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The results of research on the production of raw timber assortments for the stands of poplar clones Robusta and I-214 in Slovakia are presented in this paper. Models of assortment yield tables were constructed, separately for each clone, in dependence on the yield class and stand age. The construction was based on the models of yield tables, stand assortment tables, models of external quality and damage to stems. Robusta clone produces by about 15-20% higher proportions of the highest quality assortments than I-214 clone. I-214 clone produces faster and higher proportions of average- and below-average quality assortments.

The silver fir was planted under mountain conditions in order to reveal its response to the addition of finely ground rocks (limestone and amphibolite) mixed with soil into the planting holes. The results document that the increments of the plantations fertilised with amphibolite were higher by 25% on average than those of the control plantations while the increments of the plantations treated with dolomitic limestone were lower by 13%. Generally, as concerns both the plantations with the application of ground rocks and the control ones, the development of the fir plantations in 1994-2007 is considered successful. As the damage by climatic stresses has gradually diminished, the number of dead trees has been decreasing and the height increments have been increasing in the last years, therefore a positive development is to be expected also in future.

The paper presents the results of a regional analysis of climate change impacts on Norway spruce growth in the north-western part of Slovakia(Orava region). Radial increment was determined from nine X-tree sample plots established in the forests of natural character in the region. The analysis of PTT radial increment was done on tree disks cut from a height of 1.3 m by measurements of four perpendicular directions corresponding to the cardinal points. It was derived from the tree-ring width measured at breast height (1.3 m) while all the basic principles of tree-ring analyses were observed (transport and borehole treatment, measurements with digital positiometer to the nearest 0.01 mm, synchronisation of the tree-ring diagrams). A dendroclimatic model belongs to the category of empirical models based on the statistical evaluation of empirically derived dependences between the time series of tree-ring parameters and the monthly climatic characteristics. This statistical evaluation is based on a multiple linear regression model. Climatic models were used as basic tools for climatic change prediction. There is a scenario coming from the GCM category, which is derived from the models of Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis in Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), used for a solution of this task. It is the latest connected model from the second generation designated CCCM 2000. For the purpose of this study the area averages were modified for the meteorological station Oravská Polhora with the 1951-1980 reference period. The modification includes two climatic characteristics, total monthly precipitation and monthly temperature means. The frequency analysis indicates that 24.4% of trees would react to the assumed climatic change negatively, i.e. by decreasing the increment, and 75.6% of trees would react positively. Most of the reactions are moderately positive. It is to conclude that 14.6% of trees will react to a climatic change significantly in a negative way, the reactions of 34.1% trees are considered to be unchanged and 51.3% of trees should react to the assumed climatic change positively (P = 0.95). It results from the analysis of the climatic change impact that the highest effect on stands situated on the upper forest limit can be expected.

The paper deals with problems of determination of imagoes (mainly females) in bark beetles of the genus Pityokteines Fuchs. P. curvidens (Germ.) is on average only slightly longer than P. spinidens (Reitt.) and distinctly longer than P. vorontzowi (Jak.). Males are (without lower hooked teeth) equally long as females. The shield of P. curvidens is on average 8% (P. spinidens 12% and P. vorontzowi 13%) longer than wider. Males of P. curvidens have wing cases at shoulders equally wide as their shield, females on average 3.3% wider than their shield. Males of P. spinidens have wing cases on average 1.0% narrower (females 2.1% wider) than their shield. Males of P. vorontzowi have wing cases on average 1.3% narrower than their shield, females have wing cases equally wide as their shield. The longest tail-like hair of the shield front edge (about 0.38 mm) occurs in females of P. spinidens, much more shorter (about 0.26 mm) in P. curvidens and shortest (about 0.23 mm) in P. vorontzowi. In females of P. curvidens, the hair of forehead as against the hair of shield is shorter on average by 8.3, in P. spinidens by 5.6 and in P. vorontzowi by 9.5%. Based on the length of the shield hair it is possible to distinguish reliably females of P. spinidens and according to short (0.12 mm) bristles on the rear of wing cases females of P. vorontzowi. A longitudinal central keel occurs on the forehead of 80% males of all three species and 72% females of P. vorontzowi. A figure defined by the teeth of the 2^nd and the 5^th pair in females of P. curvidens on the rear of wing cases is an isosceles trapezoid that approaches (or is almost equal) to a rectangle. In P. spinidens, it is quite a well-marked (in P. vorontzowi well-marked) trapezoid. It has been found that the shape and size of these figures are the main characteristics for species determination of females of the genus Pityokteines.

