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The aim of the study was to compare the status and prospects of the development of renewable energy in Poland and Ukraine. The source of the data used in this study were available reports, yearbooks and statistical studies Polish and Ukrainian, and literature on the issue of renewable energy development in these countries. Both in Poland and Ukraine, there is an increase in the production of energy from renewable sources. The share of renewables in the energy balance of Ukraine is much lower than in Poland. A significant problem for the development of renewable energy in Ukraine is the current political and economic situation.

Carabid beetles are frequently used as the environment condition indicators. Main purpose of this study was to test if community structure parameters of carabids indicate the stress intensity of heavy metal contamination in the soil of temperate forests. Three geographic regions in Europe differing in both degree of accumulation of heavy metals and its quality were chosen. In Olkusz (southern Poland) the main stressor was zinc, in Głogów (western Poland) – copper and in Clydach (Wales, UK) – nickel. We found strong division between assemblages from contaminated and reference sites (fig. 2). Indicator species from pollution preferring areas in one region can avoid polluted sites in the other region (tab. 2). Species preferring contaminated soils were significantly smaller than those that avoid such ecosystems (F=5.46, p<0.05). Generalized linear model indicated that species richness and biomass decreased in each stressor gradient of contaminated forests. Mean individual biomass and mean abundance of assemblages were significantly lower along zinc gradient only. Species with broader ecological range replace habitat specialists as a response to resource unpredictability. Decreased species richness and biomass in polluted forests indicate degradation of habitat resources and forest ecosystem functioning. Sylwan 159 (11): 905-911

The aim of this article is to present the environmental and economic aspects of the production and use of liquid biofuels of the first generation. To this end it was made analysis of literature. Based on the analysis, it was found that the use of liquid biofuels of the first generation speak both economic aspects (sense of energy security, rural development, increase agricultural income, job creation) and environmental (reduction of extraction of non-renewable resources, reduction of emissions). Unfortunately, you must also take into account the negative economic aspects („land hunger”, the increase in prices of agricultural commodities and food, impoverishment of the population) and ecological (questionable environmental protection, increase the greenhouse effect, monoculture crops, low calorific value) the production and use of liquid biofuels of the first generation.

True-bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are thermophilic group of insects, present in almost all land ecosystems, in freshwater or even on the ocean surface. In numerous habitats Heteroptera have high abundance and species diversity. Because of its commonness they can be treated as bioindicators of the changes in the environment. Research material was collected in south-western part of Eastern Beskidy Mountains, located in three mesoregions: Pogórze Ciężkowickie, Pogórze Jasielskie and Beskid Niski. Research was conducted in years 2012–2015. Material was collected on 27 sites, where there were a various plant communities. Altogether 262 species of true-bugs were identified, which comprises 38% of terrestrial Heteroptera of Poland. Among them 4 species have not been reported previously in the country: Psallus montanus, Charagochilus spiralifer, Dimorphopterus blissoides, and Ischnodemus quadratus. Moreover, that 46 species were recorded in Eastern Beskidy Mountains for the first time. The collected material was analyzed in terms of frequency and abundance, effectiveness of various methods of material collecting, chorology and trophic relations. Compare species composition of Heteroptera on 4 selected areas of research and established potential species diversity of true-bugs. Also, selected rarely collected species in Polish which were collected during the research were characterized, with a special focus of the distribution of its sites. Analysis of origin of Heteroptera of Eastern Beskidy Mountains was conducted and the impact of climatic and anthropogenic factors on the formation of entomofauna were characterized. Economic importance of ondawski migratory route was also presented.

Recent changes in the natural and social environments require new solutions regarding the management of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands, i.e. one of the key forest−forming and economically−important tree species in Europe. The long tradition combined with efforts to perfect the management by clear−cutting, there is still a search for alternative methods of managing in all European biogeographical regions, in which Scots pine plays a leading role. Regeneration and renewal over large areas is difficult to achieve (Mediterranean or boreal regions). And even in places where it remains possible, it can end up with large, even−aged stands of inevitably simplified structure, which prove highly, and perhaps increasingly, vulnerable to damage from both abiotic (frost or windthrow) and biotic (pathogenic fungi and insect pests) agents. These management methods also generate abrupt change in the forest landscape and, while this actually just represents advantage being taken of the natural capacity of pines to reoccupy extensive cleared areas (such as those following fires or gales), it frequently now proves unacceptable to the public. This is seen in particular in the areas around large cities or nature protection areas. The aim of this article is to review both traditional and alternative means of management of Scots pine stands within three largest biogeographical regions of Europe. While obviously relating to the environmental conditions holding sway in these different regions, silviculture in pine stands is based around a similar spectrum of applied methods that favour the emergence of single−, double− or multi−generation stands. In the boreal region, where the species finds suitable conditions for its growth, we search for effective methods to imitate small−scale natural disturbances, initiating the regeneration within gaps of differing sizes. In turn, in the continental region, research focuses on devising methods to make full use of natural regeneration, as well as seeking to limit the negative effects of clear− −cutting in the forest landscape, e.g. by leaving seed or residual trees, and clumps of the old−growth. Here too, the alternatives to clear−cutting may lie in partial or full felling being confined to smaller areas; as well as in the gradual inclusion within the main stand of trees regenerating successfully beneath the tree canopy. Finally, in the Mediterranean region, where the main factor limiting regeneration is drought, various shelterwood−felling variants are applied to fully benefit from the shielding that the mother stand offers. All the regions witness more and more frequent restrictions on the use of management means based on clear−cutting, with wider use of alternative silvicultural methods looking inevitable in the near future, in the context of both climate and social change. The need to compromise between the production−related and other functions of pine stands, and to devise generally−acceptable methods for their management, are now among the more−difficult challenges facing European forestry. Sylwan 165 (5): 355-370

