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: The study evaluates production parameters (height, diameter at breast height, volume) of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) at mesotrophic sites of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise in mature stands. In total, 29 mixed stands were assessed with the registered proportion of Douglas fir at an age of 85 to 136 years. Comparing the 10 largest Douglas firs with the 10 largest spruces or larches higher, and as a rule markedly higher, production potential of introduced Douglas fir was found in all assessed stands. There were also groups of trees where the volume of Douglas fir was twice to 3 times higher than the volume of spruce or larch (see Tabs. 5 to 10). For example, in stand 177B11, the mean volume of 9.12 m³ was recorded in the 10 largest Douglas fir trees but the volume of spruce reached only 3.17 m³ and the volume of larch was 3.70 m³. Differences in mensurational parameters of Douglas fir found on the one hand and of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) or European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) on the other hand compared by ANOVA tests were statistically highly significant. Annual ring analyses have shown that at present the volume increment of particular Douglas fir trees ranges from 0.12 to 0.16 m³ per year in mature stands (i.e. about 1.5 m³ every 10 years).

Surface ozone is considered to be a very phytotoxic gaseous air pollutant. Its negative impacts at both the cell and the organ level have been shown, mainly as a result of experiments. However, the demonstration of ozone negative impacts on native plants is not explicit. An assessment of ozone impact on vegetation and ecosystems using indicators based on ambient ozone concentrations is insufficient and assessment techniques based on internal ozone dose and on real plant damage are more appropriate. Such a possible technique is the mapping of ozone visible symptoms due to ozone influence. The ICP-Forest method concerning ozone visible symptoms and the assessment of ozone influence were applied for the purposes of this case study. The visible symptoms are characterized by a few typical signs. Nevertheless, the identification of visible symptoms in native conditions can be problematic and misleading conclusions could be drawn. Therefore it is necessary to complete the identification of visible symptoms with a validation in order to confirm ozone as the cause of plant injury.

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

The aim of the study was to assess terrestrial ecosystem development (mainly vegetation and soil characteristics) in the area of a sand mine cast (located in southern Poland) that has been either reclaimed or left for natural succession. A total of 20 sites in a chronosequence of 5, 17, 20 and 25 years were set up in two site categories: reclaimed and non-reclaimed sites. Selected properties of initial soils and features of vegetation were measured and they included carbon accumulation in soil; biomass and diversity of communities were also estimated. Next, based on carbon accumulation, the energy trapped in ecosystem components was estimated. Although the results of plant community investigation did not show the same distinct differences between site categories, the case study suggests that reclamation significantly accelerates ecosystem development. In comparison with spontaneous succession, the complete forest reclamation was found to increase the amount of carbon accumulation, thickness of humus horizon, and energy trapped in soil organic carbon and plant biomass in the developing ecosystem 2-3 times and nitrogen accumulation 5 times.

: The paper describes the basic potential methods and their costs of maintenance of forest lands in protective zones under high-voltage power lines (HVPL) 400 kV and 220 kV. In the present situation and with available information and data, it was possible to accomplish the average cost calculations for the whole area of the Czech Republic. The paper analyses the following mechanical and chemical methods of maintenance of forest lands: full-area scrub clearing with power saw (PS), selective individual scattered clearing of trees with PS, full-area scrub clearing by milling, full-area scrub clearing by the application of herbicides and arboricides, selective individual scrub clearing of individual trees by cutting followed by spray treatment with arboricides. The maintenance of forest lands in zones of HVPL (scrub clearing) by milling belongs to the economically most convenient mechanical methods, for example when removing 3,000 trees.ha^-1, the cost of this option is 20,000-23,000 CZK.ha^-1ha in a period of 3-year periodic frequency, while the most expensive method is selective individual scrub clearing of scattered individual plants with PS at costs of around 84,000 CZK.ha^-1.

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.