Seeds and seedlings of Quercus robur, a characteristic tree species of the hardwood floodplain forests along the Rhine River, demonstrated high resistance to complete inundation under controlled conditions. In both experimental trials no significant difference between the different flooding periods (8, 10, and 12 weeks) could be established either for shoot emergence or for the measured morphological growth parameters. Flooding delayed the germination of submerged acorns till the end of inundation. However, seeds of the flooding treatments had significantly higher germination rates than the non-flooded acorns of the control. Likewise, dry weights of seedlings from the flooded seeds were significantly higher than those of seedlings from seeds not flooded. Aboveground growth in the 24-week growth period following flooding was reduced in favour of root development in either trial of the experiment. Restricted leaf development and reduced shoot elongation stalled the growth of young oaks in the seedling trial. The results confirm knowledge from earlier experiments about the flood tolerance of Quercus robur seed and seedlings. They also serve to explain why oak seedlings are widespread on the Rhine floodplain after mast years, but gradually disappear in successive years.

In this study results of hydrogel application in reclamations are presented. The application of hydrogel affected the survival of pine seedlings during two vegetation periods after planting. Double application of STOCKOSORB AGRO (gel) on the root system after lifting caused an about 19% higher survival rate compared to control variants. The application of 7 g/planting hole of STOCKOSORB MICRO granules caused overdosage and plant mortality. The application of hydrogel granules is simple but it is very complicated not to cause the overdosage because of the very high swelling capacity of hydrogel. Research should be carried out to determine suitable hydrogel application rates for different environmental conditions and tree species. To design a technology with regard to the economic effectiveness of application will be a very important task.

Frisol forte (FR F) and Frisol active (FR A) are slow-acting organic fertilisers recommended for reclamation and revitalisation of undeveloped soils and degraded areas. Tentative results of experiments carried out with these products on spoil banks in the CR showed controversial reactions of plants - on the one hand a high mortality of seedlings and a very good growth on the other. Reasons for these disproportions projecting themselves into the welfare of woody plants probably lie in an incorrect dosage of products. Thus, a special long-term experiment was established with the objective to find an optimal dosing to be used in practice for the reclamation process on spoil banks. By the method of measuring and statistical evaluation of height and stem diameter growths it was discovered that the best results were achieved by the combined use of both products with a dosage in the range of 30-60 g FR F + 250 ml FR A/5 l of water/10 seedlings. The discovered dosage is lower than that indicated by the manufacturer and literature. The application of granulated FR F alone was not so effective. The best dosage in this case was also 60 g/seedling. A disadvantage of using the combination of both types of Frisol is that the water required for dissolving the FR A liquid concentrate is not always available in the location being reforested.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the growth potential of Carpathian birch (Betula carpatica W. et K.) at an environmentally harsh mountain site and a response of this species to altered soil chemistry after dolomitic limestone and basalt grit applications. The Carpathian birch proved to be a suitable species for the replanting of extreme acidic mountain sites. This birch shows a low mortality rate, grows well in the clear-felled patches and soon forms a cover which is necessary for the reintroducing of more sensitive tree species. The application of dolomitic limestone and basalt grit resulted in the slower growth of Carpathian birch plantations. Liming raised soil reaction, sum of exchangeable bases, base saturation, cation exchange capacity and reduced exchangeable Al content. On the other hand, liming decreased an amount of oxidizable soil organic matter and negatively affected soil N, exchangeable P and K. Basalt grit increased exchangeable P and K contents and raised soil reaction, however only slightly. The influence of basalt grit on the sum of exchangeable bases, base saturation and cation exchange capacity was also less pronounced compared to liming. Basalt grit elevated the proportion of exchangeable aluminium and reduced the content of soil N.

The paper evaluates the growth, structure, production, quality, leaf area index and dendrochronology of 100 years old Austrian pine (Pinus nigra ARNOLD) monoculture situated in the forest type group Fageto-Quercetum in the locality Horné Lefantovce (Nitrianska Streda Forest District, Topoľčianky Forest Enterprise). Codominant trees, trees with stem of high quality, with medium-sized crown, medium dense and straight crown are the most abundant in the stand. The tree number in the stand is 1,024 trees/ha, basal area 51.75 m2/ha, growing stock 571.56 m3/ha, aboveground biomass stock 348.76 t/ha and leaf area index 21.85 ha/ha. Dendrochronological analyses examined the response in individual sample trees and minimum annual ring width was found in 1920, 1922, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1963, 1968, 1976, 1982, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2001. Marked maximum values of annual ring width in the years 1919, 1923, 1926, 1930, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1997 were found as a positive productive feature. Beginning in the year 1993, dry Austrian pine trees occurred in the stand as a result of the fungal infection by Sphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.) Dyko et Sutton.

