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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.

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 bolster career interest. Furthermore, the emerging generation of foresters demonstrates an 'ecologically realistic' perspective, favouring sustainable management and biocentric values over traditional paradigms. The study suggests that to combat the declining workforce, forestry communication should leverage these intrinsic values and increase practical engagement during university studies. Respondents assigned the greatest importance to statements reflecting biocentric and ecocentric values, emphasising the intrinsic value of forests, ecosystem impact considerations, and their role in environmental balance and human well-being.

The lowering of loads at gradual tree felling is the riskiest activity performed by tree climbers. During this activity, great forces emerge and act on the felled tree, while the tree climbers use the tree itself to anchor and secure their stance. This research aims to find out whether certain methods of work or the use of certain rigging for lowering loads exhibit positive features in reducing the forces acting on the anchoring point of the rigging system. The work methodology consists of three operations: (i) the calculation of the coefficient of shear friction for the combination of 4 ropes and 5 lowering devices – altogether 20 combinations; (ii) the mathematical modelling of the maximum forces acting on the lowering loads of known weight; and (iii) the verification of mathematical modelling using a series of measured experiments of lowering loads of known weight. The research results present the calculation of the shear friction coefficient for 20 combinations of rigging rope and lowering devices. The maximum magnitudes of the forces which may act on the upper anchoring point of the rigging system at the known load weight were additionally calculated. A total of 240 force values were measured when a load of 12 kg in weight falls according to a predetermined model situation. The results indicate that the greatest influence on decreasing the impact force generated by the falling load is that of the load attachment, reduced load weight, shortened length of the fall or elongation of the total rope length in the rigging system. The differences in the coefficients of shear friction are apparent in the results of measurements, too.

Almost 24% of the Ukrainian Carpathian ecosystems are assigned to the conservation fund due to their ecological values and attraction to numerous tourists. The forest litter in mountain forest stands plays an important role in terms of its ability to mitigate the impact of tourist activities, and erosion processes along with its contribution to the soil mineralization. Water interception, infiltration, and retention ability of forest litter have an impact on hydrological processes of forest ecosystems. At the same time, the accumulation and spatial distribution of litter can be affected not only by environmental conditions, but also by tourism. In this study, 13 Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) stands distinguished by average distance to the trail were chosen to investigate whether there are any differences in litter structure, water retention, and infiltration abilities as well as litter accumulation in areas along popular hiking trails in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Results showed that the litter thickness has increased with altitude and slope steepness. Moreover, results of one-way ANOVA demonstrate a significant difference (P < 0.05) in litter stock between two groups of sample plots: established directly to adjoin hiking trails and at a distance. Therefore, the forest litter stock nearby hiking trails may indicate that trampling caused by tourists has a negative impact on litter accumulation. However, no statistical difference was found (P > 0.05) in the accumulation of litter along three trails and altitudes across all surveyed forest stands. Results of the immersion test showed that the litter infiltration rate has a significant negative correlation with the maximum mass of absorbed water (r = -0.62, P < 0.05), litter stock (r = -0.69, P < 0.01), and retained precipitation (r = -0.62, P < 0.05). Despite our assumption, the infiltration rate was lower for sites distanced from the hiking trail in comparison with adjoining ones. According to our measurements, the water holding capacity of the litter varies from 42.3 t.ha^-1 to 187.3 t.ha^-1 regardless of the stand composition. Further, the precipitation amount retained by litter varies between 4.2 mm and 18.7 mm. Insignificant differences in litter fractional structure and accumulation were observed in pure spruce stands and mixed spruce-beech with an admixture of beech up to 20%. Further observational and modelling studies are necessary to clarify the role of the beech share in stand composition in relation to fractional structure and water interception and retention ability.

