This paper aims to find optimal planning solutions for the management of high forests, designed to produce regular wood assortments andfacing with a significant surplus of exploitable stands. In production unit III Șoimu from Tazlău Forest District, the surplus of exploitable stands, determined in relation to forest area, evolved during 1994-2014 from 78.2% to 107.6% of the size of the normal periodic area although, in the same period, the allowable cutting volume increased by 41% (from 13100 to 18500 m3 an-1). Given the difficulties of leading the real growing stock structure to the structure of the normal growing stock, 10 different normalization scenarios have been proposed. Their comparison permitted determining the pattern of normal structure that allows the fastest diminishing of exploitable stands excess and a substantial diminution of exploitability sacrifices in the next 60 years. It has been found that the best scenario corresponds to a rotation of 100 years, divided into four periods, as follows: two periods of 30 and two periods of 20 years. Thus, compared to the solutions provided by current management plan, in the identified scenario, after the first 20 years the growing stock already reaches a small deficit of exploitable stands and, after about 60 years, it reaches a structure very similar to the normal one. In contrast, according to the solutions provided by the current forest management plan, it is estimated that normalization of the growing stock will be achieved in at least 120 years and the exploitability sacrifices will be significantly higher. In addition, periods characterized by high excess of exploitable stands will alternate with highly deficitary periods in exploitable stands and, over about 90 years, the allowable cutting volume will be about 65% lower than the normal one. | În curând

Using an inter-disciplinary methodology, the paper aims to assess structural changes of the private forests restituted to their owners in early ‘90 in Romania(under the Law 18/1991), and to further estimate the economic rent resulted due to alternative management activities. The study area consists of restituted, private forests (799 ha) in Forest District Vama (North of the Romanian Eastern Carpathians). The forest structure dynamics was assessed by comparing initial forest structural characteristics at restitution (1990), according to the forest management plan, with the structural characteristics derived from aerial images recorded in 2004. The harvested volume (of period 1990-2004), at compartment level, was considered the percentage of clear cut/overharvested stands (estimated by photointerpretation) applied to the standing volume of 1990. The economic rent was calculated by comparing the economic value of the harvested timber under five management hypothesis: (i) respecting the provisions in the management plan of 1990, (ii) extracting a volume corresponding to the annual increment, (iii-v) extracting the entire volume in 1994, 2004 or 2014, respectively. The provisions of the initial forest management plan (1990) were not economically viable for owners under a harvesting rate of 1.4 m3 year-1 ha-1, the used alternative being a minimum of 23 m3 year-1 ha-1 harvested between 1990 and 2004. In Romania, between 1994 and 2014, the timber price significantly increased in comparison with the capitalization rate. Under these circumstances, the harvesting of forests immediately after restitution conducted to a total economic loss of about 9 million USD (present value - 2014), compared with the alternative - maintaining the forest resources 20 years further. It is concluded that in Romania, the mismanagement of private forests restituted in ‘90s (Law 18/1991) resulted in direct economic losses for forest owners, of similar importance as the ecological consequences. | În curând

Poplar (Populus spp.) is a fast-growing species in temperate conditions, with potential to substitute fossil fuels by obtaining energy from biomass. The aim of this work was to study the productivity of 6 hybrid poplar clone from a hilly region of NE Romania, after a growing season of 4 and, respectively, 5 years. Rods were used as planting material, planted at a density of 2667 trees per ha, with between-row spacing of 3 m and interior-row distances of 1.25 m. Generally, significant differences appear between clones, for all analysed biometric characteristics (p≤0.05). Results show that, in the fifth growing season, diameter increases on average with 15.1%, reaching 11.89 cm, height increases in average with 13.9%, reaching 11.89 m, and volume increases with 33.3%, reaching 0.172 m3. The total biomass after 4 years vegetation varies from 32.8 t/ha to 39.4 t/ha, and after 5 years from 47.7 t/ha to 60.2 t/ha, having an average increase in the latest growing season of 35% and an average yield of 11.3 t/ha/year. The most productive clones in the given growing conditions and crop characteristics are the clone Pannonia after 4 growing seasons and the clone AF6 after 5 years. | În curând

This paper aims to estimate the volume of the harvested wood in two beech stands from North-Eastern Romania. We have installed in 2008 two sample plots of 0.25 hectares each. For each tree, we have recorded the azimuth, the distance to the center and the dendrometric characteristics. Each following year, in March, all the trees of the two plots were inventoried. Thus allow us to identify the harvested trees, with two situations: stump found or whole harvested tree. We have assumed that all harvested trees with remaining stump were cut legally, and we have considered the whole-tree harvesting (with stump removal) as being illegal logging. In the first plot the initial stand volume in 2008 was 459.22 m3 ha-1, while in 2016 the volume was 457.24 m3 ha-1. After 8 years monitoring, we have recorded a volume harvested legally of 43.51 m3 ha-1 (stump existing in the plot) and a volume illegally harvested of 47.16 m3 ha-1 (the trees, including their  stump, have disappeared from the plot). In the second plot, the initial volume in 2008 was 461.71 m3 ha-1, and in 2016 the volume was 479.34 m3 ha-1. In this plot, the volume harvested legally was 52.99 m3 ha-1 and the volume harvested illegally (disappeared trees) was 5.92 m3 ha-1. In the first studied plot, 18 trees were legally harvested, and 23 illegally harvested. In the second plot, 14 tress were legally harvested, while 3 trees were illegally harvested. The average diameter of trees harvested illegally is 18.67 cm and the average volume per tree is 0,5 m3. In average for the two plots, and for the period studied (2008-2016) the volume harvested by illegal whole-tree removal represents half of the legal harvesting. If extrapolating the minimum recorded volume of illegal whole tree removals only to young forest (3,700,000 ha - according IFN - roifn.ro) and to only one third of them considered to be easily accessible to the local population, the volume of illegal whole-tree harvesting may reach almost 1,000,000 m3 year-1. Our results argue that the volume of the illegal whole-tree harvesting is largely underestim ted,that the easier accessible stands are the most likely to be affected by the illegal whole-tree harvesting and that the local firewood needs are driving this form of illegal logging. | În curând

