Abstract: Global climate warming is widely recognised as one of the major challenges facing the modern world. To halt, or at least slow, this process, multiple lines of action have been proposed, including the concept of proforestation, which relies on the natural capacity of forests to absorb CO₂, one of the principal greenhouse gases. Proforestation involves withdrawing comparatively young forests from management in order to maximise carbon storage in forest ecosystems. Against this background, the aim of this study was to examine how the withdrawal from silvicultural treatments of a young, even−aged Scots pine Pinus sylvestris stand established by artificial regeneration affected its stand volume, productivity, structural heterogeneity, the occurrence of deadwood, and the main growth parameters and allometric traits of Scots pine trees. The study was carried out in the Kampinoski National Park (KNP), in two ca. 60−year−old stands: one withdrawn from management ca. 40 years ago, and one subjected during the same period to standard tending operations (thinnings). In each stand, four square sample plots (25 m × 25 m) were established. All living and dead trees (standing and downed) were measured. Measurements involved all trees with diameter at breast height (DBH)
7 cm and included tree species identification, total height, height to the dead and live crown base, and the vertical extent of major stem morphological zones resulting from natural branch shedding. Field data were processed by BWINPro program, which was used to calculate key stand parameters (such as density, basal area, volume) and several structural diversity indices. Differences in morphological and allometric traits of Scots pine trees between experimental variants were tested using linear mixed−effects models. The results showed that after several decades of spontaneous development, the unmanaged stand exceeded the managed stand in total tree density, the volume of living and dead trees (and thus in the amount of carbon stored), and showed slightly higher structural heterogeneity. In contrast, the tended stand exhibited more favourable parameters of the dominant species (Scots pine), including a lower slenderness ratio (h/d) and longer crowns – traits that are critical for stand stability and resistance to detrimental biotic and abiotic factors. The managed stand clearly outperformed the unmanaged stand also in respect of the amount of wood harvested during silvicultural treatments. This amount was twice as high as the current difference in the total volume between the two studied stands.
Key words: carbon sink, deadwood, forest tending, Pinus sylvestris, Scots pine stand, stand stability, stand structure, strict protection, tree allometry

Abstract: Slime moulds (Eumycetozoa) are important components of forest detrital systems, yet the lowland forests of north−eastern Poland remain poorly documented. We present an integrated inventory of Myxomycetes (Myxogastria) and Protosporangiida from two forest nature reserves in the Masurian Lakeland (Gązwa and Dębowo), based on route−based field surveys and moist chamber cultures. Sporocarps were identified using light microscopy following standard morphological criteria. The 492 collection records comprised 66 taxa: 62 myxogastrian species, two varieties, and two species of Ceratiomyxa. Taxon richness was 45 in Dębowo and 49 in Gązwa, with 28 taxa recorded in both reserves. Frequent taxa included Lycogala epidendrum, Fuligo septica var. septica, Physarum album and Arcyria cinerea. Badhamia affinis and Licea kleistobolus are newly recorded for north−eastern Poland, and 33 taxa are newly recorded for the Masurian Lakeland. Incidence was strongly rightskewed, with few common and many rare taxa. Lignicolous substrates supported the highest local richness and diversity, whereas other substrate classes generally harboured fewer taxa; no clear monotonic relationship was detected between richness and mean soaking−water pH across the narrow range sampled. NMDS ordination (Bray−Curtis, presence−absence) indicated grouping by ecological substrate class; this pattern is interpreted descriptively given the non−probabilistic sampling design. Our results provide the first substrate−resolved checklist and baseline dataset for Eumycetozoa in these reserves and highlight the value of combining field surveys with moist chamber cultures in under−surveyed lowland forests.
Key words: Eumycetozoa, forest ecosystems, Masurian Lakeland, moist chamber cultures, Myxogastria, Myxomycetes, taxon inventory, Poland, Protosporangiida