The impact of blue spruce (Picea pungens) and reed Calamagrostis villosa) cover on quantity and quality of upper soil layers was investigated. The research was conducted in the Jizerské hory Mts., Czech Republic (altitude 880 m, acidic spruce forest site type - 8K). Mean weight of dry matter of holorganic horizons was similar under both variants. Totally, there were accumulated 153 t/ha of dry matter of humus horizons in blue spruce and 174 t/ha in reed. Soil pH (KCl) varied from 3.7 to 3.2 under blue spruce stand and from 3.6 to 3.3 under reed. The differences of concentrations of nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg) were not found significant either. Only L horizon showed significant differences: there were higher values of cation exchangeable capacity (T) and higher content of exchangeable bases (S) under reed. We found very similar forest-floor humus properties under both species. Therefore we can not state worsening of the soil conditions under blue spruce compared to areas covered with tested forest weed species.

High quality of planting material is an essential prerequisite for successful artificial forest regeneration. We carried out a detailed investigation aimed at differences between plantable bareroot and container plants of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Based on the results of this experiment, there exist marked differences in basic morphological traits between bareroot plants and plugs. The largest differences were observed in root collar diameter and root system volume. Differences in physiological quality (nutrient content, function of assimilatory organs) were also great. The results document that container seedlings of Norway spruce produced by intensive technology in controlled conditions of plastic greenhouses have very good predispositions for successful growth in difficult mountain conditions.

The measurements of soil CO₂ efflux in a Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) forest stand are reported for a 6-month period (from May 1^st to October 26^th 1999). Forest floor CO₂ efflux was measured at four positions using a portable infra-red gas analyser (LI-COR), operating as a closed dynamic system and connected to a portable soil chamber. Soil CO₂ efflux was measured 3-4 times per month. Soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm was recorded during the whole period with an interval of ten minutes. An exponential regression was used to describe the relationship between soil temperature and soil CO₂ efflux. On the basis of this relationship Q₁₀ values were calculated. The averaged value of Q₁₀ for the studied Norway spruce forest stand was 3.74.

The Pinus mugo complex (P. mugo Turra sensu lato, and/or species aggregate or group - P. mugo agg., including its internal as well as external aggregate hybrids) is an important fragment of European dendroflora. For its high variability this complicated group has not been solved in taxonomical terms satisfactorily yet. Most problems are mainly caused by a large amount of taxa of uncertain value described in the past, which often more or less overlap or are based on insufficiently researched and unsuitably interpreted characters. Such facts coincidently cause further problems in applied disciplines. Specialized European literature already contains a large amount of information referring to individual taxa of this complex. Much information is listed under various, often commonly not known or not used scientific names. In order to make the information available and useful, it was necessary to collect the most frequent names used in the past and to assort them in a tabular manner into a convenient synoptic schedule respecting the present concepts of the complex and assign them with the present most commonly used names.

Five types of stand stages (clearings-samplings, plantations, thinnings, thickets, and mature forests) of spruce forests were examined at the foothills of the Jizerské hory Mts. in summer 2005 and 2006. The presence of ants was surveyed by catching them into pitfall traps and observing on baits. Higher numbers of Formica fusca ants were found in clearings-samplings and in plantations. Their activity was higher at the soil and air temperature of 20-30°C. The peak of activity was observed in July. Most specimens were trapped at lighter habitats and in the sites with more than 50% herbaceous and gramineous vegetation cover. F. pratensis was trapped in plantations and thickets. It was active at the soil temperatures 12-21°C and air temperatures 16-25°C. It occurred both in dark and light areas. F. sanguinea most commonly occurred in thinnings. This species was the most active at the soil temperature 20-30°C. Its activity depending on air temperature grew almost linearly. It occurred both in dark and in light stand stages with at least 60% vegetation cover. F. truncorum was observed only in thinnings. The activity of F. truncorum was the highest at the air and soil temperatures 15-25°C. The peak of activity was recorded in July. It was observed only in stands with the quantity of incident radiation 1,030 lx and with 20-80% of undergrowth cover.

