Spectral signatures of forest stands in Sentinel-2 MSI spectral bands are simulated with the statistical forest reflectance (SFRM) model and compared to the spectral signatures measured in spectral images at ten study sites in Estonia. As an overall measure of the agreement between simulated and measured spectral signatures we used the total error calculated as the sum of relative errors over spectral bands B2 to B11 of Sentinel-2. The distribution of the total error has strongly positive skewness at all study sites and all types of forests (broadleaf, pine and spruce forests). The right tail of the distribution is low. The stands of high value of the total error far right in the tail of the distribution may have some errors in their inventory data, or the inventory data are outdated. Pertinent stands should have priority in their in situ checking process. The SFRM model is a simple and reliable tool for the validity checking of forest inventory data, using routinely collected forest inventory data and operational satellite information of moderate spatial resolution. The model is simple and computationally efficient. Preparing input data for the model is a simple query in the forest inventory database. The suggested procedure can be incorporated into the automated systems of continuous forest inventory. 
 
 Keywords: Forest inventory, Sentinel-2 MSI images, Statistical forest reflectance model

Urban forests have great ecological value as facilities for maintaining a favourable environment for the life of citizens. The development of industrial production and increased traffic flows lead to air pollution in cities, which contributes to a decrease in the productivity of tree stands, an increase in their decline and a decrease in their growth. The aim of this paper is to analyze the growth and productivity of larch stands under different anthropogenic influences and to develop recommendations for increasing their stability and durability. The materials for the study were data from the repeated measurements of permanent inventory plots at the Experimental Forest District of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow ‘Timiryazev’ Agricultural Academy and forest areas of the Moscow Region. The growth of stands of mean height in the permanent inventory plots does not correspond to the scale of site class determination: first, the forest site index is upgraded, and then it is declined. The results of the analysis of growth and productivity of larch stands have shown that these trees can be recommended for use in urban landscaping as they demonstrate high resistance to adverse effects. Mixed pine-larch stands are the most promising for urban landscaping.
 Key words: Larch stands, urbanized environment, growth, productivity.

Forest plantations usually have a poorer fauna than native forests of the same region. Exceptions seem to appear in colder areas of Europe with few native forests. The Jiu Gorge National Park (JGNP) is situated in the Southern Romanian Carpathians, where numerous native, especially beech, forests are present. However, in the southern part of JGNP there are plantations with non-native species, like pine or black locust, where previous studies had reported a poor fauna. Based on this information, we supposed that this fauna poverty in plantations will be obvious also in the case of the litter macrofauna. This was verified by analyzing the litter macrofauna from 15 forests in the JGNP (10 natural forests and five forest plantations). We collected 12,950 individuals belonging to 28 invertebrate groups. The highest number of taxa was registered in the sessile oak forest, while the highest individual number and taxa diversity was observed in two beech forests. In the beech and birch reforestation areas the fauna was poorer than in old mature forests of the same tree species. In contrast to native forests, the fauna in plantations was much poorer, especially in the pine plantations. Detritiphagous taxa were the most affected by factors of the plantations. In the plantations, more mobile groups with various trophic regimes prevail. The plantations that are present in the southern areas of JGNP, replaced the original sessile oak forests, compared to which they have a much poorer fauna. Forest plantations from JGNP have low value for biodiversity, compared to the northern European areas where natural forests became very rare and the fauna is recent. JGNP is not in the same situation, having extended native forests, which are present in the area since the glacial periods. Therefore, these forests shelter the native fauna of the region. There are few plantations, present only in the disturbed part of JGNP, but even there they have only a very low importance for biodiversity. The data from JGNP confirms the fact that zones with high biodiversity and native forests should be conserved.
 Key words: Carpathians, beech, forest plantations, past, native, invertebrates, leaf litter, forestry.

With over a quarter of its territory covered by forest, Romania stands out as a European country with a medium forest area extension. Despite the fact that the forest area has increased since 2008, there are counties that are affected by forest loss caused by outlawed forest cutting and other factors. This calls for improved knowledge and critical spatial planning of the forest area at county level. The aim of this study is to assess the forest area preservation level of Romania’s 41 counties using fuzzy and classical Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods. The paper includes inferences regarding the distribution of the illegal forest cutting cases at county level, that link forest management issues with the forest area preservation level. Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is applied to weigh factors related to the changes of forest provisions, forest loss and forest regeneration processes, dimensions of forest exploitation and illegal forest cutting cases using forest data referring to 1990-2017. The alternatives are represented by the 41 counties of Romania and are evaluated by the use of Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The results are integrated with GIS and the choropleth map may serve as a powerful visual and practical tool for identifying the counties with pressing forest loss issues. Results show the counties with the lowest levels of forest area preservation were Argeș, Prahova and Gorj. Harghita, Brăila and Suceava counties recorded the highest levels of forest area preservation. While some of the counties that rank among the least in terms of forest area preservation are also altered by massive illegal forest cutting, there are others that serve as counter-examples. The discrepancies are explained by the provisional character of the illegal forest cutting data. Our study shows significant practical importance, pointing out the administrative units of Romania that need to take urgent action in order to mitigate the problem of forest loss and to better their forest management.
 
 Keywords: forest area preservation, Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution, forest management, illegal forest cutting, Romania.