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The aims of this study were: 1. to determine the effect of dexiccation treatment on the physiological quality of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) seedlings by measurements of electrolyte leakage from the root system; b) to test the use of hydrogl STOCKOSORB^® for protection of the root system of spruce seedlings during their transplanting. The results showed that desiccation treatment significantly affected the rate of electrolyte leakage (34% leakage for control seedlings and 53% in contrast with seedlings after 5 hours of desiccation). Likewise, significant differences were found in height and root collar increments after the first vegetation period that decreased with the duration of desiccation treatment. The values of electrolyte leakage also increased with the duration of desiccation treatment for seedlings treated with hydrogel. On the other hand, the rate of electrolyte leakage was lower after 5 hours of stress factor than in untreated seedlings. The height and root collar increments were higher in seedlings treated with hydrogel for all variants. The obtained results showed a possibility of using the measurement of electrolyte leakage from the root system to determine the physiological quality of Norway spruce seedlings. The rate of electrolyte leakage over 40% signals the physiological damage to the root system of spruce seedlings. Next, the results confirmed the need of protection of seedling roots during handling. The seedlings without hydrogel had 35% height and 26% root collar diameter increment after two-hour desiccation stress. On the other hand, the same seedlings with STOCKOSORB had 42% height and 48% root collar increment.

In the years 1999-2000, I studied damage to transplants in the planting and wildlings in the natural seeding at the locality Zamrlô in the Starohorské vrchy Mts. (750-1,000 m a.s.l., NE exposure, forest type Abieto-Fagetum). Damage to the woody plants by the mammals and birds in the planting was much higher (14%) than in the natural seeding (7%). All woody plant species were also more damaged in the planting (spruce 16%, larch 9%, fir 24%, beech 10%, and sycamore 10%) than in the natural seeding (spruce 7%, larch 6%, fir 10%, beech 7%, and sycamore 9%). There were found 8 mammals that damaged woody plants both in the planting and natural seeding (Apodemus sp., Capreolus capreolus L., Cervus elaphus L., Clethrionomys glareolus SCHREB., Lepus europaeus L., Microtus agrestis L., Microtus arvalis PALL., Sciurus vulgaris L.). Only one bird species was found to damage woody plants in the planting and natural seeding (Tetrao urogallus L.).

Yellowing of Norway spruce is a relatively common problem in many regions of the Czech Republic. At some places, it is also connected with forest decline. This unfavourable phenomenon is initiated by several ecological as well as anthropogenic processes. One of the most important is the imbalance of forest stand nutrition. Particular reasons lead to nutrient deficiency, especially deficiency of magnesium. Solution to this undesirable trend is a profound ecological analysis and cause-oriented treatments. Besides decreasing air pollution impacts, fertilisation with deficient nutrients represents a successful treatment in the forest stand management in affected areas. In the area of interest, application of relatively small amounts of appropriate fertiliser (SILVAMIX Mg) led to considerable improvement in the defoliation dynamics and yellowing progress since the first year after application.

Rare forest tree species that are necessary for the domestic processing industry, especially for the furniture industry, currently occur as scattered trees in many forest stands in theCzechRepublic. For their harvest and supply to the processing industry it is necessary to measure their dimensions and growing stock. Logging technologies are proposed that will enable to harvest and transport this scattered wood mass to buyers. These technologies and used conveyances must not cause any damage either to forest soil or to adjacent stands and they should be economic, i.e. increased costs of processing must be covered by selling price.

In the area of southern Poland 33 pine stands growing at the altitudes from 350 to 1,200 m above sea level in the Carpathian and Sudeten Mountains were selected as the object of studies. Thirty-three site chronologies of tree-rings, representing each site were constructed. A decrease in the similarity of dendrochronological signal chronologies occurred with the growing distance between the sites. Correlation and convergence analysis and the Principal Components Analysis permitted the differentiation of two chronology groups: the Western (Sudeten) and the Eastern (Carpathian) ones. On the basis of the site chronologies regional chronologies for the Carpathian and Sudeten Mts. were constructed. The investigated pines from the two regions manifested great sensitivity to winter frost and in summer to the deficiency of heat and water. The chronologies were strongly integrated by the pattern of air temperatures, being differentiated by the pluvial conditions.