Scattered Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) trees have ecological values, such as soil protection and soil erosion reduction in the Irano-Turanian region; however, intensive exploitation puts their habitats at risk. Therefore, knowing the soil characteristics of these habitats plays an important role in their management. The aim of this study was to investigate the soil quality of semi-arid woodlands dominated by a pure Juniperus excelsa community. At three sites in the Irano-Turanian region, soil samples were randomly taken from a depth of 0–20 cm in the eastern direction under the crowns of Greek juniper trees and from bare soil. The evaluated physical properties included bulk density (Bd), moisture, sand percentage, silt percentage and clay. Chemical properties included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and nutrient concentrations of bare soil compared to the below-crown soil. Additionally, we investigated basal respiration (BR) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) to evaluate the influence of Greek juniper trees on soil microbial activity. The bulk density value in samples taken under crowns was significantly lower by 42% compared to bare soil; however, significantly higher soil moisture (+39.8%) was obtained under tree crowns. Although clay and sand content under tree crowns was significantly higher than that of bare soil, sand content under tree crowns was significantly lower than in bare soil. According to our findings, soil pH under tree crowns and in bare soil was 7.13, which increased to 7.67 in bare soil. Soil EC (+15%), SOC (+76%), and TN (+29%) were significantly higher under tree crowns. The concentrations of magnesium and sodium were similar between bare and below-crown soils, but significantly higher phosphorus (+46%), potassium (+41%), calcium (+31.1%), iron (43.3), and zinc (+56.6%) were observed under Greek juniper crowns. Soil microbial activity was higher under tree crowns compared to bare soil, as evidenced by significantly increased BR (+49.1%) and MBC (+43.5%). Our findings indicate that scattered Greek juniper trees can improve soil properties, and their destruction leads to a significant decrease in soil quality. Generally, planting Greek juniper seedlings in degraded areas can help restore the soil quality.

The weevil, Myllocerus fotedari Ahmad, 1974 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is widely recognised as one of the major walnut pests. Fungal pathogens have shown great potential for the management of some pest species. In the present study, the efficacy of three entomopathogenic fungi, namely Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare and Gams were evaluated against the weevil, M. fotedari, under laboratory conditions. Each fungal suspension contained 1.0 × 109 spores of fungi in 1 mL. The experiment comprised of five treatments along with control (distilled water) and three replicates. An insecticide – chloropyrifos 20% emulsifiable concentrate (EC), was also used as positive control in the experiment. The experimental results revealed that the weevil, M. fotedari, showed mortality due to both virulence of entomopathogens and insecticide. The mortality caused by fungi varied from two days after treatment to eight days after treatment. However, the highest mortality of 100% was recorded for B. bassiana, followed by 85.1% for M. anisopliae after eight days of treatment. The efficacy of L. lecani was the lowest, leading to only 51.8% mortality, and was found significantly less virulent compared to the other two used entomopathogens. The present study is an attempt to use entomopathogens to control M. fotedari over conventional chemical insecticides.

Sap flow represents water transport from roots to leaves through the xylem and is used to describe tree transpiration. This paper proposed and tested a procedure to estimate sap flow by calculating global radiation in a digital model of the tree canopy surface obtained by unmanned aerial vehicle imaging. The sap flow of nine trees was continuously measured in the field. In the digital surface model, individual canopies were automatically delineated, their parameters were determined and the global radiation incident on their surface on specific days was calculated. A polynomial relationship was found between sap flow and the calculated incident solar radiation during the morning hours with a coefficient of determination of 0.98, as well as a linear relationship between the decrease in radiation and sap flow during the afternoon with a correlation coefficient of 0.99. Using the Random Forest machine learning method, a model predicting the sap flow of the trees was created based on the global radiation and canopy parameters determined from the digital surface model of tree canopies. The resulting model was deployed on additional days and compared to field measurements of sap flow, achieving a correlation coefficient of 0.918. In addition, two linear regression models were created for a tree group, achieving coefficients of determination of 0.66 and 0.90.

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.

Sandy soils represent an extreme environment for tree growth. Traditionally, site preparation before planting involves removing logging residues (LRR) and ploughing. An alternative method is incorporating logging residues (LRI) into the topsoil which may enhance tree regeneration and seedling growth. The aim of this study was to assess whether and how different site preparation techniques affect soil physico-chemical and microbial properties over the long term. The study was performed in the Záhorská nížina lowland (Slovakia) in September 2020. Soil samples were taken in two 25-year-old Pinus sylvestris (L.) plantations along five soil profiles in each stand, down to a depth of 30 cm. Results showed a significant increase in carbon and nitrogen concentration and soil moisture in the LRI plot. However, soil pH and phosphorus content significantly decreased. No significant differences were observed in calcium, magnesium, and potassium concentrations between the differently treated plots. The LRI plot also exhibited a significant increase in microbial biomass carbon, N-mineralisation, and catalase activity. The results indicate that different mechanical site preparation methods may impact soil properties over the long term, likely through improved seedling survival and tree growth.

