Volume 69 (2023): Edition 1 (March 2023)

This study deals with a question whether the magnitude of vibrations affecting the power saw operator during the tree felling is still the same or not. For this purpose, the tree felling was broken down into several partial operations (pruning of lower tree part; cutting of buttresses; felling; delimbing) at which the values of vibrations were recorded and mutually compared. The vibrations were measured during the felling of 121 trees with the activity being made by one feller with one type of power saw and one type of power saw chain, and the felled trees included both live and dead standing trees. The vibrations were measured on the front and rear handles of the power saw in compliance with standards EN ISO 22867, EN ISO 5349-1 and EN ISO 5349–2. As to the mutual comparison, research results demonstrated a difference in 69.23% of cases. A maximum increase of vibrations during the experiment (17.0 m s^–2) was recorded on the rear handle during the partial activity of Delimbing live trees, the lowest increase of vibrations (0.320 m s^–2) being localized in the same partial activity, only on the front handle.

Damage on forests by large wild herbivores, especially by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) has been increasing in Central Europe including Slovakia. Therefore, we attempted to estimate the forage potential, i.e. potentially available bark for consumption by large wild herbivores and actually consumed bark of common rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and goat willow (Salix caprea L.). For these purposes, we measured basic tree characteristics and dimensions (length and width) of wounds due to bark browsing at 15 plots located in a young mixed forest stand (Javorníky Mts; Slovakia). Browsing was recorded separately for four stem sections: 0–50, 51–100, 101–150, and 151–200 cm measured from the ground level. Three stem bark browsing metrics were implemented: browsed bark area (cm²), browsed bark mass (g) and portion of browsed bark mass to total stem bark mass representing potential forage for game expressed in percent. We proved that while common rowan and goat willow were browsed in a great extent, nearly no damage occurred on stems of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.). Our estimates showed that the total forage potential of stem bark at common rowan and goat willow was about 13.4 kg per 100 m² of a forest stand. We learnt from our estimates for instance that the total available stem bark at 100 m² of our young mixed forest might suffice (if theoretically entire potential was exploited) for red deer, fallow deer (Dama dama L.) and mouflon (Ovis aries musimon L.) for one, two and nearly four weeks, respectively. At the same, that during four years, large wild herbivores browsed nearly 2.6 kg of bark per 100 m² area, i.e. about 1/5 of the available potential on rowans and willows. It seems like common rowan and goat willow might generate important resources of forage for large wild herbivores and would be treated as a part of biological protection of target tree species against bark browsing.

Hunting tourism can have significant positive economic effects on the local community. The objective of the paper is to estimate the direct economic impact of roe deer hunting tourism, with a focus on regional level, by applying the Nordic Model. Analysis was based on data gathered in the autumn of 2021, from the interviews with hunting ground managers and hunting tourism outfitters, and a literature review. The length of stay of tourist hunters ranged from 2 to 6 days. According to the interviews and statistical data, one hunting tourist spent an average of 2,121 € per hunting day in Serbia. In 2019 the direct economic income of roe deer hunting tourism in Vojvodina was 623,574 €. The regional economic impact of hunting tourism in Vojvodina is significant given the small number of tourists from whom substantial income is generated. Developing of hunting activates on one or more game species could bring significant economic benefits to these kind of local communities. Resources raised through hunting tourism are later used in these regions through direct investment and as a tool for sustainable wildlife management, and thus, the ecological and economic sustainability of hunting tourism is crucial and must be considered in future development process.

Forest cleaning, being an operation that requires investment, but the return on investment is due for the next generations, utilizes tools and methods that mostly haven’t been humanized. Harmful vibration is still present in today’s forestry operations, and new tools provide possible reduction of exposure to vibrations. Petrol chainsaw and battery chainsaw (late cleaning) and billhook, machete, and battery shears (early cleaning) were used and observed in this study. Vibration levels were measured and assessed using validated Brüel & Kjær 4447 vibrometer which complies with the ISO 8041:2017 standard. The measurement was performed according to the recommendations of ISO 5349-1:2001 and ISO 5349-2:2001 standards. Vibration exposure was assesed using work sampling method on the obtained video recordings in order to calculate relative shares of different work elements. Results show that hand tools (machete and billhook) are causing the highest vibration levels, while battery shears cause the lowest. Battery chainsaw causes higher vibration levels while cutting, but lower daily vibration exposure than petrol chainsaw. A detailed revision in the classification of tools is needed, considering their ability to produce and transmit harmful vibrations to the operator. Using the current classification, the daily exposure to vibration of workers in early forest cleaning is high above legislative values.

This study was carried out to find a method to determine the seed germination ability (percentage) in the Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) quickly and with high reliability. For this purpose, 82 seed lots of Turkish red pine were used, collected from different seed stands and orchards in different years. Since none of the seeds were folded, the germination ability was evaluated in a period between the 7th to 28th days. The seeds were divided into 4 groups (20–39.9%, 40–59.9%, 60–79.9%, 80–100%). Germination Percentage Index (GPI) are expressed with the mid-value of the related interval (e.g. GPI_30: germination ability between 20–39.9%). Four different germination percentage intervals describing the germination percentage was fitted with 11 different regression models. The best fit of these models was determined by 7 fitness measures. As a result, the current germination percentage increment reached the highest values on the 13^th, 13^th, 14^th, and 13^th day for the indexes of 90, 70, 50, and 30, respectively. Within this study, it has been revealed that germination percentages in Turkish red pine seed lots can be predicted 7 to 10 days in advance.

We are currently witnessing significant global changes in climate conditions. We cannot change the natural conditions, but with regard to sustainable landscape management, we can increase our knowledge of tree species and adapt forest management to them. Surprisingly, one of the most affected tree species in Central Europe today is Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The following literature review summarizes over 200 studies from 1952–2022 regarding Scots pine across its entire range while addressing various topics in the ecology and management of this taxon. It is a tree species with a large natural range, nearly covering the entire Eurasian area. In the Czech Republic, it is the second most important tree species in terms of industrial wood production. Scots pine is characterized not only by a significant genetic variability of its populations but also by its wide ecological plasticity. Typically, it grows on sandy soils, poor habitats, and stony scree–but also in peat bogs. The wide habitat valence justifies the economic significance of this species, both in terms of its high production potential (mean annual increment of up to 10.8 m³ ha^-1 yr^-1) but also its wide range of use. However, in the light of climate variations, the practices of Scots pine silviculture are also gradually transforming from the traditional reforestation by clear-cutting to a more natural system–shelterwood felling. In view of climate change, its range of distribution is changing, as with other species, but Scots pine remains a very resistant tree species, depending on the habitat.