Humans should behave in such a way that they will not endanger the existence of other living entities. After all, human activities affected the tree species composition and wildlife living conditions. Humans are now responsible for the preservation of delicate equilibrium in nature. Two localities were chosen for the research of game damage caused to standing trees - shooting areas Lužánky and Červený jelen, both situated in the vicinity of Jindřichův Hradec in South Bohemia. Seasonal character of tree-damage origin as well as its relation to the chemical content of spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris [L.]) bark were investigated. This area is typical of high game stock; trees are damaged by browsing and bark stripping. Particular advice for game management with respect to minimizing tree damage is presented. The data set of chemical bark analyses was statistically evaluated by t- and F-test and significant differences in element contents were detected between damaged and undamaged pine bark for N-substances (P = 0.003309), Ca (P = 0.001460), P (P = 0.004343), Mg (P = 0.001419) and K (P = 0.016290). Humans have influenced many changes in the distribution of different animal and plant species. Among others they are responsible for the altered species composition. Typically the extinction of large predators produces changes in food chains. In forest stands influenced by human activities the reasonable game management and the regulation of game stock seems to be one of the main tools in forest protection.

In this contribution we present the results of analyses of selected mineral nutrients in assimilatory tissues of spruce trees at different developmental phases (plants, adult trees) in the region Horný Spiš. The very close connection between mineral nutrient cycling and other physiological processes in the plants has been well recognised. The presented analyses of mineral nutrient cycling were done within comprehensive eco-physiological research assessing the physiology and health status of spruce stands in the study area. The research was conducted directly in the stand (Hliníky locality, Horný Spiš - two research plots: 1. plot with spruce stand in advanced decline, 2. control plot - without visible decline symptoms) and, at the same time as a pot experiment. The objective of the pot experiment was to verify the supposed negative influence of soil environment (in the locality with advanced decline of spruce stands) on the growth of spruce trees and their mineral nutrient conditions. The analyses of the material sampled from the stands revealed high amounts of manganese (MnT) that were in the toxicity range on both examined plots. Another negative finding was high amounts of toxic aluminium, primarily in needles of adult trees growing on the plot with symptoms of acute stand decline. This reflects a very low value of pH/H₂O - 3.7 (pH/KCl - 3 to 2.8) and total exhaustion of the soil suffering, moreover, from the lack of soil water. As for the differences in amounts of individual macronutrients between the plot with intensive decline and the control plot, no significant differences were found, with the exception of Fe. On the other hand, evident significant differences in risk elements Pb, Hg and Al were found. As for the differences in nutrient contents in spruce seedlings in the pot experiment (variants 1 to 6), we can see significant differences in macronutrient contents (N, P, Ca, K, Mn), in some cases also in risk element contents (Al).

This article describes the problem of forest reclamation of settling basins after industrial processing of manganese ore and pyritic shale at the age of 20-30 years. Soil properties of anthropogenic soil (overlaid layers, deposited sediments), nutrition state of assimilation organs, vitality of aboveground organs of tree species were investigated by instant visual evaluation using recommended macromorphological criteria and architecture of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) root system.

Studies were carried out in southern Poland during 2002-2006 in Scots pine stands under the effect of an outbreak of pine shoot beetles. The qualitative aspects of beetle feeding in tree crowns, studied on the basis of fallen shoots collected on experimental plots, are presented in this paper. The beetle numbers affected the age distribution of damaged shoots and the proportion of multiple attacks. The proportions of one-year-old shoots and the numbers of shoots with more than two attacks increased in the marginal part of the stand in the year of intensive feeding of beetles and in the subsequent year. A similar proportion of shoots with two attacks in both stands under investigations in individual study periods, with no relation to beetle numbers, does not permit to use this characteristic for forecasting purposes. The average length of tunnels in shoots attacked once reached 20 mm at maximum. The average length of tunnels (measured from the place of shoot disruption) was greater in shoots with two attacks than in shoots with a single one (P < 0.0001). The difference was not significant (P = 0.3429) only in stand B during the study season 2004-2005. The majority of the tunnels made in apical portions of shoots with two attacks damaged the tissue of apical shoots. The distance between the base of the second tunnel and the shoot apex in shoots with two attacks, and its significant (P < 0.01) linear relationship with the length of beetle tunnels, indicated a high nutritional quality of apical portions of shoots.

