Abstract: In this study, we present evidence using basal area increments (BAI) and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N nitrogen isotopic composition of Pinus sylvestris from sites near the industrial area in Dąbrowa Górnicza (Poland) to assess potential effects of pollution on tree growth and physiology. Changes in BAI reveal a marked long−term decline in stem growth during peak industrial pollution in the 1960s followed by a distinct subsequent increase after the mid 1980s. Coinciding with the earlier period of growth suppression, we also found a decrease in covariance of growth increments among trees and a weakening of the climatic signal in pine tree−ring chronologies followed by a change related to summer drought sensitivity since the 2000s. The ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios reveal distinct evidence of emissions from steel manufacturing since 1978 including a change in δ¹⁵N values from –10 to –4 ‰ in the polluted Scots pines. The results of this study show that there is a strong inverse correlation between tree−ring δ¹⁵N values and the nearby steelwork production rate coinciding with changes in growth rates and covariance among trees.
Key words: basal area increment, dendrochronology, industry pollution, nitrogen isotopes, Pinus sylvestri

Abstract: The composition of roe deer Capreolus capreolus abomasal nematode compound community depends on several factors; however, little is known about the impact of habitat and host co−occurrence. Roe deer appears to be the most suitable host species model for conducting studies on formatting the parasitic fauna of wild and domestic ruminants. Therefore, this study was conducted to find out whether the connection between the abundance of a particular roe deer abomasal nematode species and the habitat (i.e. agricultural land, the urban agglomeration, mountains and forests) can be determined. Special emphasis was placed on the mean abundance values which were used in correspondence analysis performed to clarify the observed connection. Based on post−mortem examinations of 75 roe deer overall, 12578 nematodes belonging to eight species (Ostertagia leptospicularis, O. antipini, Spiculopteragia boehmi, S. asymmetrica, Haemonchus contortus, Ashworthius sidemi, Trichostrongylus axei, T. askivali) were collected. The majority of the nematode species were derived from the forest roe deer population co−occurring with red deer Cervus elaphus, fallow deer Dama dama and moose Alces alces, whereas the lowest species diversity was observed in abomasum of roe deer living in the habitat without permanent existence of other cervids (agricultural land). The highest mean intensity of infection was reached by A. sidemi found in roe deer inhabiting forests, while the lowest by T. askivali found in roe deer from mountain habitat. The co−infection of H. contortus and A. sidemi was noted in 11 analysed roe deer. The results suggest that the sympatry favors the exchange of A. sidemi between the representatives of Cervidae. Identification of T. axei in the majority of analyzed habitats indicates that roe deer participate in parasite transmission between wild and domestic ruminants. The results show that the presence of a particular roe deer abomasum nematode species does not only depend on occupied habitat but is also strictly connected with the sympatry.
Key words: cervids, domestic ruminants, parasite transmission, sympatry, Trichostrongylidae

Abstract: The supervision of private forests in Poland is entrusted by law to the respective district governor (starosta), who carries it out with his/her own means, on his/her own or entrusts it on the basis of a contract, to the Forest District Manager. One of the obstacles to the effective fulfilment of this obligation is the insufficient volume of funds for this purpose, or the lack thereof. The district governors, looking for savings and an optimal form of organization of the supervision, choose various forms of its performance, which often results in annual changes, as the entrusting of these services to the forest districts is carried out on an annual basis. The aim of the study was to determine the model of supervision of private forests, the amount of costs of their supervision in the area of the Mazowieckie Province and to determine their changes over time. The study covers the years 2005 and 2022, which differ in terms of the area covered by management documentation. General data on the percentage share of private forests in all the forests of the Mazowieckie Province and their ownership structure were obtained from Statistics Poland. The data used to determine the supervision model and costs were obtained from surveys conducted in 2006 and 2023. A postal survey questionnaire was sent to all district authorities in the Mazowieckie Province. The study demonstrated that outsourced supervision is the predominant form of forest supervision. The analysis of costs associated with execution of supervision revealed significant differences in the levels of these costs, both the model where the supervision is outsourced to the Forest District, and in the situation where the district authority carries out the supervision itself. In cities with the status of administrative districts, the rates of costs per 1 hectare of supervised forest area are higher than in other district authority offices. It is recommended to conduct further studies for the whole country in order to identify the full catalogue of reasons influencing the level of supervision costs. The research subject should be continued due to the complexity of the challenges and difficulties associated with supervision of private forests in Poland. As the district authorities finance the supervision of private forests from their own resources, the justification of paying the entire forest tax directly into the municipality budget should be considered. Such research would allow to characterize the whole system of supervision in Poland not only in quantitative but also in qualitative terms, and to identify the reasons for the significant variability of the costs of these services.
Key words: district authority office, forest areas, forest management, forest owners, supervision costs

