<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>A<sc>bstract</sc></title>
The article presents the results of the research on the features of <italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic> L. condition and productivity in forest stands of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine (in Kharkiv and Sumy regions) for 2006–2021. The study was carried out using the ‘Forests of Ukraine’ Database as of 01.01.2017, and the results of field research at 30 temporary sample plots (TSP), 3 permanent sample plots (PSP) (in 2006–2018), and 13 monitoring plots (2009–2021). Generally accepted methods and new standards were used.
The dynamics of forestry and evaluation indicators of Scots pine stands at sample plots were analyzed and compared with high-productive Scots pine stands. The characteristics of natural regeneration are given. It was revealed that the age structure of pine stands is not optimal: there is an excess of middle-aged stand areas.
Changes in the structure and development of managed Scots pine stands with respect to changing environmental conditions were observed for 2009–2021. Studied forest stands showed a tendency for negative changes in stand structural characteristics related to regeneration and growth.
Drought mainly in combination with even medium anthropogenic impact can further worsen the health status of Scots pine stands in lowland areas of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Thus, the formulation of forest management measures to mitigate the impact of these stress factors is needed.
</abstract>

Scots pine stands in the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> High work consumption in forest operations is above all the result of the character and task realization mode in works undertaken in forestry. Development of mechanization in forest management activities allows to considerably decrease manpower needs. In the present study, there were analyzed the possibilities of reduction of work consumption by improving the mechanization level of forest works. The method was developed to consider the following assessments: 1) variant W1 - basic option comprising factual work consumption values in works carried out on the area administered by the Regional Directorate of State Forests (RDLP); 2) W2 - showing the effect of 25% upgrade of works to a higher level of mechanization; 3) W3 - showing the effect of 50% upgrade of works to a higher level of mechanization; 4) W4 - comprising analogous calculations to those in variant W1 , but work consumption upgrading was 75%. Simulation calculations revealed considerable differences in needs for labor of different categories of forest workers. On the other hand, with increasing mechanization level, there increase the demands concerning worker qualifications, e.g. a harvester operator must be trained for about 2 years, and the training has to include both simulator exercises (first using software and next - harvester simulator) and field work under supervision to gain sufficient experience. The introduction of higher levels of mechanization into forest operations, and hence considerable reduction of jobs for unqualified workers who are replaced by qualified employees, can help decreasing work consumption in forest operations.</abstract>

Effect of mechanization level on manpower needs in forestry

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Urban forests are an important element of nature in highly urbanised areas. Due to their specificity (e.g. fragmentation, disturbances, alien propagule pressure), they are particularly susceptible to the penetration of alien species. The aim of this study was to determine the share of alien species in the tree stand structure of urban forests in the city of Katowice (Upper Silesian Industrial Region). A total of 50 woody species were recorded in the analysed stands, including 31 native species and 19 of alien origin. The share of alien species in the stands of individual forests was significant, as they constituted from 15% to 44% of the total number. Among the 20 trees most frequently included in the stand, as many as six are species of alien origin (<italic>Robinia pseudoacacia</italic> L., <italic>Padus serotina</italic> (Ehrh.) Borkh., <italic>Acer negundo</italic> L., <italic>Quercus rubra</italic> L., <italic>Juglans regia</italic> L. and <italic>Fraxinus pennsylvanica</italic> Marshall). The most abundant species were <italic>Robinia pseudoacacia</italic>, <italic>Quercus rubra</italic> and <italic>Padus serotina</italic>. The local potential of alien woody species was determined using the index of their abundance in the understory; the highest value of the average abundance index was obtained by <italic>Padus serotina</italic>, <italic>Robinia pseudoacacia</italic>, <italic>Acer negundo</italic> and <italic>Quercus rubra</italic>. Most alien tree species were more likely to inhabit forest edges (ecotone zone).
</abstract>

The share of anthropophytes in the tree stands of urban forests in Katowice (Silesian upland, S Poland)