The paper deals with the study of bionomics and population dynamics of Ips typographus (L.) in the area of the Praděd National Nature Reserve (NNR). Data were collected on the basis of detected feeding marks, beetles caught in traps, and also according to the frequency of occurrence or increase in the number of standing dead trees killed by the bark beetle attack in localities where sanitation felling was not performed. Finally, evaluation of the present condition of forest stand and population dynamics of Ips typographus was carried out. The results showed that the stands currently occur in the stage of disintegration when the role of the bark beetle is irreplaceable. Based on the research findings, the management of the bark beetle was proposed that would enable to achieve so-called regulated disintegration of natural spruce forests in the area of the Praděd NNR.

This paper deals with transformation of pure even-aged forest stands to uneven-aged irregular stands on an example of the Klokočná Forest Range. The fully operational management system according to principles of shelterwood or selection systems has been executed here since 1993. An investigation of this transformation process started in 1999 and it is focused on the places with more distinct structural differences. On the basis of research analysis, it is possible to consider about the permanent uneven-aged forest stands in future here. But for successful achievement of this goal it is necessary to continue this transformation step by step for a long time. The transformation is still at the beginning and its result depends on the effort and the forest management goal and the priority of the particular forest functions.

The root-plant ratio is one of the important parameters for planting stock quality. We suppose that the ratio is one of the driving variables for the growth performance of new plantation in the forest. The study summarises data on the volume of major parts of 4 years old wild cherry trees. An allometric analysis of different parts of plants in relation to the growth performance of wild cherry trees was done. The results show a close positive relationship between the volume of the whole root system and aboveground biomass. The same is true of the fine root proportion in the root system. Data also document that the efficiency of root system is not decreasing during the root development - at least in the investigated period. The same results were obtained for fine root efficiency. Data confirm the importance of the root-plant ratio for the growth performance of new plantation in the forest provided that harmful factors are not at a limiting level.

The paper describes the root system architecture of the forest tree species Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L., Pinus sylvestris L., Carpinus betulus L., Acer platanoides L., and Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. at the age of 80-220 years growing on the slopes of the Krušné hory Mts. at the altitude of 330 to 480 m above sea level. These species were influenced by open-pit mining of brown coal as well as by power engineeting. The investigation also involves the determination of soil properties of Ranker Cambisols.

The basic feature of an economic reform of the forestry in the Czech Republic after 1990 was separation of supervision in the state forests from operating performance. The Forests of the Czech Republic, state enterprise, was charged with management and supervision, hence economic activities of the subject are provided on the basis of contracts by entrepreneurial units called contractors in the forestry. The purpose of the paper is economic analysis of the Forests of the Czech Republic, state enterprise, in the period 1998-2002. The objective is the construction and testing of an elementary method of financial analysis as well as outline of financial situation and development of the chosen subject generally. The paper contributes to branch economy analysis, common in agriculture and wood-processing industry.

The paper presents results from a study of sycamore maple development, health condition and growth in forest altitudinal vegetation zones (FAVZ) 6 and 7 occurring in pollution damage zones A and B in the air-polluted region of Krušné hory Mts. as compared with the trees of identical height in FAVZ 4 and 5 occurring in pollution damage zone D in the Bohemian-Moravian Upland. Sycamore maple develops a fully diversified root system. On spread mounds it creates only a superficial root system and its growth is retarded. The growth of sycamore maple is limited by the layer of humus horizons. If the layer thickness is over 20 cm, the sycamore roots would grow into mineral horizons.