Abstract: The article is devoted to the important and timely issue of forest insurance. Its aim is to identify the perspectives of the forest insurance sector’s development. The conducted analysis is focused on finding answers to the following research questions: 1) what the conditions for the development of the forest insurance market are, 2) which forest policy instruments can influence/stimulate the development of the forest insurance market, 3) and which models contain the most suitable results of insurance rate simulations and present the best theoretical and methodological foundations of financial insurance in forestry. A Web of Science (WoS) database literature review was conducted to find relevant publications. The keywords ‘forest’ and ‘insurance’ were used. In the first phase of the review, the search yielded 805 publications. Of these, 120 publications published in forestry journals were selected on the basis of a content investigation of the abstracts. A detailed analysis of these selected publications, including a review of the scope of the research, enabled us to select 24 studies that dealt exclusively with the topic of forest insurance. The literature review showed that the development of the forest insurance idea is primarily taking place in countries with a high proportion of private forests. The increased interest in forest insurance in the literature of the 21^st century results from the observed magnitude of biotic and abiotic disturbance impacts. Apart from the value of the forest to be insured, the amount of the premium is determined by several factors including the type and probability of disturbances and the costs of forest management. Given the level of theoretical insurance premiums, the value of which is unacceptable to forest owners, efforts should be made to popularise the idea of property insurance in the forest. This solution enables a significant reduction in the premium per unit of value of the insured forest as the probability that the forest will be damaged by disturbances is low. If the probability that the tree stands will be significantly damaged is high, it is unlikely that the same events will occur at the same time and cause major damage. The first step in developing the idea of forest insurance should be a study that assesses the structure and volume of demand for forest insurance. Efforts must be made to create a database on the frequency and extent of forest disturbances and to develop a method for valuing timber resources.
Key words: compensation, disturbance, fire, lost, risk

Abstract: Forests play a vital role in global hydrological systems by influencing processes such as rainfall interception, mist capture, and groundwater recharge. Freshwater availability is essential for both human survival and ecological balance; however, global water scarcity is a growing concern. Forest restoration can positively affect water dynamics at both macro and micro levels, including enhancing groundwater recharge and promoting sustainable water management. Contrary to earlier beliefs that more trees reduce water availability, recent research has highlighted that optimal tree cover, especially in dry tropical regions, can increase groundwater recharge. Forest restoration, particularly using native species, has been shown to improve water yield, reduce soil erosion, and promote nutrient cycling. The role of forests in evapotranspiration also influences local precipitation patterns, with evidence suggesting that deforestation disrupts natural hydrological cycles, whereas forest restoration can help mitigate such disruptions. In addition to its hydrological benefits, forests are crucial for nutrient cycling, which supports soil fertility and ecosystem health. Forest restoration efforts can enhance soil organic matter, improve nutrient retention, and boost biodiversity, particularly in areas previously affected by agriculture. These changes contribute to ecosystem services, such as food and timber production, which are vital for the livelihoods of millions, particularly in rural communities. Furthermore, forests provide significant cultural ecosystem services that support mental, emotional, and physical well−being, and are often linked to recreation, spiritual practices, and community identity. Restoration efforts incorporating community participation and cultural values can foster stronger local support and enhance the sustainability of these benefits. In conclusion, forest restoration is essential not only for improving water and nutrient cycles, but also for maintaining biodiversity, supporting local economies, and enriching cultural practices.
Key words: ecosystem services, forests, hydrological systems, restoration

Abstract: Disasters in spruce forests caused by climatic conditions (e.g. windstorms, increased temperatures, drought) or inappropriate forest management favour the outbreak of the European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus, which is the main pest affecting Norway spruce forests. The physical abilities of the pest itself enable it to disperse even across geographical barriers, establish new subpop− ulations, hybridise with local subpopulations, and increase its genetic diversity and viability. Genetic analysis, using six microsatellite markers, was carried out on 16 subpopulations of the bark beetle collected from an area of approximately 1100 km² within three mountains. The microsatel− lite markers used yielded parameters such as number of alleles, number of effective alleles, observed heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content for the evaluation of genetic variation in bark beetle subpopulations. Despite the considerable genetic variation observed among the subpopulations of bark beetles, no genetic differentiation was detected. The results indicate that neither the distance of approximately 55 km between the most distant sampling sites, nor the elevations of about 1000 m between the ridges and valleys between these sites, limit beetle movement and bark beetle gene flow.
Key words: Genetic diversity, microsatellite, migration, subpopulation differentiation, spruce bark beetle