Differentiation of forest technologies according to ecosystem properties is a necessary step to achieve sustainable forestry. A forest typological system is considered to be the basic unit of ecosystem differentiation in the Czech Republic. Terrain characteristics, potential water erosion and applicable harvest technology were examined for 44 forest sites in a landscape segment of the Jizerské hory Mts. Forest site was found homogeneous in terms of terrain and technological properties. Edaphic category and groups of forest types as higher classification units and management sets as units of alternative classification showed lower homogeneity insufficient for operational planning.

Methods were elaborated that would specify factors affecting the accuracy of the output of LANDSAT satellite images used to evaluate the dynamics of changes in the health condition of birch stands. In the period of investigations, in 1994-2000, the foliage of birch stands was very thin as a consequence of the large-scale absence of flushing in 1997. The output of this method is also specification of the degree of foliage of birch trees based on the altitude, stand age and forest site types in the air-polluted area of the Krušné hory Mts. (Northern Bohemia). These methods can be applied to other broadleaved stands.

Models evaluating static stability (resistance to breaking or uprooting of trees caused by wind, snow or ice) of forest stands in the seventh altitudinal vegetation zone were determined. The empirical material came from 180 research plots (High Tatra and Low Tatra Mountains) established within the research project Research on methods for mountain forest management based on sustainable Development. Static stability was characterized by the slenderness ratio that was calculated from the mean height and diameter of target trees. Then the particular forest stands were categorized with regard to slenderness ratio, mean diameter and absolute site class using either tables or graphic models. Particularly, four static stability classes were made up: 1 - very good, 2 - good, 3 - sufficient, and 4 - insufficient. Practical application of the models is shown for forest stands grown in the area of Vajsková and Lomnistá valleys.

The mycoflora was investigated under the conditions of climax spruce stands in the Krkonoše Mountains in relation to wood decomposition. The areas under observation have been affected more or less by air pollution since the eighties. The average mass of deadwood found on the plots is 124 m³ per ha - the mass of fallen trunks is about 32 m3 per ha, mean value from total average. About 128 species of macrofungi were identified that besides others included 43 species of wood-decaying fungi. Also 54 mycorrhizal species were identified. Among the mycorrhizal fungi about 10 species were dominant, such as Laccaria laccata (Scop.: Fr.) Cooke, Lactarius helvus Fr., Lactarius mitissimus Fr., Lactarius rufus (Scop.) Fr., Russula emetica (Schaeff.: Fr.) Pers. and Russula ochroleuca Pers. etc. Concerning the volume of decomposed wood on monitored plots in climax spruce stands, the prevalent wood-decaying fungi are brown rot fungi. The proportion of brown rot fungi in wood decomposition is 60-95% of deadwood mass on the plots of climax spruce stands. A dominant species is Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw.: Fr.) P. Karst. causing the brown rot. Concerning the group of white rot fungi, the most important is Stereum sanguinolentum (Alb. & Schw.: Fr.) Fr., participating by 17% in wood decomposition on plots damaged by deer.

The causal agent of the chestnut blight, the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) M. E. Barr (syn. Endothia parasitica (Murrill) P. J. Anderson et H. W. Anderson), was found out at new localities in the Czech Republic. The chestnut blight was observed for the first time in the Czech Republic in 2002. Two new localities were discovered in southern Moravia in May and June 2004. The disease was identified both on the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and on the red oak (Quercus rubraL.). Infected trees were treated according to the order of the State Phytosanitary Administration of the Czech Republic.

Using Moericke's yellow dishes we studied the Hymenoptera (Aculeata) fauna (with the exception of Formicoidea) in spruce (Picea abies) stands of the colder region of Northern Bohemia. We collected 103 species and the most important species in this spectrum were Vespula vulgaris (56.4%), Vespula rufa (4.7%), Dolichovespula norvegica (3.1%), Dolichovespula saxonica (4%), Nysson spinosus (1.8%), Andrena lappona (1.9%), Cleptes semiauratus (5.9%), Halictus sp. (6.7%) and Trypoxylon minus (2.2%). Comparisons made in 1990-1994 and 1995-1999 indicated a recession of species of the genus Halictus, of Andrena nitida (Apidae), Pemphredon lugubris, Trypoxylon clavicerum and T. minus (Sphecidae), and an increased abundance of Cleptes semiauratus (Cleptidae), Nysson spinosus (Sphecidae), Vespula vulgaris and V. rufa (Vespidae). Compared to closed stands, open spruce stands had a greater species diversity and lower number of captured specimens.