Abstract: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of forestry studies on the social construction of the forester’s professional identity and assess the perceived alignment between academic education and the structural requirements of professional practice as articulated by students. The main research question was: how do forestry studies shape the image and normative framing of the forester’s profession and how is the adequacy of the educational programme for professional practice evaluated by students? It was hypothesised that forestry studies exert a significant positive influence on the perception of the forester’s profession and are perceived as largely aligned with professional requirements. The study adopted a quantitative design, employing a diagnostic survey in a repeated cross−sectional framework conducted in October 2023, 2024, and 2025. It encompassed independent cohorts of first−year students at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow (N=188, N=162, N=158). The online questionnaire included questions about the image of a forester developed during their studies, the alignment of knowledge and competencies with professional requirements, the importance of forest functions, and the reactions of family and friends to their choice of field of study. The analysis relied on descriptive statistics (response counts and frequencies) and did not employ inferential procedures, given the non−probabilistic character of the sample and the exploratory−descriptive aim of the study. Analysis of the results from three study groups and a literature review allowed for the formulation of key conclusions. The findings indicate that studies primarily reinforce positive evaluations of foresters’ professional and organisational competences, whereas in socio−political and ideological domains they more frequently generate critical or neutral orientations. Forestry education contributes to the ongoing professionalisation of the occupational field while neither eliminating nor fully neutralising its structurally embedded controversies. Discrepancies between curricular content and student expectations were identified, indicating areas requiring structural adjustment to enhance graduates’ preparedness for profes− sional challenges. Reactions of family members and friends to the choice of forestry studies were predominantly positive, irrespective of the respondents’ place of residence. The study captures the perspectives of a younger generation increasingly conscious of its agency within social media and public policy discourses, thereby enabling cautious projections regarding the future devel− opment of forest governance and human resource management in the sector. Most respondents positively assessed the adequacy of education, knowledge, teaching skills, and research activities for the scope of tasks performed in a forester’s work, with differences evident based on place of residence and gender. The results contribute to the broader discourse on the social perception of the forester’s profession and may inform the development of forestry education responsive to both student expectations and labour market dynamics. The findings provide a basis for formu− lating recommendations concerning curricular modification, for the preliminary identification of inter−cohort shifts in the perception of the profession, and for strengthening institutional support for first−year students in meeting their academic and cognitive needs.
Key words: academic education, cross−sectional study, first−year students, perception of the profession, professionalization

Abstract: Black cherry Prunus serotina is one of the most widespread invasive tree species in Europe, exerting a substantial influence on the structure and functioning of native forest ecosystems. Its presence alters nutrient cycling, soil properties, and competitive interactions among tree species, thereby reducing biodiversity and limiting the regenerative capacity of forest habitats. Particularly important is the impact of its nutrient−rich, rapidly decomposing leaf litter, which may significantly modify the availability of macro− and microelements and shape the growth conditions of native tree species. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of P. serotina leaf mulch on soil chemical properties and on the content of selected macro− and microelements in the leaves of native tree species, analysed under two light conditions. The study used one−year−old seedlings of four tree species: Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Pinus sylvestris, and P. serotina, which were cultivated individually in a peat−based substrate under two light regimes in a controlled pot experiment. Leaf mulch of P. serotina was applied in three variants (0 g, 40 g, 150 g per pot), and biometric measurements of seedling height and root collar diameter were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons. Soil and leaf samples were subjected to comprehensive chemical analyses, and treatment effects were evaluated using mixed−effects models, MANOVA, and principal component analysis. The growth of all studied tree species was primarily determined by species identity and time, while neither mulch application nor light conditions had a significant effect. Seedlings of A. platanoides and A. pseudoplatanus reached the greatest height and root collar diameter, clearly out− performing P. sylvestris and P. serotina. Leaf nutrient concentrations also differed markedly among species, with A. pseudoplatanus showing the highest phosphorus content and P. serotina the lowest levels of most macronutrients except magnesium. Soil analyses revealed rapid depletion of nitrate, ammonium, and magnesium in substrates associated with P. serotina, indicating its strong impact on nutrient dynamics compared to the more conservative nutrient use by the other species. Prunus serotina has a pronounced influence on soil properties and the structure of accompanying vegetation, acting as an ecosystem engineer and substantially hindering forest management in stands composed of native species. The results indicate that among the analysed taxa, A. pseudoplatanus and A. platanoides display the highest competitive potential against invasive P. serotina, making these species suitable candidates for the restoration of stands affected by its expansion.
Key words: leaf litter effects, Norway maple, Prunus serotina, Scots pine, sycamore maple