The sustainable management of European forest ecosystems necessitates innovative mechanisation solutions to address operational challenges in hilly, mountainous, and ecologically sensitive terrains. Hybrid-drive unmanned vehicles (HDUVs) present a transformative potential by integrating fuel-electric powertrains with autonomous navigation systems, enabling energy-efficient operations with minimal environmental impact. This review synthesises and critically analyses advancements in three critical domains: (i) dynamic modelling and chassis design for enhanced terrain adaptability, (ii) hybrid powertrain optimisation for reduced emissions and extended operational range, and (iii) the integration of unmanned systems for precision forestry tasks. By examining multi-body dynamics, power management strategies, and AI-driven navigation algorithms, we elucidate the role of HDUVs in improving operational efficiency while mitigating soil disturbance and carbon footprint. The review identifies prevailing research gaps and suggests that future work should prioritise the development of standardised testing protocols and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration to align HDUV development with EU biodiversity and climate objectives.

An unprecedented bark beetle outbreak has led to a significant decline in forest cover in Central Europe in the last 10 years, affecting an area estimated at more than 200 000 ha in the Czech Republic. Among the many ecological threats associated with extensive clearings, the potential alteration of hydrological processes is one of the most important. Therefore, after 2022, the precipitation–runoff balance in three catchments in the Jeseníky Mts. area was studied. This study focuses on the rainfall variability within the area, which was measured using 24 rain gauges deployed to cover different altitudes as well as the geographical exposures of the mountain catchments. Precipitation data was evaluated based on seven-day totals within the frost-free period. There was a significant increase in precipitation with altitude (12% increase for every 100 m a.s.l.) but only in less than half (48.7%) of the evaluated periods. No significant trend was demonstrated in the remaining periods, and a negative trend in precipitation with altitude was identified in 8.9% of cases. Additionally, the role of exposure was insignificant, although a tendency towards slightly lower precipitation was found for the eastern exposure at altitudes up to 1 000 m a.s.l., which may be related to the prevailing wind direction. We concluded that even a relatively dense monitoring network is not necessarily sufficient to provide accurate precipitation data in forested catchments, especially in mountain areas. Under such conditions, the use of complex models that also use radar data is recommended.

Corrigendum in: J. For. Sci. 2026 Feb 27;72(2):106. doi: 10.17221/16/2026-JFS

The response of forest trees to bark beetle attack involves substantial changes in terpene content, which varies between resistant and non-resistant species. Terpenes serve as crucial chemical defences against pests, and their production can be influenced by prior attack history, water stress, and biotic interactions. Moreover, the effectiveness of terpenes in resisting bark beetle attack is influenced by their chemical composition. Different tree species produce different types and amounts of terpenes that can affect their overall resistance levels. In conifers, acyclic and cyclic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were significantly present in all samples. Acyclic monoterpenes, ketones, aldehydes, monocarboxylic acids and their esters, and aromatic and cyclic compounds have been identified in beech. A statistically significant decrease of compounds in infested trees was determined in pine (cis-β-ocimene, neo-allo-ocimene, terpinene-4-ol, and δ-cadinene), and fir (acetophenone, benzonitrile, phenol, and zonarene). In addition, increased benzaldehyde production was observed. However, in infested beech trees, only increased production of some aliphatic and aromatic compounds (2-butanone and 3,5-octadien-2-one, 2-methyl-4-pentenal and 2,4-hexadienal, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-furandione, acetophenone, benzeneacetaldehyde, 2-ethyl-1H-pyrrole, β-ionone-5,6-epoxide, β-cyclocitral, and geranyl acetone) was found. We investigated the changes in the terpene composition of surviving trees in bark beetle-infested stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica), pine (Pinus sylvestris), and fir (Abies alba). Our data showed that the distribution of different groups of volatile compounds varied according to the tree species.