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This study was performed to determine the effects of the densification process and glue type in wood material on dowel tensile performance. For this purpose, 8 mm and 10 mm diameter dowels were obtained from black poplar (<italic>Populus nigra</italic>) and Eastern spruce (<italic>Picea orientalis L</italic>.), which were densified at 50% and 75% ratios. The dowels were bonded with PVAc and D-VTKA glue separately after drilling 18 mm deep holes in the edge of the melamine-coated particleboard. The tensile performance test was determined with the Universal test device according to TS 2475 and ASTM-D 1035 principles. As a result, Eastern spruce wood had the highest tensile performance (kg/cm2), and poplar wood had the lowest (173.66). For the dowel diameter parameter, the highest value (195.11) was found at 8 mm in diameter and the lowest value (161.05) was found at 10 mm in diameter. In terms of glue type, the highest value (185.92) was seen at PVAc while the lowest value (170.24) was seen at D-VTKA. And for the densification ratios, the highest value (191.4) was determined at 75%, while the lowest value was found in control samples at (167.4). According to the wood species, densification ratio, dowel diameter and glue type interaction, the highest value was determined at Es + d75% + 10mm + PVAc as (303.5) and the lowest value was found at P + d50% + 10mm + Dv as (110).
As a result, where the dowel's high tensile performance is sought, using a 10 mm diameter dowel made from 75% densified spruce wood with PVAc glue may be advantageous.
</abstract>

The effect of the densification process on dowel tensile performance with different types of glues

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> The mortality of a young elm Ulmus minor in 2014 in Geneva prompted a search for the microorganisms potentially involved. Symptoms included foliar chlorosis and wilting followed by defoliation of branches. Wood symptoms included a brown streaking of sap wood and brown stains in trunk and branches. The comparison of the resulting ITS rDNA sequences to the NCBI Nucleotide database allowed to identify 10 different organisms. The genus Geosmithia represented 48% of the isolates belonging to three species: Geosmithia langdonii (7 isolates) and 2 unknown morphologically and genetically different Geosmithia sp. 1 and sp. 2 (4 isolates). Geosmithia species are very little known ascomycetes, which have been recently shown to be opportunistic pathogens on broadleaved trees and conifers, living as saprobes in galleries of many bark beetle species. In the case described here, Geosmithia langdonii, and the unknown Geosmithia species were found in symptomatic wood while bark beetle galleries were found in close regions of the symptomatic wood. Geosmithia langdonii was the major fungus retrieved from the symptomatic wood and could have contributed, along with other identified fungal species, to a pathogenic complex producing symptoms similar to the ones of the Dutch Elm Disease and led to the dieback of this elm tree. Geosmithia langdonii and 2 yet unknown Geosmithia species (sp. 1 and sp. 2), different from any other reported Geosmithia species are reported from an elm tree in Switzerland for the first time.</abstract>

First report of Geosmithia langdonii and Geosmithia spp. isolated from a decaying elm (Ulmus minor) in Geneva, Switzerland

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Weeds competing with seedlings of trees for nutrients, moisture, light and space, drown out their growth in nurseries and forest crops. Currently, in forestry, weed control is mainly carried out in forest nurseries, less often during the preparation of the area intended for afforestation, but sporadically in forest crops. The most important species of weeds threatening seedlings of forest trees include <italic>Senecio vulgaris, S. silvaticus, Deschampsia caespitosa, Pteridium aquilinum, Agropyron repens, Calamagrostis epigeios and Equisetum arvense.</italic>In Poland, herbicides have the largest share (about 50%) in the sale of plant protection products, but the scale of their use in forests is small, compared to agriculture. In 2012, 915 herbicides were registered in the country, out of which only 14 products (0.5%) were for use in forestry. In the years 1999–2019, 31 herbicides were registered for the protection of forest nurseries and crops, which included 13 active substances belonging to 11 chemical groups, of which 9 active substances have been used up to now. Most herbicides (15–16) were used in the years 2004–2006, the lowest in 1999–2000 and in 2014 (4 products). The most popular active substance has been glyphosate contained in 18 products.</abstract>