In 2001, galls were analysed of Pemphigus spyrothecae Pass. taken in one- to three-week intervals from Populus nigra and P. nigra var. italica at 4 localities in Brno. Fundatrices matured in the first half of June and during the first half of summer produced about 50 offsprings. Virgines produced about 10 offsprings which grew up in winged sexuparae. The winged individuals started to occur in galls from the beginning of August. In galls with intact development, on average 500 aphids developed. Galls with intact development on P. nigra var. italica reached larger average dimensions and contained at least by 4% more aphids than galls on P. nigra. About 5% of fundatrices died already in the 1st instar and other 3 to 6% in higher instars by the beginning of reproduction. At localities under investigation, 7.5 to 39.0% of galls on P. nigra and 3.9 to 13.7% of galls on P. nigra var. italica were occupied by the fly Leucopis puncticornis Meig. (Chamaemyiidae). About 24.3 to 32.2% of galls on P. nigra and 23.3 to 49.3% of galls on P. nigra var. italica were occupied by the bug Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Anthocoridae). Hover flies Heringia heringi (Zett.) and Pipiza festiva Meig. (Syrphidae) killing aphids in 3.8 to 30.4% of galls on P. nigra and 6.5 to 6.8% of galls on P. nigra var. italica were an important regulator. In August (i.e. at the beginning of the formation of winged sexuparae), the majority of galls opened through primary slit-shaped or oval emergence holes. A part (7.8 to 19.5%) of galls with so far intact development, however, remained closed and all aphids contained in them died. Diseases (particularly mycoses) often participated in the accelerated dying of aphids. The effect of mortality factors on the gall size differentiation was evaluated in details. The galls do not cause any leaf area reduction. In the case of mass outbreak, they decrease decorativeness of poplars in street alleys. In August and September, liquid excrements fall out from the galls (honeydew) polluting the environment in villages and housing estates.

Studies were carried out during 1987-1997 in four stands situated in the lower mountain zone, and representing the association Carici-Fagetum abietetosum (sample plots Facimiech and Walusiówka) and the community of a transitory character between Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum and Carici-Fagetum (sample plots Gródek and Przelecz Sosnów). The greatest volume increment was found in a pure fir (Abies alba) stand of Facimiech (9.4 m³/ha/year, i.e. 1.4% of actual stand volume determined in 1997) being in the optimum stage, phase of aging and regeneration, and the smallest one stand of Gródek (5.3 m³/ha/year, i.e. 0.9% of actual stand volume) being in the growing up stage, phase of selection forest. The stand of Przelcz Sosnów was characterized by the greatest mortality of trees (volume of loss, i.e. 13.5 m³/ha/year). In this stand of a transitory character between the growing up and optimum stages, due to rapid mortality of fir the break up of the stand took place, and in consequence the growing up stage, phase of a little diversified stratified structure was developed. Volume of recruitment was the greatest in the stand of Facimiech, i.e. 0.05 m³/ha/year. In three fir (Abies alba)-beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands the proportions of fir and beech in stand increment differed from their proportions in stand volume. The percentage of fir in volume increment was smaller, and that of beech greater, than their percentages in stand volume. Processes of increment and mortality of fir and beech pointed to a progressive process of changes taking place in stand species composition, expressed by the increase of beech and the decrease of fir. The knowledge about values of loss, recruitment, and increment, expressed by the number of trees and volume units, may be of help in determination of the amount of cut in productive and protective forests managed according to a close-to-nature silviculture.

The article investigates the socio-economic importance of collection and use of non-wood forest products (NWFP) for inhabitants in the Czech Republic (CR) in 2005 and brings a comparison with former investigations and research projects. The research project consisted of these parts in 2005: 1. Analysis of hitherto performed research projects and their results in 1999-2003, 2. Investigation of quantities and values of NWFP collected in 2004 and 2005, 3. Specific investigation of socio-economic importance of NWFP collection and use. The results of respective investigations prove NWFP collection being quite important for the inhabitants of the CR. The importance consists in the material value of picked commodities on the average annual level higher than 3,000 mil. CZK. Nevertheless, collecting NWFP is considered as a very important recreational activity. Only a small part of the population collecting NWFP (about 12%) collects NWFP to save money.

The uniqueness of limestone soil-forming substrate was assessed with respect to the classification of forest ecosystems. 50 soil profiles from the Bohemian Karst were studied and the results were confronted with previously published works from other karst areas. The evaluation of soil profiles was based on a macroscopic description, on the results of chemical and physicochemical analyses, and on a micromorphological study. The carbonate bedrock was a cause of specific genesis of soils in these sites - both recent and relict ones (terrae calcis). However, it does not always condition the unique characteristics of these sites whose differentiation would call for an a priori special edaphic category. Unique geochemical characteristics of the substrate are modified on the gradient of advanced pedogenesis (Holocene up to mid-Pleistocene soils were assessed) by a very intensive soil-forming process connected with the impact of allochthonous, mostly aeolian material. Two possible approaches were designed for the classification of these sites: (i) wider conception - distinction of the basic edaphic category with small limitations for the quality of soil-forming substrate, (ii) narrower conception - limestone edaphic category with a number of limitations to distinguish this edaphic category.