Based on the measurements of the biomass of the stems of 3 699 trees of Scots pine, Norway spruce, and silver birch in Europe since 1950, it has been shown that these tree species show a reduction in biomass and wood density. These results contradict the fact that the volume of wood is directly converted to biomass using the historical values of the conversion rates. From 1950 to 2020 the biomass of 1 m3 of the stem with bark decreased on average by 80 kg (-17%) for Scots pine, by 105 kg (-22%) for Norway spruce and by 92 kg (-15%) for silver birch. The results obtained should be taken into account when assessing the technical properties of wood and estimating carbon sequestration by forest biomass. Since decreasing trends in stem biomass have been identified for several tree species, the phenomenon may have a large degree of generality. Such studies should be continued both at the regional and national level and at the global level.

The most crucial individual tree variables in forest management are diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of trees (H). Projection of stand development over time relies on accurate height-diameter functions. The main aim of this paper is to define the best usable model for tree height prediction from diameter at breast height. We explore the place where the Macedonian pine was discovered in the Baba Mountain in the Pelister National Park in North Macedonia. Thus, we established 48 experimental plots (EP) with a circle shape, a radius of 12.62 m and an area of 500 m² each. The EP were established in pure Macedonian pine stands in an elevation gradient between 950 m a.s.l. and 1 700 m a.s.l. Every tree in the EP was attributed with data for diameter at breast height, tree height, and stand characteristics data (elevation, slope, aspect, coordinate) as well. For predicting the tree height, we used 40 models from many authors which are the most usable in forest practice. Also, we prepared evaluations and tests for all models, in order to choose the best responsive model for the Macedonian pine forest. For predicting the best tree height model for Macedonian pine, we decided on Mamoun's equation, with a high correlation value of 0.85 with 73% out of the observed data. Also, this model showed a lower root mean square error of 32.65, a lower model prediction accuracy of 6.77, and a lower mean absolute percent error of 11.73%. Finally, it can be concluded that the nonlinear connection between DBH and tree height is the most responsive regression model.

The aim of this work was to study the use of different types of wood products by the G20 countries. In the current scenario, every country is concerned about the severe exploitation of forests and the ensuing lack of markets for timber. Production and consumption of wood and wood products by the G20 countries account for 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world's population. Data for the study includes eight major categories of wood products in the G20 countries from 2004 to 2021: industrial raw wood, sawlogs and veneer logs, sawn wood, wood fuel, wood-based panels, paper and paperboard, pulp for paper, wood pellets, and other agglomerates. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were used to predict the production, export, and import behaviour of wood and wood products from 2022 to 2030. According to the findings, the G20 countries would consume 1 644.6 million m³ of industrial raw wood in 2030, followed by 984.8 million m³ of sawlogs and veneer logs, 454.7 million m³ of sawn wood, 882.5 million m³ of wood fuel, 406.2 million t of paper and paperboard, 199.4 million t of pulp for paper, and 51.7 million t of wood pellets and other agglomerates. This study provides decision-makers with an analysis of the production and consumption of wood product markets in the G20 countries, which can be used for policy decisions.

Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products (EUDR) establishes a substantially revised legal framework that extends beyond the previous EU Timber Regulation (EUTR 995/2010) by integrating legality, sustainability, and traceability obligations. This article provides a legal and comparative assessment of the implications of the EUDR for the Czech forestry and timber sector. The methodological approach combines doctrinal interpretation of EU legislation, comparative analysis of national implementation models, and an examination of relevant case law. Experiences from selected EU Member States are used to illustrate institutional, technological, and administrative challenges linked to EUDR implementation. The results indicate that, although the Czech Republic has an established regulatory framework under Act No. 251/2025 Coll., effective compliance with the EUDR will require improved coordination among supervisory authorities and the development of a unified digital platform for submitting and verifying due diligence declarations. Evidence from other European countries shows that integrated monitoring systems and the use of third-party certification can enhance both efficiency and transparency. The study concludes that the successful implementation of the EUDR in the Czech context will depend on institutional capacity, digital readiness, and the ability of forest managers and traders to adapt to more stringent environmental and traceability requirements.