The use of herbicides to regulate weeds in forest nurseries and crops in Poland

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The article deals with the problem of the active conservation of butterflies in the faunistic nature reserves of Białowieża Forest. Białowieża Forest is an extremely valuable and diverse area in which two approaches to nature conservation are used. The first one is passive conservation, a conservative approach whose purpose is to protect natural processes by reducing human intervention. The other one is active conservation, which aims to take steps to protect nature, including by maintaining areas in certain successional stages. Faunistic nature reserves in the Białowieża Forest fit perfectly into this type of consideration. These include four nature reserves: Berezowo, Olszanka Myśliszcze, Przewłoka and Podcerkwa. The aim of their conservation was to preserve the places of occurrence of rare species of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) for scientific and educational reasons. Butterflies are important flagship taxa for invertebrate conservation. Conservation tasks for nature reserves (Berezowo, Olszanka Myśliszcze, Przewłoka and Podcerkwa) were issued twice, in 2002 and 2003. Currently, there are conservation plans in force for faunistic nature reserves. A total of seven agreements were concluded between the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Białystok and the Białowieża and Hajnówka forest districts. Through the analysis of documentation from 1995 to 2023, the implementation of active protection in these unusual and valuable areas is presented. The analysis was presented both in terms of material and financial aspects. As a result of the agreements, 13 conservation measures were carried out in four nature reserves for a total gross amount of PLN 38.9 thousand. Despite the undeniable needs of active protection in the faunistic nature reserves of the Białowieża Forest, appropriate methods and permanent sources of funding have still not been developed that would enable the protection of these extremely valuable and unique objects. Therefore, the functioning of faunistic nature reserves in the Białowieża Forest in their current form does not bode well for achieving the conservation goal for which they were created.
</abstract>

Implementation of active conservation for butterflies in the faunistic nature reserves of the Białowieża Forest in 1995–2023

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The paper presents the results of long-term research on different cultivation regimes for planted Scots pine (<italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic> L.) stands in the experiment initiated by B. Gavrylov in 1932 in the Left-Bank Steppe in Ukraine. The aim of the study is to identify the optimal density of planted pine stands that provides the largest growing stock at the age of 95 years. The study shows that it is possible to form highly productive pine stands by regulating their density within certain limits through their thinning. The results suggest that the intensity of thinning in young pine plantations in the Left-Bank Steppe conditions in Ukraine can vary within a wide range (30–70% of the growing stock). With the increase in the intensity of thinning of pine plantations, the growing stocks do not change significantly, but other stand characteristics, such as average height and average diameter, increase significantly. In young stands, high-intensity thinning creates favourable conditions for the growth of the remaining trees. As the intensity of thinning increases, the number of tending operations in the stand decreases and the operation costs are reduced. Accordingly, the number of interventions in the forest ecosystem decreases. The efficiency of wood mass use increases by decreasing losses from natural decline. The impact of machinery on the environment in such pine stands during harvesting is significantly reduced. Such stands are more resistant to man-caused load as well as to forest pests and diseases. The most rational was the cultivation regime, under which about 1,000 stems·ha−1 were left to the age of 30 for further growth after thinning. At the age of 95, such stands had the largest growing stock and basal area as well as the best health condition.
</abstract>

Density optimisation of pine plantations in the Left-Bank Steppe in ukraine

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The state and comparison of stands of the spruce mountain Carpathian forests district, which involves a significant portion of the forest fund of the State Enterprise ‘Rakhiv Experimental Forestry’, are analysed based on materials of forest management. The analysis examines changes in the area covered by forest vegetation, the formation peculiarities of the main inventory indicators of forest stands and their evolution over an almost 70-year period of forest management activities in the region. The aim of this study is to analyse the forest management materials of the spruce mountain Carpathian forests, focusing on the forest vegetation area and the main management indices of tree stands over a 70-year period. It highlights the intensive economic impact on stands, evidenced by a decrease in average relative completeness. Sustainable forest management necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem, encompassing biological, ecological and socioeconomic aspects. Long-term regional studies and modern forest management approaches are crucial for informed decision-making. In addition, involving local communities, stakeholders and experts in decision-making ensures socially acceptable, economically viable and environmentally sound management practices. It is suggested that mitigating the negative impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems involves forming native stands of rational structure and composition in the mountainous Carpathians, recognising the potential benefits of integrating conifers into beech stands and vice versa.
</abstract>

Change in the productivity of stands of the spruce (<italic>Picea abies</italic> L.) mountain Carpathian forests district over a 70-year period

