The botanical composition of the European roe deer diet in the radioactively contaminated forest ecosystems of Zhytomirske Polesie of the Ukraine was investigated. Deer were caught monthly over a two–year period on three plots in forest habitats typical for Zhytomirske Polesie (fresh and moist mixed coniferous forests and mixed broadleaved forests). An analysis of the stomach contents of hunted deer showed that they consumed leafy as well as leafless stems, grasses, fruits and mushrooms depending on the season and availability of forest plants. Each season was characterized by one major dietary component. In the spring, the main component of the deer diet was the stems of woody plants. 44 species of vascular plants (3% of the natural flora of the region) were identified in the roe deer diet including 41 species of Magnoliophyta, of which 34 species of Magnoliopsida and 7 species of Liliopsida, 2 species of Polipodiophyta and one species of Pinophyta. Species such as aspen (Populus tremula), oak (Quercus robur), blackberry (Rubus nessensis) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) were consumed year-round.

Forest roads are characterized by low traffic, but heavy timber haulage trucks have a significant influence on road conditions and usually exceed the limit of 80-100 kN per axle. The excessive weight of the trucks degrades the road surface and the forest environment. This article presents the results of a study of timber transport loads from their places of acquirement (forest districts) to the recipient (a large sawmill). The analysis includes the parameters of the timber transport vehicles and focuses especially on the gross vehicle weight (GVW), the total weight of empty truck and trailer during transport, and the weight of their loads. Scania, Iveco, Man, and Mercedes trucks with trailers and semitrailers designed for large-size pine timber transport were analyzed. ANOVA results revealed that all 80 analyzed vehicles exceeded the permitted GVW in the range from 2.28 to 19.94 Mg, transporting from 20.1 to 37.5 m 3 of timber. The coefficient of determination between the amount of hauled timber and the GVW equaled 62.7%. Research conducted previously concluded that forest roads with ground and gravel surfaces are not suitable for overloads of 120-150 kN per axle. Therefore, it is necessary to find a logistical solution that will allow the load volume to be maintained at an acceptable level without destroying the forest road surface.

Forests are the main sources of wood chips delivered to the end customers by road or railway. This research analysed the impact of the quarter of the year: Q1 (January–March), Q2 (April–June), Q3 (July–September), Q4 (October–December) when wood chips were obtained over two consecutive years (2019–2020) and the type of transport used (railway and road) on the thermophysical properties of wood chips and the cost of their delivery. The mean moisture content in the wood chips was 38.28% and it was the highest (45.55%) in Q1, while in Q2 and Q3, this parameter was 8 and 17 percentage points (p.p.) lower. The mean lower heating value (LHV) of the chips was 10.46 GJ Mg−1. The chips delivered by road transport had a 4% higher LHV compared to those shipped by railway transport. The wood chips contained 3.42% d.m. of ash. The road transport at a distance of 200 km was found to be approximately 10% cheaper compared to the transport by rail for most of the study period, both with respect to 1 Mg of fresh or dry mass and 1 GJ of energy in the chips. The railway transport was cheaper in the winter (Q1).

This paper presents a study on radioactive contamination of dietary components of the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Zhytomirske Polesie (Ukraine). Studies were conducted on two research plots in forests with similar levels of radioactive contamination, 29 ± 8 kBq/m2 - 55 ± 17 kBq/m2, in mixed coniferous forests and mixed broadleaved forests, which are the dominant forest types of the area. The highest level of radionuclide accumulation was observed in young oak seedlings. The dynamics for oak sprouts indicate that the accumulation coefficient reaches a maximum in September and August in the mixed coniferous and mixed broadleaved forests respectively. A comparison of mean values of the 137Cs accumulation coefficients in the shoots of undergrowth plants confirms that an increase in soil fertility leads to a reduction of radionuclides in plant phytomass. In the mixed broadleaved forests, average values of the coefficient of 137Cs accumulation in phytomass of blackberry was 26% and of raspberries 58% lower compared to mixed coniferous forests. The maximum contamination of phytomass was observed in August for oak, in October for aspen, and in July for birch. The highest specific activity of 137Cs in raspberry shoots occurs during the three summer months, whereas the peak in blackberry occurs from August to September. The dynamics of the specific activity of 137Cs in blueberry, cranberry and heather show an increase in radioactive contamination of phytomass towards the end of the growth period. The maximum concentration of 137Cs in shoots of heather and bilberry was recorded in October and for blueberry in August. Mushrooms in mixed coniferous forests can be ranked as follows according to the degree of 137Cs contamination: Cantharellus < Boletus edulis < Russula < Leccinum < Xerocomus badius < Paxillus involutus. In mixed broadleaved forests the ranking is Cantharellus < Boletus edulis < Russula < Xerocomus badius < Leccinum < Paxillus involutus. Within one habitat type, we observed fairly significant variations in 137Cs accumulation in fruit bodies of fungi species.