The article is devoted to problems of forestry financing in the Czech Republic in the period of transition to market economy (1991-1999). The policy of forestry financing is aimed above all at the provision and improvement of quality of sustainable non-market forest goods and services. Thirty programmes and 46 sub-programmes were analysed in the CR in 1991-1999. The level of financial support ranged from 909.4 mil. CZK to 1,501.7 CZK with the exception of 2,540.1 mil. CZK in 1991 (all in stable 1999 prices). On average, the support amounted to about 10% of the GDP created by the forestry sector in the given period.

The paper presents data on the induction of necroses after small injuries to beech stems caused by electrodes during measuring cambium electric resistance. Altogether 121 beech stems of tree class 1-3 (according to Kraft) were evaluated. Among 2,904 mechanical injuries in 121 stems evaluated (24 per stem), 155 injuries induced necroses, hence each 19^th injury induced necrosis. Most stems (33.06%) showed one necrosis, few stems (4.96%) showed even four necroses. 28.93% of stems did not show any necrosis. In order to prevent the infection of wounds and subsequent induction of necroses the authors recommend to treat any wounds with a suitable fungicide after using an equipment causing even negligible wounds of stems.

In the nineties of the 20^th century, forest ecosystems in the Silesian Lowland were seriously disturbed by a large disaster with massive increase in the occurrence of biotic and abiotic harmful agents. The majority of old growth was cut there especially that with allochthonous spruce (Picea excelsa). Relations between the course of climatic factors (annual precipitation amount, annual average temperature) and the level of unregulated felling were studied.

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the possibilities of using selected allowable cut indicators in near-natural forest management by supplementing two indicators to present allowable cut indicators. Namely it is 1/30 of forest stand growing stock of the last three age classes and higher and 1/40 of forest stand growing stock of the last four age classes and higher. These indicators are compared with the allowable cut indicator 1/20 of forest stand growing stock of the last two age classes and higher which in relation to the forest law can be used in the present control of cuttings. The evaluations were carried out at selected five forest user's units where near-natural forest management is applied. The results confirmed that it is not possible to use the indicator 1/20 in environmentally sound silvicultural systems. The results demonstrated the continuity of cuttings if the indicator 1/30 was used

In birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands of the Děčín sandstone uplands (northern Bohemia) 55 species of leafhoppers were captured using photoeclectors, ground traps and shaking down onto sheets (23,855 specimens of larvae and imagoes). The dominant representatives of the grass and herb undergrowth in birch stands are Jassargus allobrogicus, Anoscopus flavostriatus, Neophilaenus lineatus, Hyledelphax elegantula, Diplocolenus bohemani, Streptanus brevipennis, Macustus grisescens, Planaphrodes bifasciata and Cercopis vulnerata. A heavy abundance of the dominant Oncopis flavicollis and the less abundant O. tristis, weakens birch growth due to the leaf-sucking activities of the insects.

Forests in the Czech Republic are highly influenced by the antropogenous factors - those are particularly air pollution, pollutant deposition, soil degradation, change of the natural forest ecosystems, and also global climate changes. Significant damages due to air pollution are visible already 50 years (the Ore Mts. region). Since 1989 the sulphur emission has decreased significantly. By the end of 90ies SO₂ emission was reduced in nearly 90%. In the 1990-1995 period, the change of air pollution situation in mountain regions resulted into the spruce stands condition improvement, and good progress of transitory stands (birch, blue spruce, mountain pine, alder etc.). Following development was not that ideal, however. Since 1995, various symptoms of damage have been observed, caused by the complex of factors. During the winter 1995/1996, within the whole region of the Czech Republic, reddening of the last needle year class of spruce was observed in the altitude over 700 m. These symptoms were the most visible in the eastern part of the Ore Mts., where 3-4 needle year classes were affected, or even tree decay observed. An acute damage was caused by direct impact of the high SO₂ concentrations. The average defoliation was over 60% in stands assessed. About 12,578 ha of spruce stands were damaged, 1,300 ha of them has completely died. The rest have regenerated successfully in following period. After following winter, in spring 1997, the damage of transitory birch stands was observed in all the northern mountain regions. In the Ore Mts. ridge birch did not flush at all, the leaf lost was observed in a vast area with variable intensity in altitudes over 800 m above sea level during the springtime. In total 3,400 ha of birch stands was damaged, in 1998 it was nearly 5,428 ha. Birch completely died at about 2,550 ha, in following period the damage development stagnated. Similar damage of smaller extent has been observed also in other parts of the country, in higher elevations, situated above the inversion layer during the spring months. After winter 1999, vast damage of the spruce stands, manifested in yellowing of older needle year classes, and gradual needle drying and fall, affecting the stand of all age categories, was observed in the western part of the Ore Mts. but also in other regions. Yellowing was observed on 2,000 ha in 1999, next year it was 6,500 ha, and in 2001 about 9,000 ha was damaged within the Ore Mts. A new type of damage has been observed in the Orlické hory Mts. ridge caused again by the stressing factors complex after the winter 2001/2002. Nitrogen deposition seems to be one of major problem. The damage presented shows that in spite of significant lowering of air pollution load the forest stands health state in air polluted regions is not stabilized.