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP) is a conservation area that contains a lot of wood resources. Various illegal community activities have become widespread, such as illegal mining and illegal logging. So, this research aims to determine the involvement of communities around forest areas in material and wood theft from June to October 2021. To determine forest encroachment, we find explanatory variables, using qualitative description integrated with perceptual tests and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis. Based on the results of the 10-fold cross-validation analysis with the smallest Rcv (x-Val relative error) value of 0.428, with a classification accuracy of 68.6%, a four-node optimum tree was obtained, which explained that as many as 86 forest encroachers were victims of a vast landslide disaster along with flood and whirlwind, due to which there was no longer any property left for them. Their encroachment affected the condition of land cover. The data on the land cover change, from 2010 to 2020, showed a reduction of 15,369.20 ha or 6.90%, which indicated a severe threat to the sustainability of LLNP as a biodiversity conservation area that should be protected. The involvement in illegal logging by communities living around the forest areas resulted from the loss of their agricultural land for their livelihoods due to natural disasters such as flood, landslide and whirlwind that destroyed infrastructure and community settlement facilities. As a result, these losses and destruction were a catalyst for forest destruction. Initially being in the frontline for preserving the forest, however, the community has now turned into silent partners with licensed wood businesspeople. The community eventually becomes a subsystem in the social ecology system (SES), which negatively affects the destruction of forest resources, production and conservation forests.
</abstract>

Deforestation as a catalyst for natural disaster and community suffering: A cycle in the socioecological system

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The development of a method to obtain callus of the European white elm, <italic>Ulmus laevis</italic>, may be a further contribution to the research on elm dieback. In the present study, a seed disinfestation method was developed to extract viable zygotic embryos. Different culture media and combinations of growth regulators were also tested to produce callus and seedlings of European white elm. The growth potential of callus in light and darkness was also investigated to determinate the exact weight gain over a specific period of time. The results of the experiments can be used as a tool for the rapid culture of callus and elm seedlings in large quantities without environmental influences. After selection of a suitable culture medium among those tested, WPM medium proved to be the most effective. It was shown that callus cultures grown in the presence of the regulators 4.646 µM/l kinetin and 4.440 µM/l 6-benzylaminipurine showed the highest quality, as did seedlings with the addition of 1.444 µM/l gibberellin A along with 4.440 µM/l 6-benzylaminipurine in the culture. Thidiazuron proved to be the compound causing rapid browning and subsequent tissue death.
</abstract>

Obtaining callus and seedlings of <italic>Ulmus laevis</italic> – studies of their morphogenetic capacity and <italic>in vitro</italic> rooting of seedlings

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The complex phenomenon of decline in European oak is currently triggered by changing climatic conditions and their consequences like heavy rains, local floods and pest development. Especially, pathogens from <italic>Phytophthora</italic> genus profit from soil saturation with water. They are alien invasive species, which attack and severely damage fine roots. In drought conditions occurring in the subsequent year, many oaks die as they encounter problem with water uptake. Additionally, insect defoliators followed by oak mildew infections accelerate the level of tree mortality. Secondary insects, butt and root pathogens are usually the final cause of death of many oaks. More research is needed in the direction to determine (i) measurable factors (e.g. chlorophyll florescence) that can indicate that the process of tree decline has already started, (ii) the correlation between the root decay and the crown symptoms (scanners, software), (iii) which combination of stressors stimulate the best development of pathogens that lead to the high plant mortality and (iv) the difference between the mortality caused by the native and the invasive <italic>Phytophthora</italic> species.</abstract>

Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, 05-090 Raszyn,

Białystok University of Technology, Forest Faculty, 17-200 Hajnówka,

European oak decline phenomenon in relation to climatic changes

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The paper presents a method for identifying and classifying local stakeholders involved in renewable energy development. The method is based on the expert assessment and comprises three main steps: (1) identification of the independent experts considering their expertise and knowledge of the local context; (2) identification of the local stakeholders based on expert assessment; and (3) analytical categorisation of stakeholders taking into account the professional relationship network. Using forest biomass (bioenergy) production as example, the stakeholder analysis is illustrated on the case study of Triglav National Park, which is characterised by a high potential of woody biomass production and a large number of stakeholders involved in land use and management. The first stage of stakeholder analysis identifies the key stakeholders to be involved in bioenergy development, through a survey with local experts. The results highlight eight key stakeholders and several primary and secondary stakeholders that should be involved to ensure socially acceptable decision-making about the renewable energy development in the Triglav National Park.</abstract>

University of Trento, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy, phone: +39 0471 055 668

