High numbers of large ungulates are locally accompanied by high levels of damage to field crops, causing economic losses and increased costs for the protection of agricultural fields. Quantifying the levels of damage can be problematic, with the degree of accuracy depending on the method used. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy, workload and cost of four methods commonly used for estimating damage to wheat fields caused by large ungulates (esp. wild boar) in the Czech Republic. The results suggest that the manual processing of aerial photographs (“Uncrewed Aerial Systems [UAS] with Operator Delineation Method”) was very laborious and the least accurate method, with a high risk of error. In comparison, the automatic evaluation of aerial images (“UAS Crop Height Method”) and the “Ground-Based Assessment” both provided similar results when carefully analyzed and were equally demanding. The “Yield Method”, comparing the net yield from damaged and undamaged areas, provided the same result of assessment and was the least laborious, although it does require the existence of comparable areas and for the conditions to be created in advance before the method is used. Equivalent results were achieved by the UAS Crop Height Method, which we recommend using in cases where the Yield Method cannot be applied.

Native ecosystems have been transformed by humans into cultural landscapes, resulting in the disruption of natural interactions, with some species unable to adapt and disappearing from such landscapes. Other species were able to adapt their behavior to current environmental conditions. In some places, forest management has gradually transformed native diversified forests into stands converted for the greatest profit in the wood matter, thereby affecting the food availability for herbivores, among them the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758). This study summarizes knowledge on non-vegetation diet selection by beavers in commercial and natural forests in the Czech Republic. A sample size of 25,723 woody plant specimens checked in 288 forest stands showed that beavers prefer willow, poplar, or hazel, but where these are less available, commercial tree species such as oak may dominate the diet and cause economic losses in forestry. Significant differences were also observed in a preference for different trunk diameters and distances from water in different types of stands. In terms of stand types, commercial monocultures are the most felled, while the probability of felling decreases with the age of stands. Based on these results and discussion, it is suggested that commercial forest stands including economically valuable woody plant species (e.g., oak, ash) could be protected through appropriate management measures, such as increasing the proportion of deciduous softwood stands along the riverbanks, which would distract the beavers from commercial woody plant species.

Forest management in Central Europe is affected by numerous biotic and abiotic factors, and wildlife damage to forest stands is one of the major ones. While damage to young forest stands is predominantly attributed to wild ungulates, the potential negative impact of the European hare ( Lepus europaeus ) on tree plantations has been largely overlooked. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify hare damage in comparison with ungulates, determine which developmental stages of trees are most attractive to hares, compare browsing preferences among key commercial species, and assess the effectiveness of commonly used protection measures. We evaluated 209 calamity clearcuts with 75,912 seedlings to determine the proportion and structure of browsing damage. Research revealed a substantial proportional damage caused by the European hare, accounting for 10.12%, while wild ungulates were responsible for 7.11% of browsing damage. The species distribution played a crucial role in the damage rate. Hares caused the greatest browsing damage on silver birch ( Betula pendula —37%), while ungulates preferred Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris —29%). Moreover, browsing intensity caused by hares was seasonally affected with a significantly higher damage ratio in autumn (<14%) compared to the spring season (<2%) when clearcuts offer enough alternative fodder opportunities. Common protection measures, such as coating and fencing, proved largely ineffective against hare browsing. Surprisingly, sycamore maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus ) and European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) were more heavily damaged by hares when coated than unprotected seedlings. The results showed that the European hare plays a crucial role in clear-cut reforestation, highlighting the need for enhanced focus on protective measures, including population management and the use of specialized fencing made of dense wire mesh compared to the usual protection against wild ungulates.