This paper gives an overview of Czech forestry policy and legislation since the beginning of changes in the CEEC plus developments and activities of the main forestry institutions. These activities are referred to in the background material given for the political transition period and also related to the Pan-European and global forestry processes. The philosophy of forestry in the Czech Republic is based on the international framework set out by the first Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe and also in conjunction with the preparation of the Czech Republic for accession to the European Union. National and regional forest programmes are aimed at implementing the principles of sustainable forest management and a broad range of stakeholders from the forestry and environment sectors has been involved in its preparation. The current situation and main problems of forestry are given along with basic principles on how to solve such problems and also on how to fulfil obligations to future generations, and international commitments.

This paper evaluates the development of growing stock, number of trees and diameter distribution of the standing volume in the Opuky locality where conversion to a selection forest has been the aim of management over a long period of time. With respect to species composition, the stand is divided into two plots. The initial condition and development of both plots differed. The favourable initial composition of the stand has gradually deteriorated due to delay in natural regeneration and therefore recruitment of young trees over a long period. The total number of trees on both plots has been low for target diameter of 51 cm. On the other hand, the growing stock has exceeded the model condition. The proportion of broadleaved species in the stand gradually increases, reducing the possibility of conversion to a selection forest in future.

The optimization study was carried out in the part of the Jeseníky Mts. region in order to find the optimum variant of a forest road route. The ROADENG system was used for determining the Jezerná forest road design with use of projection above the digital elevation model of terrain. Particular variants of the forest road route were calculated and analyzed on the basis of environmental approach. The final report recommended one of the variants for the final elaboration of project documentation and for construction.

The tree species composition of forests in the Czech Republic has changed due to the human impact over the time. Nowadays, the idea of reducing the area with spruce stands and of increasing the area with broadleaved stands is widely discussed. The paper compares the target species composition with the presentone and creates four groups of areas with the largest and/or negligible differences between the target and the actual tree species composition using the Czech typology school.

A short introduction of historical overview and current situation refer to forestry problems of the country. Local climate is characterized and impacts of natural phenomena are described, as well as the impacts of human beings. The influence of forest management is mentioned and discussed in relation to latest catastrophic floods. The territory of the Czech Republic is damaged especially by a high intensity of atmospheric precipitation abnormal values which lead to a local or regional damage. In the catchment areas of torrents, damage leads to faster soil erosion, development of ravines, landslides, moving of soil sediments and their deposition, devastation of watercourse beds and properties, flooding while the flooding rates of flow represent a danger for the life of inhabitants. Important elements and results of respective research are described in brief. E.g. research of precipitation and its relation to the runoffs in the small mountain catchment areas with the forest stands restoration, as well as the forestry-hydrologic monitoring of forest environment, which has been taking place since 1928, and tradition of the service for torrent control. Forestry-hydrologic research gradually documents that a favorable flood-control performance of forest is limited. However, this is not a reason for not taking care of flood-control measures in the mountain afforested areas. These measures and importance of forest for the protection of land are historically verified and justified. In closing the mankind behavior to the landscape is underlined as a question mark.

Natural regeneration is an important part of close-to-nature forestry. However, natural regeneration also has either natural or technological limits. Among the most important natural limits are a low sum of precipitation and site type. The study concentrates on Žatec region where the long term average sum of precipitation is only 440-450 mm per year. Dry periods during the vegetation time are quite frequent. The study was conducted on clear cut area, stand edge, shelterwood area and stand interior. The results showed the highest population densities in a shelterwood system, the lowest in the stand interior. On the other hand, the dry seedling biomass is lower for seedlings from shelterwood area than from clear cut area.