EURAC Research, Institute for Renewable Energy, Viale Druso Drususallee 1, Bozen, Italy

Slovenia Forest Service, Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department for Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Agrobiology and Pedology Centre – CREA-ABP, Firenze, Italy

Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Forest Monitoring and Planning Research Unit – CREA-MPF, Trento, Italy

Stakeholder analysis in the biomass energy development based on the experts’ opinions: the example of Triglav National Park in Slovenia

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> During the research, cumulative properties of conifer needles P. armandii, P. banksiana, P. mugo, P. nigra, P. sylvestris and P. wallichiana in reference to Cu, Ni, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cd were analysed, and the factors which have an impact on the chemical composition of the bark of those species were identified. During the study, the age of needles and the content of the examined components in soil was taken into consideration. The content of metals in the needles varied, depending on a species and the age of the coniferous needles. In most cases, a higher level of content of those metals was determined in 2 years old needles, except for Cu and Zn (P. banksiana) as well as Zn (P. nigra), in which case, higher concentration of metals in 1 year old needles was determined. The obtained results indicate that the heavy metals’ concentration in the samples of needles was relatively low, except for Ni (P. armandii, P. sylvestris, P. wallchiana) and Cd (P. armandii, P. banksiana), which showed higher levels. Among the examined elements, Mn was accumulated in the largest volume in the needles of P. banksiana, Fe and Cu in the needles of P. wallchiana, Ni in the needles of P. sylvestris, Zn in the needles of P. nigra and Cd in the needles of P. armandii. The bark samples represented a clearly acidic reaction, with pH levels from 3.7 (P. sylvestris) to 4.9 (P. armandii). The highest quantities of Mn, Fe, Cu and Cd were accumulated by the bark of P. armandii, Ni in the bark of P. sylvestris and Cu in the bark of P. mugo.</abstract>

Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Institute of Biology and Environmental Protection, Arciszewskiego 22b, 76-200 Słupsk,

Universitet of P.J. Šafárik in Košice, Botanical Garden, Mánesova 23, 043 52 Košice,

Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Department of Soil Science and Geology, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra,

Accumulation of heavy metals in needles and bark of Pinus species

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Current problems of forest protection concern the declining health of forest stands due to climate change and the resulting extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, hurricane winds, heavy rainfalls and floods. Repeated impacts of these factors increase susceptibility of forest stands to pest insects and fungal pathogens. Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] H. Karst) is sensitive to high air temperatures and water shortage. Long lasting droughts during the last two decades, have been one of the reasons behind Norway spruce dieback due to severe outbreak of European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) in the mountainous regions of southern Poland. In the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands, water balance disorders have enhanced the colonization of weekend trees by steelblue jewel beetle Phaenops cyanea (F.) and engraver beetle Ips acuminatus (Gyll.), as well as contributed to the spread of fungal diseases caused by Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerb.) Cenangium ferruginosum Fr. and Sphaeropsis sapinea Fr. fungi. Water related stress leads to weakening of oak stands, which are attacked by Agrilus spp. beetles and pathogens from the genus Phytophthora. It is possible that long lasting droughts initiated the spread of infectious ash disease caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (= Chalara fraxinea), which resulted in the epidemic of ash dieback throughout Europe. Until recently, the use of plant protection products was the most common method of forest protection against pest insects and pathogens. Poland’s accession to the European Union has affected the marketing and use of plant protection products in the country. The implementation of the EU legislation (Directive 91/414/EEC, Directive 2009/128/ EC and Regulation No 1107/2009) has resulted in decreased assortment of pesticides registered for the protection of forests. High costs and long registration process considerably limited the interest of producers in placing the plant protection products on the market. Systematic decrease in the number of plant protection products possible to register for use in forestry, as well as the principles of integrated plant protection established in the EU in 2014 call for seeking plant protection methods based on the natural enemies of pests, such as pathogenic microorganisms, parasites and predators. Therefore, contemporary forest protection requires the advancement of integrated methods for pest insect and disease control through developing methods of forecasting forest dangers, the use of natural enemies and agro-technical methods for regulation of pests, as well as the development of decision support systems as a tool facilitating introduction of integrated forest protection principles. Such support systems help to establish optimal terms for the implementation of protection measures, so as to increase their efficiency while limiting the use of chemical pesticides to an absolute minimum.</abstract>

