The perception of an image of the state forest enterprise by general public in chosen region of the Slovak Republic

This paper deals with the comparison of the general public perception and the opinion of state forest managers on image of the state forest enterprise. The research was organised during the period 2015–2019. One group of respondents involved all managers of 23 sub-enterprises of state forest enterprise Lesy SR. The other group consisted of 384 respondents representing the general public residing in the Banská Bystrica region. Structured questionnaire with one open and 16 closed questions was applied for data collection with a help of electronic means. Collected data were processed with descriptive (particularly frequency analysis) and two-dimensional statistical methods. The results of the image inquiry aimed at three issues: (i) perceptions of the forest management effectiveness of the state versus non-state forest enterprises, (ii) perception of marketing strategy and its tools of the state forest enterprise, and (iii) comparison between public awareness/experience with public relations activities of the state forest enterprise.

Efficacy of synthetic lures for pine bark beetle monitoring

The Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantations in central Europe are currently damaged by a large-scale infestation by bark beetles (Scolytinae). Ips acuminatus and Ips sexdentatus are among the most aggressive species causing infestations of pine trees that are currently simultaneously attacked by Ips typographus. In pine plantations prone to damage, it is therefore necessary to carry out the bark beetle monitoring. One of the used methods is the pheromone bark beetle trapping using synthetic lures. The efficacy of synthetic lures differs. We tested the efficacy of commercially available lures used in the protection of pine trees. In total, we deployed 10 trap series, each consisting of traps with eight different lures and two unbaited traps (controls). Ips acuminatus and I. sexdentatus were most abundantly captured in Pheagr-IAC- and Sexowit-baited traps. Interestingly, the spruce species I. typographus was also captured and most often found in traps with Pheagr-IAC and Erosowit Tube lures. The number of captured beetles was consistent with the gradation phase of bark beetles. Our results suggest the suitability of pheromone traps for bark beetle monitoring. The use of Sexowit can be recommended especially in southwestern Moravia, where I. sexdentatus occurs in high numbers in the long run. In other parts of the Czech Republic, Pheagr-IAC alone can be used with sufficient efficacy. The use of the Erosowit Tube lure is also suitable for I. typographus and I. sexdentatus monitoring.

Genetic diversity of sessile oak populations in the Czech Republic

The sessile oak is a broadleaved tree species of great ecological and silvicultural importance. Oaks are the second most widespread deciduous tree species in the Czech Republic, and ongoing climate change negatively affects the abundant and often monocultural Norway spruce. Therefore, a proportional increase of more resilient tree species such as sessile oak has emerged. This study aimed to depict population genetic diversity when analysing 272 individuals from 10 subpopulations selected across the Czech Republic. Targeted populations were chosen based on the minimal expected human impact on the stand (presumably autochthonous stands). All individuals were genotyped using 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers (SSRs) assembled into two amplification multiplexes. The high discriminatory power of SSR markers was tested and confirmed by the probability of identity analysis. The genetic differentiation of the subpopulations was low yet significant, quantified by Wright’s F-statistics within the range from 0.012 to 0.029. Based on discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), we detected two populations with geographic genetic correlation (the 15^th meridian east being a north-south boundary line) and one with a distinct genetic pattern. We assume that the population might previously be established from seed sources outside the Czech Republic. Moreover, to some extent, our findings advocate the legitimacy of the legislative rules for forest reproductive material (FRM) transfer.

Assessment of the early growth of agarwood (Aquilaria crassna) seedlings under different sources of nutrients

The effect of different sources of nutrients on the growth of Aquilaria crassna seedlings was assessed by raising seedlings in polybags treated with inorganic fertilizer (IF), organic fertilizer (OF) and biofertilizer (BF) either alone or in combinations. The pots were established following a completely randomized block design with eight treatments: (T1) soil without IF, OF or BF ‒ control; (T2) soil + IF; (T3) soil + OF; (T4) soil + BF; (T5) soil + IF + OF; (T6) soil + IF + BF; (T7) soil + OF + BF; (T8) soil + IF + OF + BF each replicated five times. Plant height, stem diameter, dry weight of shoots and roots, leaf area and chlorophyll index were measured six months after planting. Soil pH (H₂O) and available soil P content were measured as soil parameters. The best growth performances (54.30 cm, 6.48 mm, 7.10 and 5.92 g·plant^–1, 435.33 cm² and 58 for plant height, stem diameter, shoot and root dry weight, leaf area and chlorophyll index, respectively) were recorded in T8, which also resulted in the highest available P content (18.96 mg·kg–1 soil). The lowest soil pH (H₂O) value (6.02) was recorded in T7 followed by T6 (6.17). The application of IF, OF and BF as a combination could be recommended to promote the growth of Aquilaria seedlings.

Strength and dimensional stability of cement-bonded wood waste-sand bricks

Conservation of trees which belong to renewable natural resources in developing countries through judicious utilization in building industry has been seriously left unattended to over the years. The utilization of this unprocessed wealth materials which could serve as one of the alternative constituents in construction materials is now a global concern. Therefore, the needs to investigate the strength and water sorption property of wood waste as a partial replacing material in brick production for building construction arise. Sawdust, sand and cement were mixed together at three different mixing ratios of 1 : 1 : 1, 1 : 1 : 2 and 1 : 1 : 3. The brick samples were replicated three times and subjected to water absorption, density and compressive strength tests. The results show that the effect of the equal volume of sand and sawdust with a subsequent increase in the cement portion at each mixing ratio level gave compact bricks without sudden fracture, reduced unit weight of bricks and subsequent lower water sorption properties of the bricks. The bricks show potentials to be used for wall partitioning. The introduction of sawdust also serves as partial sand replacement in concrete brick making.