In 2021, measurements were done at two international provenance research trials for silver fir originating from the same series of experiments. The investigation was carried out in the location Vítkov and Úsov, where both trials were established. Biometric data (tree height, diameter at breast height) were measured and qualitative traits (stem shape, occurrence of stem forking, stem damage, bark pattern, and defoliation) were assessed during the early mature stage of the experiment. Overbark stem volume and per-hectare standing volume were also calculated. Sixty-five provenances of domestic and foreign origin were evaluated in both trials. Although the results do not indicate unequivocally the most suitable or most productive provenance in the trials, provenances of Czech origin including the ones originating from the surrounding natural forest areas perform consistently better than the average. The least productive provenances, on the other hand, were those from parts of Bulgaria, Austria, and especially Italy, which achieved the poorest results even in stem shape. In Czech conditions, therefore, Italian fir provenances have not proved so successful as they have in the United Kingdom.

Increasing the proportion of broadleaved trees in stands during regeneration raises questions about how these trees will be reflected in the economics of forest owners and whether these owners can influence certain economic aspects during stand management. In this respect, the paper focuses mainly on the revenue side of forestry and, crucially, analyses the selling prices of assortments of tree species groups as offered in public tenders of state forests under the outsourcing business model. The price level of spruce is used as a benchmark for comparisons in the analyses. It is clear that the cultivation of species-diverse forests entails an increase in the representation of a higher number of tree species and, presumably, increased stand stability. However, a concomitant consequence may be an increase in costs and a reduction in returns for forest owners. Here, the revenue from timber sales can be improved by appropriate adjustment of the species composition through educational interventions. All this is in the context of the economic viability of forestry, as declared in a number of strategic and forest policy documents, which essentially depends on the timber production function of forestry and the subsequent processing of timber.

We compared the biological and economic effects of simultaneous artificial regeneration of mixtures of pioneers (birch – Betula pendula Roth or aspen – Populus tremula L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) with plots of monospecific beech. During the period of two years, the height of young beech trees, their mortality, and the regeneration cost were analysed in the following treatments: monospecific beech (9 000 pcs·ha⁻¹), monospecific beech (5 000 pcs·ha⁻¹), beech/birch (5 000/2 500 pcs·ha⁻¹) and beech/aspen (5 000/2 500 pcs·ha⁻¹). Four plots (differing in soil and altitude) were established in the region of the Czech Republic in autumn 2021. The positive biological effect of these pioneers was detected only in the treatments where the initial planting stock of the pioneers was substantially higher than in that of beech (on average 39 cm vs. 100 cm, respectively). However, the expenses of simultaneous regeneration were about 15% lower compared to plots with monospecific beech in densities like 9 000 pcs·ha⁻¹, and around 35% higher than in the monospecific beech plots with a density of 5 000 pcs·ha⁻¹.

A short-rotation coppice (SRC) system for bioenergy production is vital to supporting climate change mitigation by absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing carbon as biomass. However, SRC's operation also released some greenhouse gas emissions, affecting the environment. This study aims to assess the potential environmental impacts through the life cycle assessment method in bioenergy production from the SRC system. Data was collected through a literature review and database, and the impact categories were then analysed using Sphera LCA for Experts Education License software (Version 9.2.1.68, 2020). In managing plantations for bioenergy production, plants during one rotation (15 years) will be harvested every 3 years (harvesting cycle). Then, there will be five harvesting cycles during a single rotation. The result showed that the first cycle had the highest environmental impacts because the inputs (fuel, lubricant, electricity, fertiliser, and pesticides) in this cycle were higher than others. The highest contribution comes from the first and end cycles as 3 200 and 2 700 kg CO₂ eq, respectively. Meanwhile, cycles 2, 3, and 4 contribute to the carbon footprint as 2 500 kg CO₂ eq for each cycle. Based on input, fuel consumption has resulted in higher environmental impacts than lubricants, fertilisers, and electricity consumption. In conclusion, energy consumption (fuel, lubricant, and electricity) and agrochemicals (fertilisers and pesticides) have released emissions and affected the environment. In the future, fuel and agrochemical consumption should be reduced to minimise the negative environmental impacts in the short-rotation coppice system.

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 temperature, thermal amplitudes, and soil moisture on the summits and at the bases of ten limestone boulders over a two-year period. Linear mixed-effects models revealed a pronounced microclimatic decoupling between positions. Boulder summits were consistently warmer and drier during the growing season. In contrast, during winter, summits were significantly colder, while boulder bases remained thermally stable due to persistent snow insulation. The strongest microclimatic divergence occurred in spring, when temperatures at the bases remained stable near 0 °C, whereas summit temperatures were markedly warmer and more variable. This continental-like microclimate likely promotes P. cembra persistence. Our results highlight the importance of topographic heterogeneity for maintaining marginal tree populations.