: At present, the coppice-with-standards system has become so rare in floodplain forests that it is considered a natural monument. In 1990, the coppice-with-standards system was not recorded in the territory of the Czech Republic. This state contradicts the increasing interest of nature protection organizations in the relict remainders of the coppice-with-standards system, which is to be considered the closest to naturally preserved lowland forest type, and is, therefore, recommended as the final state of the biocentres and biocorridors in today's floodplain forests. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the inventory dealing with the present occurrence of the coppice-with-standards system in the floodplain forest of the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area (PLA) in a historical context.

The paper deals with the use of European beech in the reconstruction of substitute species stands and in the regeneration of existing spruce stands in the air-polluted region of the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. (air-pollution damage zones A, B, forest altitudinal vegetation zones 6 and 7, acidophilic sites). Twenty stand situations were analyzed during the study. The study objective was to compare the growth of European beech plantations in the Krušné hory Mts. with the growth of plantations of the same age in similar sites in the unpolluted region of the Bohemian-Moravian Upland (air-pollution damage zones C, D, forest altitudinal vegetation zone 6, acidophilic site). Each plant was assessed for eight growth and visually classified parameters and traits. Results of the survey showed that in the existing air-pollution and climatic situation, it is possible to switch to normal (shelterwood) beech management of higher elevations in the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. The stands of substitute species and the current stands of Norway spruce may effectively eliminate injuries caused by late frost.

The author analyzes the changes in the tree species composition of Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum Klika 1927 em. Mat. 1964 in the mountain stands of Bieszczady National Park in 1993-2003. The analysis takes into account the changes over a ten-year period in the number and volume structure of each tree species in each stand layer: young natural regeneration, undergrowth, and mature stand. Additionally, after comparing the results with the natural Carpathian forests' structure, the adaptation level of the present tree species composition to the current climate and soil conditions, as well as probable directions of future changes have been assessed. A ten-year period is too short to find significant changes in stand species structure but it is possible to see some trends: beech share in stands is increasing and fir is decreasing.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of the Grand fir (Abies grandis [Dougl. ex D. Don] Lindl.) as a soil-improving species in the area of the University Training Forest in Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Jevany district. The state of humus forms in the stand part with Grand fir was compared with the mature Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) without regeneration, with young beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and oak (Quercus spp. L.) stands (all of pole stage). The site is characterized as 4P1 - acid oak-fir site with Luzula pilosa, the geological bedrock is formed of cretaceous sandstone with loess overlays, the soils are Luvisols, the terrain is flat at the altitude of 420-440 m a.s.l. The humus form samples (L, F, H, Ah horizons) were taken in 4 replications, quantitatively for the holorganic layers. The dry mass amount and total nutrient contents were analyzed for holorganic horizons, the basic pedochemical characteristics (pH, soil adsorption complex characteristics, exchangeable acidity and exchangeable nutrients) were determined for all horizons. The results confirmed marked and positive effects of the Grand fir litter on the surface layer characteristics. This tree species supports the litter of good composition, transforming easily and forming humus forms of higher quality compared to coniferous as well as studied broadleaved species.

The use of skidding machinery in logging operations causes destructive effects especially on soil but has many advantages such as extracting long and heavy logs, optimum use of useful logging time and absence of defect in wood production quality and thus an increase in the added value of wood. In this research compartment 40 of the second district of Nav-Asalem in northern Iran at an altitude of 1,050-1,450 m above sea level was chosen in order to assess the amount of displaced soil volume and depth of ruts due to the traffic of Timber Jack 450C rubber wheeled skidder along the skid trail. Therefore, the correlations between two independent variables, longitudinal slope and soil texture, with two dependent variables, displaced soil volume and average depth of rut, along the skid trail were examined after 20 passes of skidder machinery. The results of this research showed a significant difference between the longitudinal slope increase of skid trail and the amount of soil volume displaced (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between the mean rut depth and different classification of longitudinal slope along the skid trail. The highest measured rut depth was 22 cm and occurred in the slope class of more than 25%. There was no significant correlation between the amount of displaced soil volume and rut depth with changes in soil texture along the skid trail.

