Scots pine.

In Saudi Arabia, tree mortality has abnormally increased over the past ten years, exceeding regulatory standards without clear interpretation. The present study aimed to investigate three attacked tree populations in different biogeographic regions of Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, climatic data from the last thirty years, forest densities, soil cover, pest search, and insect damage to trees have been reported. The results of this study show a distinct climate change manifested by an increase of 2 °C in temperature accompanied by a decrease in precipitation and the extension of drought periods during the last 30 years. Analysis of satellite images and the computation by quadrat methods revealed a decline in forest density and soil tree cover caused by dieback associated with an increase in the rate of tree pest attacks. Furthermore, tree investigations show attacks of the xylophagous beetles Steraspis speciosa and Paropta paradoxus on Acacia population in the north and centre of the country. In addition, many strains of termites are attacking the Dobera glabra population in the south of the Kingdom. This study shows that tree dieback, as a response to long periods of drought, when associated with pest attacks, provokes a dramatic decline in forest tree heritage. Climate change is the principal precursor to forest decline and pest invasion in Saudi Arabia.