Street tree alignments are among the most common green spaces within urban areas. The aim of this study was to assess the interspecific variability and the degree of defoliation of the trees within street alignments situated along four of the most common boulevards from Bucharest, namely Kiseleff, Ştefan cel Mare, Virtuţii and Timişoara. The total evaluated distance was 17.6 km. 1621 trees were sampled and more than 30 taxa were recorded. Autochthonous species were more numerous, compared with the allochthonous ones, but the non-indigenous trees were better represented, mainly due to the large number of London plane tree, northern red oak and horse-chestnut. The most common autochthonous species were smallleaved lime, silver linden and narrow-leafed ash. Half of the species were large, reaching heights up to 25 m or more. All four boulevards were dominated by three species. Almost 80% of the trees were in good health and only 7% were almost dead. Several tree features in accordance with the conditions for establishment of future street tree alignments were discussed. | În curând

Social conflicts analysis of poplar crops relies on the study of the local inhabitants’  attitudes and perception about the change of the land use from agriculture to poplar plantation. We have applied a quantitative methodology with structured questionnaire in two localities (abbreviated as D and M) from North-Est Romania to assess inhabitants’ perceptions on afforestation and on poplar culture and their behavior related with afforestation of abandoned agricultural lands. The fact that 86% of respondents prone to keep their agricultural land instead of selling it to private investors and 70% think that hanging the land use from agricultural land to forest is not an acceptable thing. This high percentages are sustained by 55% who do not accept the poplar afforestation which are located in the proximity of their homes. The study level, age classes and ownership types are socio-economics and demographics characteristics which have a significant influence on the attitude toward poplar crops. All these results reveal a high potential level of conflicts between the practice of short-rotation poplar cultures and the traditional values of rural communities.  | În curând

Hunting firearms with smoothbores use multiple missiles (buckshots) or unique missiles (brenneke). As these types of guns have a smooth bore hole, no imprints can be spotted clearly on the missiles, so as to establish the certain type of gun which they belong to. Also, the cartridge cases can be reused, manufacturing manually the ammunition. In this case, it is needed a new primer, which is mounted on the back side of the cartridge case. In fact, the primer represents that part of the cartridge hit by the firing pin, which deforms it irreversibly. On the other hand, the design characteristics of each firearm brand differ from one manufacturer to another. For this reason, it was studied the dynamics of the impact between the firing pin and the primer, at three European firearms brands: IJ, Zastava, Sauer-Bereta. The study focused on the differences which may occur at the impact characteristics (forces, time), and which can lead at least to the identification on the firearm brand. | În curând

New records of ten invasive insect species in Romania are presented. The studied species are: Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic 1986, Parectopa robiniella Clemens 1863, Phyllonorycter robiniella (Clemens 1859), Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata 1963), Hyphantria cunea (Drury 1773), Obolodiplosis robiniae (Haldeman 1847), Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann 1910, Eopineus strobus (Hartig 1837), Megastigmus spermotrophus Wachtl 1893 and Harmonia axyridis Pallas 1773. The native range of each species, the first report and the present distribution in Europe and in Romania are discussed. The new records suggest that all the analysed species have established populations in our country and a more widespread distribution than that previously known. Some of them attain sometimes locally or zonally high population levels and are regarded as important pests. For the most species, new observations are necessary, both concerning their presence in the areas where they were not found so far, but also to assess the impact of insect populations on their hosts and on the recipient biocoenoses. A particular attention should be paid to the species H. axyridis, whose swarms invade the houses of the people during the autumn and could cause annoyance and possibly allergy. Citizen participation in observing and reporting of these new ”guests” is encouraged. | În curând

Intensive hybrid poplar crops can produce an important biomass if adequate measures of management are being used. During the last years, there is a constant involvement on refining poplar cultivation technology, regarding installation, maintenance and harvesting, in order to obtain superior production at lower costs. The present study has analysed the effect of an experimental maintaining treatment (TI) (harrowing and weed control) on poplar crops’ biomass yields. The results were obtained after two vegetation seasons and compared with the results recorded in a control plot where no maintaining practices (TN) were used. The experimental crop was set up in the spring of 2013, in the vicinity of Dornești site (Suceava County). Three hybrid poplar clones were tested (AF2, AF8 and Pannonia) in each plot, and there were installed by long rods, using the 3.0 x 1.5 m spacing. The biomass was assessed for all the harvested individuals and every tree component using the gravimetric method. The experimental maintaining treatment (TI) led to important differences between the two plots. The total biomass in TI plot was nearly eight-times superior to the biomass obtained in the control plot. All the three clones reacted significantly to the experimental treatment TI, even though minor differences were observed between the clones’ productivity. The effect of TI treatment was also substantial to the biomass’ structure on tree components. It is considered that the massive biomass increase was encouraged by a consistent shift of biomass proportion in the favour of the crown proportion (branches biomass), rather than subterranean elements. | În curând

This humble tribute goes to the memory of one the most influential professors the Romanian forestry is being proud of, one who never forgot to recall his native place, Cacica and his parents as well. We summarized his main leaps to having one of the longest academic chair at Brașov University as well as his contribution to forest botany science. Acknowledging his contribution to the common effort carried out in 1990 to resume the forestry academic life in beloved Bucovina, the Senate of Suceava University made the decision to award his whole-life contribution to forestry science with the Doctor Honoris Causa title