The study is a follow-up of the production potential of Douglas fir in mesotrophic sites of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise (TFE) (Journal of Forest Science, No. 7, 2008). Production parameters (height, dbh, volume) of Douglas fir are also evaluated, but in acid sites of the Hůrky Training Forest District, Secondary Forestry School in Písek in mature stands. In total, 17 mixed stands with the proportion of Douglas fir aged 88 to 121 years were assessed. Comparing 10 Douglas fir trees with 10 Norway spruce, Scots pine or European larch trees of the largest volume, higher and generally markedly higher production potential of the introduced Douglas fir was always found in all assessed stands. Groups where the volume of Douglas fir trees was two to three times higher than the volume of spruce, pine or larch were not an exception. For example, in stand 22B10, the mean volume of the 10 largest Douglas fir trees was 6.30 m³ but the volume of spruce trees was only 1.93 m³ and the volume of larch trees 2.25 m³. Differences between the mensurational parameters of Douglas fir and spruce (or larch) assessed by the ANOVA test were statistically highly significant. At present (based on annual ring analyses), the volume increment of particular Douglas fir trees ranges at level of 0.06 to 0.10 m³/year (i.e. about 0.6 m³ to 1.0 m³ per 10 years) in mature stands.

The differences between oak lepidopteran communities were studied in Slovakia in 1993 and 1994. Sampling was undertaken between April and October on 3 oak species (Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. rubra). Biological traits of larvae were examined in order to explain differences in seasonal guilds among oaks. Communities varied in structure and abundance. Species richness in four seasonal guilds (flush, late spring, summer and autumn feeders) had a similar pattern on each of the studied oak species. The guild of flush feeders had the richest species assemblage, followed by the late spring feeder guild and both guilds were significantly richer than the summer feeder guild and autumn feeder guild.

The paper is the 6^th report on the production potential and stability of mixed forest stands in uplands. A mixed beech/larch stand that was established by natural regeneration in 1934 to 1942 is assessed. The stand is situated at an altitude of 460 m above sea level. It has been left to its natural development since 1961. At that time, the stand was characterized as an individually mixed, diameter- and height-differentiated 25-year pole-stage stand. The proportion of larch and beech amounted to 40% and 17%, respectively. Hornbeam (25%), oak (11%) and to a lesser extent birch (5%) and spruce (3%) also occurred in the stand. In the course of 42 years, the proportion of larch in this stand without planned thinning measures decreased to 35%. On the other hand, the proportion of beech increased to 39%. During all 5-year inventories, the stand could be characterized as a stabilized one with high production potential. Its initial growing stock 63 m³/ha at an age of 25 years increased to 497 m³/ha at an age of 67 years in 2003. At present, current volume increment amounts to 9.8 to 12.5 m³/ha/year.

Segmentation of stands by tracks is often the first phase of forest tending. However, a suitable track width is still discussed in forest practice in the Czech Republic. This article deals with the effect of track width on the growth characteristics of young spruce stands. Research involves several variants of European thinning experiment IUFRO CZ 14 Machov situated in Eastern Bohemia. Totally 3 variants were analyzed: 1 - non-segmented control plot without thinning and plots with forest tending (at top height 10 and 20 m) and with different present width of tracks (plot 3 - originally 3.5 m, plot 4 - originally 5.0 m). The significantly positive effect of stand segmentation and tracks on dbh and crown length was found only for individuals growing in the first row next to a track. As regards the stand volume and volume of mean stem, differences between variants with skidding track (3 and 4) were found minimal and insignificant. Therefore, the observation did not reveal any evident losses of production caused by different widths of skidding tracks.

Wild cherry is one of the noble hardwood species that increase the biodiversity of our forests and at the same time it could increase the income for forest owners. The preconditions for achieving these goals are the high quality of stem and appropriate silvicultural management. This means that wild cherry should occupy the main crown layer in the stand. The height/frequency diagram depicts two groups of wild cherry trees in the stand belonging to dominant/codominant and suppressed tree classes. Height periodic increment (measured between the years 2001 and 2007) is significantly (p < 0.01) different in these two groups confirming that there is no transition chance for the trees from the suppressed group to become a part of the main crown layer and play the role of future crop tree. The same is true of the diameter/frequency diagram which also has a two-peak shape remaining also at the end of the surveyed period. Our result suggests that silvicultural care should be focused only on trees belonging to future crop trees.