Kozienice Forest (central Poland) belongs to very valuable areas from touristic and ecological point of view. Water resources are important factor of further development of this region. Analysis of 49−year (1963−2011) annual and seasonal rainfall and runoff characteristics from a small (82 km) catchment of Zagożdżonka River, with forestation ratio of 0.40, indicated a statistically significant decrease for six of the nine considered parameters. Mann−Kendall test was used for trend analysis. Decreased trend was indicated for annual runoff and annual runoff coefficient, median discharge, summer half−year runoff coefficient, median summer discharge and for low mean 30−day discharge. No trend was detected for annual precipitation and summer half year precipitation nor for summer half year runoff. Sylwan 157 (8): 578-586

An influence of environmental changes upon forest tree species competition was studied for suggested scenario of environmental changes (3−4°C increase of monthly temperatures), 8 main tree species and 6 natural regions. For a synthetic assessment of the reaction of various species for thermal and higric parameters of the climate, the growth multipliers DDGF and SMGF were used. The main environmental factor influencing future growth of tree species in Poland will be water shortage due to increased evapotranspiration. Regional decrease of water sensitive species importance, eg. alder, spruce and birch, accompanied by country−scale expansion of highly competitive, late−successional species, eg. beech and hornbeam is expected. Sylwan 157 (4): 253-261

The paper presents the changes of biomass in the young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand growing on dystrophic site type on the plots, where various methods of soil preparation and ways of utilizing logging residues were used. The research was carried out on an experimental plot located in the north−western part of Poland, in the Kalisz Pomorski Forest District. The soil preparation methods included: ploughing furrows with the LPZ−75 plough, ploughing furrows with active U−162 plough and ploughing up ridges using a plough−miller. On the other hand, logging residues management involved the following methods: complete removal, leaving residues on the clear−cut, as well as comminution of all residues. Methods of soil preparation and the ways of logging residues management significantly affected biomass of Scots pine regeneration. Among the methods of logging residues management, the most favourable effect was noted on the areas where logging residues were left. Mixing the litter with mineral soil promotes faster release of nutrients from the substrate. On the other hand, the lack of any soil preparation negatively affects the growth of Scots pine biomass. The optimal method of site preparation was the variant of leaving residues on the clear−cut, and then ploughing the furrows with the LPZ−75 plough. Sylwan 165 (1): 21-29

The carbon accumulated in the wood of the world's forests accounts for 32% of the 1,200 Gt, which includes carbon absorbed by forest ecosystems. In the strategy of terrestrial carbon management, the following main issues are distinguished sequestration, conservation and substitution. Comparative studies show environmental advantages of wood products over the industries producing wood substitutes. To produce 1 tonne of construction wood, approximately 580 kWh of energy is required, while competing materials need much higher energy inputs e.g. bricks – 4 times more than wood; cement – 5 times more, plastic – 6 times more, steel – 24 times more and aluminium – 126 times more energy than wood. Wood also becomes an increasingly more attractive biofuel. The U.S. President announced in 2007 ‘the initiative on modern energy', including the replacement by 2025 of over 75% of U.S. oil imports from the Middle East by biofuels. 80−375 litres of ethanol can be produced from 1 tonne of absolutely dry wood. It is expected that 905 million tonnes of agricultural waste and 334 million tonnes of wood biomass will be available annually by 2030. The cultivation of agro−fuel products can be extended to woodlands generating conflicts in land use and increasing deforestation with the implications for biodiversity, climate change and water. The area previously designed for food production may be allocated for the production of biofuels, which can cause a rise in agricultural product prices and threaten food security. Sylwan 155 (3): 195-201

The paper presents main organizational and economic factors influencing on the variability and costs of preparing agricultural biomass into pellets. Basic on case study there were data collected in the period July 2013 to June 2014. Investigation shows that capacity of plant varied between 509 to 1426 tons per month. The biggest part of processing costs were electricity – 43.8%. Next labour costs – 23.8%, maintenance and repairs – 16.6%, fuel costs-4.6% and depreciation – 11.6%. The cost of processing per one tone was 131 PLN.