Abstract: Ecological education is increasingly being recognized as a key mechanism for fostering environmental awareness, pro−environmental attitudes, and sustainable lifestyles, while direct contact with natural environments plays a critical role in supporting human health and well−being. Forest bathing (shinrin−yoku), combining physical activity, mindfulness, and immersive nature experience, has gained growing scientific attention as a health−promoting practice. However, despite a rapidly expanding body of literature, the integrated relationship between ecological education, forest bathing, and human well−being remains insufficiently systematized and conceptually fragmented. The aim of this review article is to critically examine and synthesize open−access scientific literature addressing the synergy between ecological education, forest bathing, green spaces, and human health, with particular emphasis on identifying dominant research themes, mechanisms of impact, and existing research gaps. The study seeks to answer five research questions focusing on educational mechanisms, health outcomes, the role of physical activity in natural environments, the function of urban green spaces, and gaps in interdisciplinary research. The study is based on exploratory scoping of peer−reviewed, English−language, open−access publications indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. No temporal restrictions were applied. Following a multi−stage selection procedure, including title, abstract, and full−text screening, and supplemented by a snowball search technique, 45 scientific publications published between 2014 and 2025 were included in the final analysis. The reviewed material represents diverse geographical contexts and disciplinary perspectives, including environmental education, forestry, public health, psychology, pedagogy, and urban planning. The results indicate that ecological education implemented in natural environments, particularly when combined with forest bathing practices, contributes positively to mental health, physical well−being, cognitive functioning, and environmental awareness. Urban green spaces and forests emerge as crucial settings for integrated educational and health−oriented interventions, especially in the context of increasing urbanization and climate−related challenges. However, the review reveals substantial limitations in the existing literature, including a predominance of short−term studies, methodological heterogeneity, and a scarcity of empirical research examining long−term behavioural and attitudinal outcomes. The findings highlight the need for further interdisciplinary research employing coherent theoretical frameworks, standardized methodologies, and long−term empirical designs. Future studies should prioritize objective psychometric and physiological measures as well as the development of innovative educational models that integrate ecological education and forest−based experiences to support both human well−being and environmental sustainability.
Key words: education, green spaces, limitations, physical activity, wellbeing

Abstract: The Eurasian wild boar is one of the most widely distributed and ecologically adaptable mammals, native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with introduced populations in the Americas, Australia, and several islands. Its ecological plasticity enables it to occupy boreal forests, Mediterranean ecosystems, wetlands, agricultural landscapes, peri−urban and urban habitats. This review synthesises current knowledge on the species’ biology, ecology, and interactions with humans. Available evidence shows that wild boar can act as an ecosystem engineer by modifying soil structure, nutrient turnover, and vegetation dynamics, which may support regeneration processes and increase habitat heterogeneity. However, high population density may increase the spatial extent of rooting damage, reduce understorey cover, intensify crop damage, increase pressure on ground−nesting fauna, and aggravate conflicts in agricultural, peri−urban, and urban environments. Wild boar also plays an important role in the epidemiology of animal diseases, particularly African swine fever (ASF), and remains relevant to public health because of zoonotic pathogens such as Trichinella spp. Effective management requires locally adapted strategies combining population monitoring, hunting or capture where feasible, strict biosecurity, reduced anthropogenic food subsidies, habitat−based prevention of damage, and stakeholder communication. The most important research gaps concern density−dependent ecological impacts, the effects of agricultural intensification on reproduction and space use, and the long−term effectiveness and social acceptability of damage−prevention and conflict−mitigation measures, including temporary fencing, fertility control where feasible, and the reduction of anthropogenic food subsidies.
Key words: African swine fever, crop damage, ecosystem engineering, human−wildlife conflict, population management, synurbization