The spruce-fir-beech dominated forest stands in Litschau in the Austrian part of the Bohemian Massif were converted by former forest management practices into pure Norway spruce stands and are now discussed to be reconverted into the potential natural vegetation type. The targeted potential natural vegetation type is usually defined by experts in vegetation sciences. Because meanwhile individual-tree growth simulators are a well acknowledged tool for predicting future forest stand development, in this study we investigate if PROGNAUS can also be used to predict the redevelopment of managed forest ecosystems into natural forest ecosystems regarding species composition. The development of 23 stands in Litschau has been simulated over 1,000 years under the "no-management" option. Generally, the simulated species distribution agrees quite well with the expectations of the potential natural vegetation type. However, the predicted amounts of silver fir and maple species are lower than expected, which probably is due to browsing and management effects represented in the parameterization data for PROGNAUS.

This paper presents detailed data on the biomass and element pools of six sample trees in the catchments of Plešné andČertovoLakes. Diameters and heights of the sample trees ranged from 28.0 to 63.7 cm and from 14.1 to 38.7 m. The age of the sample trees ranged from 84 to 177 years. Total biomass of the sample trees was in the range of 239.4 kg to 2,932.3 kg. Variation of total biomass between the sample trees was a consequence of the tree biometric data (height and dbh) and age differences. The proportion of stem wood and bark ranged from 63.5 to 69.5%, and from 4.6 to 7.2%, respectively. The proportion of foliage and fine branches ranged from 4.3 to 8.4%, and from 0.7 to 1.9%, respectively. The proportion of branch wood and bark ranged from 2.2 to 6.5%, and from 0.8 to 2.2%, respectively. Mean concentrations of C in different tree components were quite similar. Except C and compared to the other elements, N had the highest mean concentrations in tree components in all cases. Concentrations of P, Ca, Mg, and K showed similar patterns. Generally the highest concentrations of these elements were found in foliage, fine branches, fine roots and bark of stem and branches. Fe, Na, Al and Mn showed the lowest mean concentrations in tree components for all the analyzed elements. The total element pools per tree were highly variable because of the differences in total biomass between the individual trees. Generally, stem wood and bark, foliage, and roots contained the highest proportion of the elements. But there were differences between individual elements. Concerning the important nutrients, while the highest proportion of Ca and Mg was contained in stem wood and bark, the highest proportion of P was contained in foliage. The foliage contained a relatively high proportion of P and K, but a relatively low proportion of Ca and Mg.

Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) is the most industrial commercial tree species among more than 80 broadleaved trees and shrubs in Hyrcanian forests. In this study some of the silvicultural properties of beech were studied under a shelterwood cutting system in a regeneration unit of 25 years old stand in Sangdeh forests of Iran. Tree height, diameter, canopy cover, variety of species, frequency at different stages of growth (seedling, sapling, thicket and pole) and tree density at juvenile phase were recorded in 431 circular 1,000 m² sample plots before and after shelterwood cutting. Results indicated that tree density in the diameter at breast height (dbh) class of < 20 cm increased during shelterwood cutting. Canopy cover of regeneration unit was 78.5% in 1957, while in 2000 and after the shelterwood cutting it reached 59%. Growing stages of regeneration were 14% sapling, 21% thicket, 24% small pole and 41% pole. The shelterwood method has not been very successful in our study area due to a number of technical and potential problems.

Forests have been subject to human intervention since the inception of human civilization. With enhanced knowledge, understanding and capacity humans exert an increasing pressure and influence on forests. Forests in general have undergone different ownership patterns. The requirements for forests have changed over time. The objectives of forest management are shifting from timber production to biodiversity conservation and nature protection. On the other hand, in many places the forests are dwindling due to the anthropic pressure. The management paradigms are changing in response to these triggering mechanisms. In this paper an attempt has been made to summarize the evolution of forest management practices and discuss some recent trends in forest management.