The rapid global wild boar (Sus scrofa) population growth, coupled with increasing agricultural crop damage and disease transmission, suggests that current management and control strategies remain inadequate. Therefore, an international systematic review using the Web of Science database (WoS; Clarivate Analytics, Philadepphia, PA, USA), including a quantitative synthesis (119 studies up to 11 November 2025, containing 181 experiments) of population reduction methods was conducted, with an emphasis on evaluating their effectiveness, selectivity, and animal welfare aspects relating to wild boar and feral pigs. The results demonstrate a significant increase in research interest for population control methods in recent years. The highest average effectiveness was observed for aerial shooting (56.2% of the population per month), followed by poison baiting (27.6%) and trapping (6.0%). Aerial shooting appeared highly selective in the reviewed contexts; however, together with poison baiting, it is generally not permitted under current European conditions. Trapping (6.0%) and individual hunting (3.9%) offer moderate effectiveness but are highly context-dependent. From a welfare perspective, the analysis indicated that no significant difference in effectiveness was detected between studies that included welfare or stress assessment and those that did not, indicating that consideration of animal welfare does not reduce control efficiency. The study concluded that the analysis did not identify a single universally applicable solution that combines animal welfare considerations with high effectiveness, highlighting a significant research gap. This underscores the urgent need for an effective and publicly acceptable method of reducing wild boar populations, or for the development of strategies that appropriately integrate multiple approaches. However, the interpretation of results is limited by heterogeneity in study design and variability in reported data.

This paper aims to solve the problem of erosion sediment that negatively affects the quality of fallowed soil through the development of a new type of agricultural machinery. The transported erosion sediment will be quantified locally to evaluate the danger of these negative effects on the fallowed soil and on the functionality of the grass cover. Subsequently, a new type of machinery will be proposed for the remediation of eroded sediment and conservation of the fallowed soil. In various fallow research areas with different management methods (such as biobelts, grassed valleys, and grassed waterways), agricultural land affected by eroded sediment was examined, and appropriate machinery was designed to rehabilitate the stands after erosion events. By identifying the physical and mechanical properties of the soil, as well as the eroded and deposited sediment/colluvium, the shape, material, attachment method, and assembly of the working tool for the relevant mobile energy device were designed. The developed tool, based on a plow–carry system using a tractor, features flexible tools that separate the eroded sediment from the fallow land surface, transfer it over a short distance, and accumulate it in a designated area to facilitate subsequent removal with minimal damage to the herbaceous vegetation. The calculated erosion event was 196.9 m³ (179.0 m³ ha⁻¹), corresponding to 295 tons (268.5 t ha⁻¹) deposited from the area of 90 ha. Afterward, the proposed machinery was evaluated for the cost of the removal of the eroded sediment. Based on experience from the field, we calculated that 174 m³ per engine hour results in EUR 0.22 m⁻³. From the performed experiment, it is evident that the proposed machinery offers a suitable solution for eroded sediment removal locally, which prevents further erosion and subsequent sediment deposition in water bodies where the costs for sediment removal are higher. Moreover, we have proven the potential negative impact of invasive plant species because their seeds were stored in the sediment. Finally, it is credible to state that the proposed agricultural machinery offers an effective solution for the eroded sediment relocation, which subsequently can be used for other purposes and monetized. This results in an increase in the profitability of the erosion sediment removal process, which is already in place at the source before further transportation to aquatic systems where the costs for removal are significantly higher.

This study compares the amount of available biomass for wild herbivores (red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.), and hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas)) depending on three different types of forest silvicultural systems—presented using the example of beech and spruce stands in wintertime. During the winter period, spruce provided ten times more biomass for herbivores than beech. However, beech provided more metabolizable energy, 7.38 MJ/kg on average, whereas spruce only provided 6.57 MJ/kg. From the point of view of “risk of damage by herbivores”, artificial regeneration suffered the worst damage after using the Clear Cutting method of forest regeneration, as there was the least amount of biomass available, and thus, herbivores caused the greatest damage. On average, 12% of shoots were damaged in clearings. Most at risk was young forest vegetation up to 1 m tall. In summer, the area was overgrown with available plants, but in winter, the herbivores focused mainly on eating woody shoots. Damage to the natural regeneration when using the Shelterwood Cutting and Strip Cutting regeneration methods ranged up to 3%. At the same time, a high amount of available biomass was measured there, most likely due to its frequent natural regeneration. Thus, both types of trees regenerated in this way were not as susceptible to damage by herbivores as when regenerated using the Clear Cutting method.