Damage caused by bark peeling and browsing by red deer to Picea abies was investigated in two localities in the Českomoravská vrchovina Highlands. 127 experimental plots of 50 × 50 m in size were monitored in stands aged from 15 to 93 years. In total, 44% of 16,700 inspected trees were damaged by bark peeling and browsing. The area of gaping wounds varied from 50 to 1,650 cm². Stem decay affected 68% of the damaged trees. Some properties of the decay were analysed from 200 sample trees felled on the plots. Bark peeling damage occurred when the trees were 4 to 48 years old. Decayed wood accounted for 22-70% (mean 42%) of the merchantable stem volume of sample trees. The mean rate of the vertical decay spread was 17.4 cm per year (ranging from 4-63 cm per year). Mean decay volume correlated positively and mean spreading rate correlated negatively with the time elapsed from the bark peeling damage occurrence.

The authors elaborated a new complex methodical approach to the evaluation of necrotic disease of beeches. They used two evaluation scales: a scale for the evaluation of stems and a scale for the evaluation of beech crowns. A four-degree scale for the evaluation of necrotisation of crowns completed the existing five-degree scale for the evaluation of necrotisation of stems. Combination of both these scales into one methodical approach produced the third, complex scale for the evaluation of necrotisation of whole trees. The proposed combined scale is recommended for the monitoring of beech necroses.

The paper presents the results of relatively long-term research focused on spoil bank revitalization pro-cesses in the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin after the first three years of observations. The biological activity of soil (namely catalase and phosphatase activity), indicators of basal and potential soil respiration, ammonification and growth, development and nutrition status of forest plantations were selected as indicators of this revitalization process. These parameters were determined in five localities of different age of reclamation where different technological approaches and tree species compositions were used. The results confirm the distinct time dependence of revitalization processes. From the aspect of biological activity older reclamations are close to natural forest soil. The enrichment of top soil layer with organic matter before the plantation (by ploughing in cellulose fibres and peat addition) increased some parameters of soil biological activity. The positive amelioration effect of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) was also confirmed.

Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa Mill. is an introduced species in the Czech Republic. It is recorded roughly from 300 localities. To the end of 2002, the occurrence of chestnut was verified at about 140 macrolocalities. The most northern locality recorded so far was Choustníkovo Hradiště in the region of Hradec Králové. Chestnuts occur generally to an altitude of 500 m (80% of all examined localities), at higher altitudes they suffer from climatic extremes particularly late frosts. The occurrence of chestnut was recorded at 27 localities (ca. 20% localities under investigation) where altitudes exceed 500 m. The highest location of chestnut is locality Nejdek, Karlovy Vary District where chestnut trees thrive at an altitude of 678 m. At altitudes over 600 m, two other localities were recorded. The health condition of chestnut is relatively good. At some localities, however, crown drying occurs as a result of not quite ideal climatic conditions. Within our research, quarantine Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr. was determined for the first time in the Czech Republic at the only examined locality.

Vegetative propagation of forest tree species is of great importance not only for breeding programmes but also for the conservation of valuable populations of tree species. Important is also a possibility of improving the genetic quality of established stands. Beech is a tree species that can substantially increase the stability of forest ecosystems. Minimal information is available about the ontogenesis of rooted cuttings of beech in forest stands for the time being. In our experiments that were gradually established since 1993 we acquired the first significant results of the evaluation of health status, phenological phenomena and growth of these plants. Our findings indicate that it is possible to use rooted cuttings as an element stabilising man-made forest stands including the transferred genetic quality. The evaluation of the 2^nd generation rooted cuttings of beech also provided positive results.

We consider making access to forests and forest complexes as an optimal allocation of routes of forest roads, land and air communications and transport routes with their optimal structure (composition, proportion of separate types) being implemented within forest transportation network in such a way that the length of constructed communications and their area (area, coverage of production area) would be as small as possible and at the same time the highest possible percentage of access to the given area in the particular territory would be reached as well as optimal skidding distance for applying the latest technologies of timber transportation in forests. Forest roads are the basis of permanent access. The paper presents the results of research and knowledge of making access to mountain forests in a model territory of LHC Ďumbier in the Low Tatra Mts. We describe an ecologically suitable model of making access based on making access by permanent skidding roads constructed at an optimal spacing, which are proposed to be interconnected by cable systems for timber transportation or on slopes with gradient over 70% with the use of helicopters for timber transportation. Principles of making access to mountain forests are also presented that are worked out for the field of preparation and projection intentions of further access, proposals and projection, implementation and maintenance of constructed communications and special facilities which will secure optimal access, minimal damage and maximal benefits in the given area.