The study deals with the monitoring of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in seepage water sampled from differently managed forest plots in the Drahanská vrchovina Upland. Simultaneously, the input of DOC in precipitation and throughfall is evaluated. Preliminary results show higher mobility level of carbon substances in forest soil in a pure spruce stand compared to mixed stand or a pure beech stand. DOC can be one of suitable characteristics to evaluate the conversion effectiveness of spruce monocultures.

The fine root biomass represents 3,372 kg/ha in the intermediate stage of the beech virgin forest with different admixture of goat willow, where the vast majority of this biomass is located in the uppermost mineral soil layer 0-10 cm. The variability of the fine root biomass calculated from 35 sample points represents approximately 90% of the mean value and reaches the highest value within the humus layer. The total fine root length investigated in 10 cm thick soil layers decreases with increasing soil depth. A significant linear relationship between the fine root length (calculated per 1 cm thick soil layer and 1 m² of stand area) and the soil depth was confirmed, although the correlation is rather weak. The number of root tips decreases with increasing soil depth faster than the root length. As the number of tips per 1 cm of root length remains in the finest diameter class without significant changes, the reason is above all a decreased proportion of the finest root class (diameter up to 0.5 mm) from the total fine root length within the particular soil layer.

Runoff generation under various natural conditions has often been studied in forested watersheds for a long time. In 1967, Hewlett designed a variable source area model. The model is based on the expansion and shrinkage of variable source areas and consequent changes in a drainage network during a discharge event. The runoff investigation was carried out in a forested watershed situated in the summit area of the Orlické hory Mts. The watershed has a drainage area of 32.6 ha with the land-surface elevation ranging from 880 to 940 m a.s.l. Runoff components, their amounts and ratios were calculated using a simple graphical-mathematical method of the hydrograph recession limb analysis according to a reservoir model representing the particular components (base flow, subsurface flow and overland flow, in other words slow, accelerated and rapid flows). Comparing the amount of slow and rapid runoff constituents (89.5-99.4% and 0.6-10.5%, respectively), the greater amount of slowly moving water confirmed that overland flow was absent under conditions of forest environment. Not even the drainage treatment altered this positive ratio of the runoff constituents. During the third period, under stabilized hydrology and stand conditions, the accelerated and rapid runoff increased again, however maximally by 10% and 4%, respectively, not reaching the initial size of the calibration period.

At present, photogrammetric interpretation of aerial images is a dominant method of forestry mapping. In the last years, transition from analogue to digital photogrammetry has been distinct. Digital photogrammetry enables to achieve workflow effectivity, and so to decrease the final product costs. The objective of the submitted paper was to evaluate the availability of digital photogrammetry for the forestry mapping rationalization. Digital aerotriangulation using the ImageStation SSK system brings more accurate results without requirements for the use of a larger amount of control points. The results also demonstrated the use of colour infrared aerial images, and also black and white aerial images at the scale 1:15,000 for the orthoimage creation in the forestry mapping department. Compared with the black and white aerial images, the colour infrared images have an essentially more interesting content, mainly from the qualitative aspect, which shifts them to use in many forestry disciplines (mostly for determination of the health conditions of forests stands, …), in combination with the remote sensing of the Earth and GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Common ways of nursery cultivation and sorting the planting material of mountain provenances of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) are connected with the risk of undesirable narrowing of the genetic spectrum of populations. Investigations in spruce plantations established by different planting materials found out very good growth (total height is 125 cm 9 years after outplanting) and health status of these slowly growing seedlings planted in extreme mountain conditions. In order to prevent the genetic spectrum narrowing, we recommend to cultivate all seedlings including smaller outsorted (commonly culled) ones. The smallest seedlings can be grown one year longer and subsequently planted out in the same locality as the remaining planting material of the same seed lot.