Semi-open oak woods and solitary oaks commonly dominate the wooded fabric (i.e. the 'oakscape') of European traditional rural agricultural landscapes based on animal husbandry. However, modern land use systems fail to perpetuate oakscapes, posing a serious threat to biodiversity conservation and the associated diversity of ecosystem services. Reconstructing the dynamics of oakscape remnants can provide valuable insights concerning the maintenance of oakscapes. We used the socioeconomic transitions at the European Union's eastern border as a natural experiment to explore the drivers for successful oak recruitment in 27 selected units representing 4 oakscape categories. Analyses of tree-ring data, historical maps, and orthophotos were used to reconstruct the oakscapes' establishment trajectories in relation to land use changes in the period 1790-2010. The oaks in cultural semi-open woods and wood-pastures differed substantially from those in closed canopy forests by more stocky shape and faster early age DBH annual increase. We found two distinct recruitment patterns: (1) FASTrecruitment usually completed within 2-3 decades, attributed to an unconstrained succession of abandoned agricultural land, and (2) SLOWrecruitment extending over several or more decades. In Ukraine, frequent illegal grass burning in marginal woods was the most successful mechanism perpetuating oak recruitment. Top-down policy encouraging specialized intensive farming, sustained yield forestry, and conservation efforts concentrated on the preservation of closed canopy forests compromise the future of traditional agro-silvo-pastoral systems. Maintenance of traditional integrated agro-silvo-pastoral management sustaining oakscapes needs to combine local traditional knowledge and landscape stewardship.

No abstract

For many years, we have observed a significant rise in urban population, the spatial development of cities, and an increase in urbanized areas. More and more people feel the need to have contact with nature. The interest in forest recreation is growing, though the forest is a serious source of allergenic plant pollen. The aim of the present study was to compare two forest types in the context of their recreational potential and the effect strength of aeroallergens. This study was conducted in SE Poland in a Nemoral Scots pine forest (RB) and in a Central European submountainous beech forest (TH). Their recreational potential was assessed. Samples of moss containing plant pollen were collected under the canopy, from forest clearings and forest edges as well as in an open area. Based on the number of pollen grains deposited in moss pollsters, the forest impact on humans was calculated. The recreational potential values for both sites studied are evidence of the high recreational suitability of these forests, but the recreational capacity of RB is lower compared to TH. Palynological analysis showed that the pollen deposition is higher in BR and that the plant pollen risk is lowest under the canopy, regardless of the forest type. The beech forest was found to be characterized by greater recreational potential and a weaker actual effect of pollen allergens than the pine forest. In assessing forest recreational potential, palynological data should form the basis for modification of the degree of recreational suitability. Such information would also be useful in controlling recreational traffic since, as we have proved, visiting appropriate places in a forest allows the exposure of allergen sensitive people to be reduced.

The study was designed to examine the relationship between features of forests and the quality of forest landscapes, and to determine the strength of effect of the features in the aesthetic value of the landscape. The methodology applied to assess forest landscapes took into account the following features: forest site humidity, age of forest, terrain slope, site index of stands, species composition of the tree layer, under-story cover, colour and composition, mosaic-like, as well as horizontal structure of the tree stands. The study was conducted in temperate forests located in Central-Eastern Europe – more precisely – in south-eastern Poland. In the investigated area the dominating tree species are: Pinus sylvestris L., Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus L. They cover 42.2%, 20.8%, 20.4% and 6.5% of the total forest area, respectively. The findings show that nearly 1% of the area of the examined forests within the relevant territory are characterized with very high landscape value, over 67% with high, 31% with medium, and less than 0.5% with low landscape value. A strong relationship occurs between terrain slope vs. aesthetic quality of landscape as well as forest site humidity vs. aesthetic quality of landscape. Weak effect was observed for site index of stands vs. aesthetic quality of landscape, and moderate relationship was identified in the case of the remaining features. The findings show the strength of relationship between the features of forests and the aesthetic quality of landscapes, consequently providing a tool for forest managers to develop attractive forest landscapes in selected areas.

Seminatural meadows are characterized by a rich botanical composition, which determines their specific type. The content of macro-and micro minerals in sward seems important for ruminant farmers. The aim of the study was to determine the content of macro-and micro minerals in the sward of selected meadow types. The study was carried out in SE Poland from May to July in the years 2010-2017. The relationship between the content of each of the studied elements (N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) in soil and plants was investigated, as well as whether there were differences between the average content of elements in the sward of different types of meadows. In some types of meadows there was a correlation for K, Fe, Cu, Mg and Mn. The largest differences in the content of macro minerals in the sward were found for Mg (44%) and K (42%), and in the case of micro minerals for Mn (56%). Large differences resulted primarily from different plant species; composition forming a given meadow community and not the content of these elements in the soil. The results can be applied to the proper management of farms, especially organic ones.Available research results indicate differences in the nutrient content of the sward depending on the season of the year [8], and, in particular, on the amount of precipitation, and thus soil water content [14,15]. Therefore, the assessment of the standardized precipitation and evaporation index is important in grassland management [16]. Soil moisture is also a factor strongly determining meadow botanical composition [17], as well as its proper management [18,19].In the present study, samples were collected on all meadows in the same period under comparable weather conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the content of macro-and micro minerals in the sward of specific types of meadows in the semi-natural temperate climate of SE Poland. Materials and Methods Study AreaThe research was carried out from May to July 2010-2017 in various types of seminatural meadows of the highlands, in different conditions of habitat moisture, soil pH and richness in selected macro-and micro minerals. The research area (Figure 1) included physiographically diverse fragments of the Central Beskid Foothills and the Carpathian Foothills .8713 • E). The southern part is distinguished by the presence of uniform hills running from northwest to southeast, and their absolute heights range from 250 to 350 m above sea level. Brown, loam and luvisols are the most common soils there, alluvial soil occurs in river valleys and low peats in low basins. The length of the growing season varies from 210 to 225 days and the average annual rainfall from 700 to 800 mm. There are uplifted plains in the central and northern parts of the study area lying at an altitude of 220-250 m a.s.l. Luvisols and brown soils occur in this area, alluvial soils in river valleys, and swamps in drainage areas. The average annual rainfall is 600-700 mm and the growing season lasts 220-225 days.