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.

This paper deals with the verification of models for the calculation of the contact area with the soil using data measured during the testing of a tractor-and-trailer unit. The main emphasis was put on the method of calculating the contact area by means of a super ellipse. The comparison included calculation models with the input parameters of contact length and contact width of the tyre. These parameters were compared with values measured in the field where the main variables were tyre dimensions, inflation pressure and load. Results of comparisons show that the method of calculating the contact area using a super ellipse exhibited the best match with the measured values of all compared calculation models (81% in super ellipse with measured half-axes and 75% in super ellipse with calculated half-axes). As to trailer tyres, the match of measured values and those calculated using a super ellipse was even 95%. In the second step, also some empirical models for calculating the contact area were compared with the measured data, not entered by contact length and contact width as variables. Some of these models show a very good match with the measured data, which can be compared, or it is even higher than the calculation by means of a super ellipse. With the specified tyre deformation, however, we consider the model of calculation using a super ellipse as more appropriate for determining the size of contact area as it focuses on the geometry of tyre contact with the ground.

The paper deals with the assessment of the influence of the length of cold stratification period on the germination parameters of seeds of wild service tree [Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz]. The germination tests (4 × 100 seeds) were conducted in two runs in 2020 and 2021; they were performed for three seed lots and three cold stratification periods (two, three and four months) before the testing of germination in each run. The values of germination energy and germination capacity were assessed, and the germination rate was computed. The results showed that the two-month cold stratification period has not been sufficient to overcome the dormancy of tested seeds. Regardless of the year in which the tests were conducted, seeds stratified for two months showed almost zero germination. For seeds treated with three- and four-month cold stratification, the germination percentage varied from ca. 5% to 32% and from ca. 13% to 46%, respectively. Our results basically correspond with findings reported in the reviewed literature. In 2020, the seeds subjected to four-month stratification performed significantly better than the seeds subjected to three-month stratification. However, in 2021, the seeds stratified for three months reached slightly better results. Four-month stratification also led to an increased percentage of prematurely germinated seeds during stratification. To conclude, the two-month period of cold stratification proved to be insufficient and at least three months of cold stratification are needed to obtain the adequate germination of seeds in subsequent laboratory tests.

The introduction of non-native tree species is considered a potential adaptation strategy to global climate change (GCC) in the forestry sector. As some of the most widespread native species are undergoing stand disintegration due to both abiotic and biotic stressors, the search for alternative species becomes essential. These species can overwhelm native species with both production potential and adaptation to a changing climate. The research focused on climate-growth relationships of two introduced species of the Cupressaceae family, western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) and Lawson's cypress [Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murray) Parl.], in comparison with the native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the northeast part of the Czech Republic. The constructed tree ring chronologies were used as a basis for dendroclimatological analyses: basal area increment (BAI), linear growth trends, Pearson's correlations between climate variables and growth, resilience indices and others. Among the analysed species, Thuja plicata revealed the highest BAI and the most positive growth trend in the last 35 years, with values 2–3 times higher. The Chamaecyparis lawsoniana exhibited the highest negative correlation with mean summer temperatures. In general, Pinus sylvestris showed the highest correlations with precipitation. No clear pattern in resilience indices has been observed. Among the two introduced tree species examined, Thuja plicata emerges as a particularly promising candidate for future application in Central European conditions under ongoing GCC.