Responses of soil-inhabiting mesostigmatid mites to deforestation and disturbance in oak (Quercus brontii) forests of southwestern Iran

The impacts of deforestation on edaphic mesostigmatid mites were investigated in oak forests of Lordegan, southwestern Iran, from April to October. A total of twenty-one species belonging to eighteen genera and ten families were collected and identified. The Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, Jaccard's and Margalef biodiversity indices were used for data analyses. Among the collected species, Antennoseius bacatus with 29% and Sessilunchus hungaricus with 16% relative abundance were the most abundant and dominant species in human-disturbed and natural forests, respectively. The estimated values were higher in natural oak forest than in disturbed and cultivated habitat. Significant differences were observed in soil nitrogen content and soil organic carbon between the two habitats, but not in pH values. Significant effects of sampling time and habitat were found on all four indices, but the effect of their interactions on these indices was not significant. It can be concluded that the changes in soil quality that resulted from deforestation may have a major role in reducing the soil mite density and related diversity indices in disturbed forests.

Influences of determined and estimated dendrometric variables on the precision of volumetric modelling

The use of independent variables in volumetric modelling is an important step in fitting models to represent tree or stand characteristics. The DBH measured at 1.3 m from the ground level and total tree height (Ht) are the most commonly used independent variables when modelling individual tree volumes. This work aimed to analyze the importance of independent variables in fitting and selecting volumetric equations. A total of 750 trees from an experiment with three Eucalyptus spp. clones planted in five spacings in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco were used. Four statistical procedures were applied to compare the equations: Adjusted Fit Index (AFI), Akaike information criterion (AIC), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and a completely random design having the real tree volume as control and the fit equations as treatments. The error measuring heights in the field (EH) was also analyzed. Four heights were evaluated: Ht, height estimated in the field (He) and heights adjusted (Ha) from hypsometric relationships using the DBH [Ha (a)] and D_1.7 [Ha (b)], which was the diameter most correlated with the volume. The result indicates that all 18 fitted models provided high precision volumetric equations which do not differ at the 5% significance level.

Impact of different factors degrading cork oak stands in the Mediterranean region: A case study from Algeria

In recent years, the cork oak forests that characterise the Mediterranean region have been exposed to various factors that result in their degradation. These cork oak trees, due to increasingly accentuated anthropogenic activity, undergo withering at different scales.The objective of the study is to assess the impact of various factors that degrade cork oak forests in the Mediterranean region located in northeastern Algeria, and this was achieved by prospecting 22 sampling locations. This allowed the creation of a database containing 745 trees that were observed and 27 measured variables. Different readings were then taken into consideration based on measurements and sometimes on ratings. The impact of several biotic and abiotic factors, which affect and damage the health of cork oak, was identified. These factors include in particular the infestations by xylomycetophagous insects such as Platypus cylindrus and Xyleborus sp., which can potentially infest the cork oak trees that we observed one year after bark harvesting. On the other hand, the stationary descriptors such as altitude, slope, exposure, etc., are important for the dendrometric and exploitation characteristics, but their unfavourable values do not necessarily lead to tree mortality; for example, medium to low slopes, associated with average altitudes of 600 m a.s.l., may ensure the healthiest trees like in our case study. Finally, we were able to find that certain decline factors may affect a particular category of trees, either because they are older, taller or have a large girth, or because they are subject to inadequate debarking.

Comparison of Scots pine growth dynamics in Polissya and Steppe zone of Ukraine

The goal of the study was to compare the dynamic changes in individual biometric indices of Scots pine in different natural zones of Ukraine, Polissya and Steppe. Scots pine stands were mainly concentrated in the Polissya zone, and their area was 3.6 times larger than that of forests in the Steppe zone, and the total wood stock by 4.6 times. The regression equations for biometric indices of artificial modal stands were developed. A comparison of the average height, diameter, and wood stock for pine stands of site index І^а, I, and II growing in Polissya and Steppe was made. It was found that the average differences in the average height (from 1.9 to 2.6 m) are observed at the age of 15–20 years. For the average diameter, the difference increases with age and the growth of the site index. The difference in the average stock is constantly increasing with age. At the age of 20 years this difference is 20–30 m³, and at the age of 120 years from 100 to 120 m³ depending on the site index. The developed growth models can be used in planning and prioritizing appropriate forestry activities for pine stands growing in specific regional conditions.

Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) demonstrate different patterns of genetic variation within and among populations on the eastern border of distribution ranges

Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) is a key species of broadleaved forests whose population genetics is poorly studied using modern genetic tools. We used ISSR analysis to explore genetic diversity and differentiation among 10 Russian populations on the eastern margin of the species range of distribution, and to compare the revealed patterns with the results of our population genetic studies of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). In the first set comparatively high heterozygosity and allelic diversity were found (expected heterozygosity H_E = 0.160 ± 0.033, number of alleles n_a = 1.440 ± 0.080, effective number of alleles n_e = 1.271 ± 0.062) in comparison with strongly fragmented and geographically isolated small maple stands of the second set (H_E = 0.083 ± 0.011, n_a = 1.281 ± 0.031, n_e = 1.136 ± 0.019). A relatively high genetic differentiation among populations was detected (the proportion of the inter-population component of total genetic variation, G_ST = 0.558 ± 0.038). In the Cis-Urals, local groups of populations that are confined to the northern, middle and southern parts of the Urals were identified. On the contrary, the current significant fragmentation of the pedunculate oak distribution area in the same study area did not lead to any noticeable genetic differentiation among the majority of populations, the values of the population genetic diversity were very similar in different parts of the Southern Urals.