Age and diameter classes or growth stages as criteria for the implementation of thinning

Two-year, bare-rooted seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) were used in this study. The seedlings were exposed to artificial desiccation and frost stress after spring lifting. After exposure to these factors, electrolyte leakage from the root system was measured. The results showed that artificial desiccation significantly affected the rate of electrolyte leakage. The effect of desiccation was confirmed by the survival of plants and height increment (100% survival and 49% height increment of control seedlings in contrast with plants after 6 hours of desiccation: 9% survival and 2% height increment). On the other hand, frost stress did not affect the rate of electrolyte leakage (the rate of REL did not correlate with the intensity of stress treatment).

In any activity, thus at work as well, there is an influence of the environment on a human being. This environment, to which every worker has his own individual relationship, becomes a part and background of the worker's life. The realization of these interactions and relationships markedly affects achieved working results. The ecologically harmless technologies will not be used in forestry considerately towards the environment if forestry workers do not change their negative attitudes to their environment. In this project we tried to map out environmental knowledge of forestry workers.

The paper studies the effect of a single use of a textural fraction of dolomitic limestone (5.1 t per ha) on soil reaction (pH/KCl and pH/H2O) and the content of exchangeable Ca and Mg (in the soil layer of 0-30 cm or in F, H and A horizons) during a 6-year experiment under a mature Norway spruce stand and a 4-year experiment on a clear-felled area. The increase in pH culminated in the 3rd or in the 3rd-6th year of the experiment. Maximum effects were achieved applying the fine fraction of a particle size £ 1 mm. The coarse fraction of a particle size > 1 mm showed virtually negligible effects. The increase in Ca and Mg content culminated in the last 6th year of the experiment. Maximum effects were achieved applying fine fractions again. The effect of the coarse fraction was also virtually negligible. After 6 years, ma-ximum increase in all values under study occurred in the upper narrow F horizon while the increase rapidly dropped downwards.

Various attacks of pathogenic fungi on the larch crown were observed in Trentino/South Tyrol, Italy, over the past few years. In 1999, severe defoliation was caused by Mycosphaerella laricina, a rarely investigated pathogen, whose action was enhanced by high temperatures and humidity in August. In July 2000, larch woods showed crown yellowing due to Meria laricis. Lower temperatures and heavy precipitation were probably the predisposing factors in this case. Hypodermella laricis was observed in 2002 as a localised attack, while Lachnellula wilkommii is commonly recorded. The impact of these diseases and the environmental factors involved in their occurrence are discussed in this paper.

The object of this study was to investigate the effect of pruning on heartwood formation in mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees. Fifty trees were treated by three different intensive pruning regimes: 42, 60 and 70 percentage of defoliation. After five growing seasons numbers of growth rings were counted and the width and the area of sapwood and heartwood were calculated. The results did not show any proportional increase or decrease in the heartwood area or in the number of growth rings in heartwood associated with the pruning. A statistically significant negative effect of pruning was found on the width of the five most recently formed sapwood growth rings. This decreased growth rate did not influence the ratio of sapwood and heartwood. However, it cannot be excluded that the proportion of heartwood may increase during a longer period. It is concluded that pruning is not a practicable silvicultural method for regulating heartwood formation in mature Scots pine trees.

In three investigated stands the highest increment (8.8 m3/ha per year, i.e. 1.5% of the actual stand volume, measured at the end of the control period) was reached by Jawornik I stand in the initial period of the growing up stage, and Tworylczyk stand in the advanced growing up stage (7.4 m3/ha per year, i.e. 1.2% of the actual stand volume). Jawornik II stand, in the optimum stage, the aging phase, had the lowest increment (3.9 m3/ha per year, i.e. 0.7% of the actual stand volume). The process of a natural volume loss was the most intensive in Tworylczyk stand (7.6 m3/ha per year), a little less intensive in Jawornik II stand (7.1 m3/ha per year), and the least intensive in Jawornik I stand (5.8 m3/ ha per year). The analysis of tree loss, recruitment, and increment, and the relations between these processes, can form the basis for a conclusion that stable stands developed in the Carpathian primeval beech forests in the years 1988-1998. Such steady processes can be used for the development of a stable, multifunctional model of the forest managed by the selection system, or the Swiss irregular shelterwood system in the Carpathian beech stands of a similar structure.