The predominant natural disturbance regime within an old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forest has been imitated in order to continue the forest cover. It is unclear how much the silvicultural characteristics of regeneration in a managed forest differ from those in an unmanaged old-growth forest subject only to natural dynamics. In this study, we compared important quantitative (e.g. height, collar diameter, crown width, length of spring shoot on the main stem and length of the uppermost internodes) and qualitative (e.g. healthy, mode of branching and stem form) silvicultural characteristics of beech saplings within the gaps between an unmanaged old-growth Oriental beech compartment and a managed forest in the northern Iran ten years after a single harvest entry using a single-tree selection. Canopy gaps larger than 100 m² with visible remnants of gapmakers (i.e. stumps) were included in this study. The saplings' characteristics of both compartments were within typical ranges for an old-growth beech forest. Small, but important differences were also observed. The value of beech saplings' density in the managed compartment (4.9 ± 0.7 SE) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the unmanaged one (3.4 ± 0.6 SE). Conversely, the value of the Menhinick Richness index in the unmanaged one (0.96 ± 0.05 SE) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than the managed compartment (0.80 ± 0.04 SE). The sapling spring shoot length in the unmanaged compartment (13.3 ± 1.7 SE) was also significantly (P < 0.01) higher than the managed one (7.3 ± 0.7 SE). Relying on beech trees in a managed compartment will hamper the stability of future forest stands. The imitation of the old growth forest must be complete. To increase the resistance of the forest stands to adverse conditions, pay attention to the tree species richness at the time of marking.

In today's forestry practices, integrated management is the prevailing approach. One method gaining traction is retention forestry, where certain trees, known as biotope trees providing microhabitats (TreMs), are preserved during harvesting operations. This article delves into hands-on training for marking interventions using marteloscope plots, focusing specifically on 'Pokojná hora,' a 1-hectare plot situated in the southeast of the Czech Republic. Field surveys were conducted using FieldMap technology, capturing essential data for all trees: coordinates, species, diameter, height, and health status. Additionally, details such as wood quality, economic value, microhabitats, and habitat value were documented for each tree. Forestry engineering students virtually mapped out interventions on the marteloscope plot, testing 11 solution variants across 2 scenarios to strike a balance between economic goals and biodiversity conservation. The plot hosts 155 microsites, predominantly on Fagus sylvatica (common beech) with 108 microsites. The likelihood of TreMs increases with tree diameter, while the correlation between a tree's economic value and its diameter was confirmed. Optimal management suggests maintaining 10 habitat trees per ha to reconcile economic and ecological objectives during harvesting operations. In essence, we contend that the adoption of retention forestry practices coupled with marteloscope training can play a pivotal role in arresting biodiversity decline within forest ecosystems.

This paper analyses the accounting and tax treatment of forests as biological assets in the Czech Republic under Act No. 563/1991 Coll., on Accounting, and its implementing regulations. It compares national approaches with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), focusing on the International Accounting Standard IAS 41 – Agriculture. A comparative-analytical method was used to identify key differences in classification, valuation, and reporting practices. Czech legislation values forests at historical cost and classifies them as non-depreciable land, whereas IFRS requires fair value measurement, capturing biological transformation and the economic potential of forest ecosystems. The findings show that while the Czech framework ensures legal clarity and tax alignment, it lacks integration with environmental accounting frameworks such as the United Nations System of Integrated Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) and does not reflect ecosystem services or ESG (environmental, social, governance) reporting needs. In contrast, IFRS provides a dynamic representation of forest assets, supporting transparency and comparability in international contexts. The study contributes to the ongoing harmonisation debate by offering recommendations to improve the alignment of Czech accounting with international standards, thus supporting sustainable forest management and enhancing investment credibility. Its originality lies in combining legislative analysis with international practice review, highlighting the gap between ecological value and financial reporting in forestry.

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.

The aim of the study was to compare the stock of essential nutrients and carbon in the aboveground biomass of mature stands of silver fir and Norway spruce. A comparison was carried out for 14 mixed stands of spruce and fir. The tree-level dendrometric characteristics were taken from experimental measurements or were generated using the SIBYLA growth simulator. The amount of biomass was calculated using allometric equations. Samples of stem wood, stem bark, and needles were taken and analysed for carbon, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and sulphur concentrations. Using biomass data, the concentrations of the elements were converted into the stock at the stand level. Overall, spruce fixes a greater amount of carbon. The difference is in the carbon allocation, where fir allocates more carbon in the crown and spruce in the stem. Fir needles contain a greater amount of nutrients than spruce needles. A higher supply of phosphorus, nitrogen, and especially potassium was found in the stem wood and bark of fir, the amount of which is more than twice that of spruce. The stem wood of spruce, on the other hand, fixes more calcium and magnesium. As part of the study, linear regression models predicting the stock of nutrients and carbon depending on the stand basal area were parameterised.