FORESTS IN CZECH REPUBLIC, FORESTS IN EUROPE 
Forest changes in the past
Forests in the Czech Republic were considerably changed in the process of colonisation and later on during the technical revolution. Their status was significantly change just by human impact. Because of increasing of timber consumption there was a need to protect forest by special laws. Theresian Forest Orders (1754) gave the first direction to responsible management assuring sustainable yield. The species and spatial composition of Czech forests was altered in the past in effort to increase timber production and to satisfy the demand for the most frequently required tree species (spruce, pine). Coniferous species now dominate in forest stands structure.
Current share – according to 31.2009 statistic data
Coniferous 76 %
Broadleaves 24 %
Natural share – state before colonization (several thousands years ago);
Recommended share – scientifically based sustainable compromise between demand of community, economical benefit and ecological necessity.
Forest typology
Forest typology is a basis for differentiated silviculture according to the natural conditions. As regards of vertical zones, basic characteristics of forest stands can be distributed as follows (generalized):
Main tree species and appropriate conditions for cultivating in the Czech Republic
In general, on fertile sites, especially on limestone and basalt are not suitable for conifers - they often suffer with decay.
Spruce (Picea abies)
- 1050 m above sea level - climax mountain spruce stands
- 400 – 1050 m above sea level recommended cultivate mixed stands with soil improving species, especially with beech, fire, larch, prefers acidic sites
- 600 -900 m above sea level wood production optimum
Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
- up to 500 m above sea level, suitable on sandy acidic sites
Beech (Fagus silvatica)
- up to 1050 m above sea level, prefers fertile sites
- 550 -900 m above sea level wood production optimum
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)
- in riparian forests and on stands enriched with water
Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
- uplands up to 550 m above sea level, usually accompanying with hornbeam, linden, pine.
Other tree species in Czech forests:
Conifers: fir, larch, introduced Douglas fir
Broadleaves: ash, maple, hornbeam, birch, aspen, linden, alder, poplar, willow
The most important commercial timber tree species in the Czech Republic are Norway spruce, Scots pine, European beech, Sessile oak.
The most valuable wood is so called resonance wood for musical instruments construction. The source of this material comes from quality Norway spruce stands from mountainous areas with the slow increment.
Exceptional and rare forest types in the Czech Republic:
Flood plain forests, which are not too numerous, as well as riparian and accompanying stand of watercourses represents another landscape-forming components. Also their importance is immensurable. In their stands can be found: willows, black alder, ash, oaks, poplars, sycamore, Norway maple, elms. These sites are not suitable for conifers.
Dwarf pine stands – in the highest altitudes only (for example in the Krkonoše national park).
Forest damage, meaningful factors of Czech forests jeopardy
(1) Industrial emissions
Since the mid of 20th century till the end of 80ties and synergic effect of pollution and extreme climate factors has a special impact among the numerous negative factors as they represent the first, starting agent in relation to biological pests. Particularly forests in northwest Bohemia and later the whole mountain ridge forest on northern Czech border were damaged through the industrial air pollution (electric power plants) using low quality brown coal and other heavy pollution) and the acid atmospheric deposition. Soil depositions are evoking persisting stress. Therefore this episode represents the most serious damage of the Czech forests up to data.
The worst current problem represents oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from vehicle engines.
(2) Other abiotic factors
Refer to non-living elements of the environment: rocks, soil, water, fire, wind, snow and frost. The most serious are just windstorms in last years – e.g. Kyrill 2007 (there were nearly 11 mill. m3 trees fallen – increment in CZ is 16 mill. m3).
(3) Biotic factors – forest pests
Forest pests usually attack weaker trees under regular conditions (a reason can be weather conditions, air pollutions, long dry periods and their combinations). Insect pests represent the worst problem in the Czech Republic in last years. The most significant species include bark beetles mainly spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus), nun moth, and tortrix.
Spruce bark beetle (VULHM archive) (Stanislav Janský)
Forest damage caused by Spruce bark beetle (Stanislav Janský)
Problems caused by hoofed game
Particularly red deer, sika deer, mouflons, which are overpopulated in many localities, inhibits enhancement of the ecological stability of forests stands. Then fungi usually attack stands damaged by game and the timber is destroyed by fungal decay. Dear barking and browsing damages can be count as the most serious biotic damage of forests in the Czech Republic in the last century.
Forest Protection Service of Forest Research Institute – help for forest owners
It provides monitoring of harmful, mainly biotic factors occurrence and damage caused by them all over the country. Advisory services to all forest owners are provided for all forest users free of charge.