Current Problems and Tasks of Forest Protection in Poland

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> There has been observed widespread destruction of natural ecosystems around the world due to population growth, land use change and clear cutting which have affected soil properties. Different management strategies have been so far implemented to reduce this crisis in various regions of the world, such as e.g. short-term and long-term conservation management in the Zagros region. However, any management approach should be evaluated with appropriate measures to determine how managed areas respond. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential of earthworms as an indicator for different forest management strategies and human disturbances in Zagros oak (Quercus persica Jaub. and Spach) forest. The sites selected included undisturbed one as the control (Un), the sites under five-year conservation management (FCM) and twenty-year conservation management (TCM) as well as the disturbed site (D). The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that different regions separated into the components: PC1 and PC2. Un and TCM sites gathered together and represented higher values of the factors such as pH, Kavailable, OC, clay content, Pavailable, CEC, overstory tree canopy, Ntot, biomass and abundance of earthworms. The positive direction of the first axis reflected a gradient of EC, BD and Ptot. According to the logistic model, NH4-N and EC played the most important role in earthworm presence and absence in Zagros forest ecosystem. Earthworm abundance and biomass could be a good indicator to evaluate different forest management strategies in the study area.</abstract>

University of Ilam, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ilam, Iran

University of Guilan, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Someasara, Iran

Urmia University, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Urmia, Iran

Earthworms as indicators for different forest management types and human disturbance in Ilam oak forest, Iran

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The aim of the research was to determine the rate of the damage of xylophagous insects for silver birch (<italic>Betula pendula</italic> Roth.) stands in the Left Bank Forest-steppe of Ukraine. Evaluation of physiological harmfulness considered a health condition of inhabited trees, features of maturating feeding and pathogens vectoring for the cases of so-called ‘provoked aggressiveness’ and its absence. Evaluation of technical harmfulness considered a location and depth of larval galleries and pupal chambers, colonized sapwood surface, and stem part. Evaluation of general harmfulness considered physiological harmfulness, technical harmfulness and generation number.Among 22 xylophagous insect species, 4 species were widespread (<italic>Agrilus viridis</italic> (Linnaeus, 1758), <italic>Xylotrechus rusticus</italic> (Linnaeus, 1758), <italic>Xyleborinus saxeseni</italic> (Ratzeburg, 1837), and <italic>Xyleborinus attenuatus</italic> (Blandford, 1894)); 3 species were common, 6 species were rare and 9 species were single.The highest physiological harmfulness is expected for <italic>Tremex fuscicornis</italic> (Fabricius, 1787) and <italic>Tremex magus</italic> (Fabricius, 1787), <italic>Сhrysobothris affinis</italic> (Fabricius, 1774), <italic>Agrilus viridis</italic> (Linnaeus, 1758), <italic>Xylotrechus rusticus</italic>, and bark beetles. The highest technical harmfulness is expected for wood wasps – <italic>Tremex</italic> spp., jewel beetles <italic>Dicerca furcata</italic> (Thunberg, 1787) and <italic>Dicerca alni</italic> (Fischer von Waldheim, 1824), longhorn beetle <italic>Xylotrechus rusticus</italic>, and xylomycetophages – <italic>Xyleborinus</italic> sp.All widespread species are evaluated by a wide range of physiological harmfulness. Three of them (all except <italic>Agrilus viridis</italic>) are evaluated by highly technical harmfulness and from moderate to highly general harmfulness. Among the species having a common occurrence, <italic>Tremex fuscicornis</italic> can be highly harmful only in the case of tree weakening by negative factors, another two species can be non-harmful, and <italic>Xiphydria longicollis</italic> (Geoffroy, 1785) can be low harmful in the case of tree weakening by negative factors. Among the rare species, <italic>Scolytus ratzeburgi</italic> Janson, 1856 can be low or moderately harmful and <italic>Tremex magus</italic> can be low or highly harmful depending on the presence or absence of other negative factors. Among single species, <italic>Zeuzera pyrina</italic> (Linnaeus, 1761) can be moderately harmful because it colonizes almost healthy trees. The rest three species can be moderately harmful in the case of tree weakening by negative factors.</abstract>

Harmfulness of xylophagous insects for silver birch (<italic>Betula pendula</italic> Roth.) in the left-bank forest-steppe of Ukraine

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