Tilia spp. (lime trees) as ornamental trees have a privileged place in the European mythology and traditions and this is a reason of their constant presence in the urban landscape. Lime trees are in general very resistant to biotic and abiotic stress, although some sanitary problems may occur (e.g. aphids and other related organisms). Tilia spp. are considered a good bioindicator and accumulator of heavy metals. Seasonal accumulations of Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, Cu and Fe in leaves of Tilia spp. in urban and periurban green areas of Western Romania, under different traffic conditions, were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results confirmed the direct correlation between the traffic intensity and the accumulation of Pb in leaves. By mitigating the effects of air pollution, especially in terms of heavy metals, Tilia spp. should be further promoted as urban trees.

The present study analyses the damage of remaining trees after timber harvesting from 24 logging sites from southwest Romania. The purpose was to establish tolerability thresholds within which damaged trees recover in a short amount of time, reducing the possibility of further rot apparition and tree health deterioration. Observations were resumed after the growing season had passed. Healed damage was analysed in regard to damage type, width, orientation and tree circumference. By using the ratio between the width of healed damage and the circumference of trees as experimental variants, equations were elaborated to determine the tolerance threshold of trees in logging. This is expressed as a maximum value between the damage width and the damaged tree circumference for which the damage is curable. The correlation between the circumference and the abovementioned relation was analysed, and differences between the values of the analysed relation for different cardinal orientations of the damage were statistically tested. The value of this ratio, which can be considered a tolerance threshold for trees in logging, records values of 0.09 (for thinnings, for cuttings to increase the light availability for regeneration and for final cuttings from shelterwood systems) and 0.10 (for first-intervention cuttings, as well as preparatory and seed cutting from shelterwood systems or selections systems).

Ophiostoma novo-ulmi continues to be one of the most dangerous invasive fungi, destroying many autochthonous elm forests and cultures throughout the world. Searching for natural genotypes tolerant to Dutch elm disease (DED) is one of the main objectives of silviculturists all over the northern hemisphere in order to save the susceptible elms and to restore their ecosystem biodiversity. In this regard, the first trial was established between 1991 and 1994, in south-west Romania (Pădurea Verde, Timișoara), using three elm species (Ulmus minor, U. glabra, and U. laevis) with 38 provenances. A local strain of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi was used to artificially inoculate all elm variants and the DED evolution was observed. Furthermore, in 2018–2021 the trial was inventoried to understand the local genotype reaction to DED in the local environmental conditions after almost 30 years. The outcomes of the present study proved the continuous presence of the infections in the comparative culture and its proximity, but the identified pathogen had a new hybrid form (found for the first time in Romania) between O. novo-ulmi ssp. americana x O. novo-ulmi ssp. novo-ulmi. Wych elm (U. glabra) was extremely sensitive to DED: only 12 trees (out of 69 found in 2018) survived in 2021, and only one tree could be selected according to the adopted health criteria (resistance and vigour). The field elm (U. minor) was sensitive to the pathogen, but there were still individuals that showed good health status and growth. In contrast, the European white elm (U. laevis) proved constant tolerance to DED: only 15% had been found dead or presented severe symptoms of dieback. Overall, the results of this study report the diverse reactions of the Romanian regional elm genotypes to DED over the last three decades, providing promising perspectives for improving the presence of elms in the forest ecosystems of the Carpathian basin.

Primary wood processing and secondary furniture production are strategic sectors in most western Balkan countries with regard to contribution to gross domestic product, exports, and employment. After abandoning a socialist business system in the post-Yugoslavia era, all countries in the region have developed transitional reforms to become free-market economies. Some of these reforms include changes in ownership structure, recapitalization and modernization, adapting to meet import standards of developed countries, and developing strategic linkages with supply-chain counterparts in developed countries. This article contains the results of research conducted on the current situation in primary wood processing and furniture industries in seven western Balkan countries. A common characteristic of these sectors across all countries is the century-long tradition of forestry and forest utilization. The development of these sectors will require sustainable management of the region's rich forest resources, political and economic systems that are transparent and market driven, as well as investments in production technology and employee training.

As U.S. Extension broadens its reach around the globe, an increased need exists for Extension professionals who have not only technical knowledge but also the cultural competencies to apply that knowledge in international settings. We describe a course that provides students with the opportunity to develop skills needed for potential careers in Extension, especially those involving international focuses, while advancing U.S. Extension's international efforts. The course also may serve as a model for instructors wishing to integrate Extension concepts into their teaching of undergraduates, thereby preparing individuals to make immediate impacts in Extension careers.

The celebration of the outstanding personalities of academia is always an occasion to exchange ideas, establish the state of art of a scientific area, and highlight the hallmarks and new paradigms. This was the case of the Anniversary Conference "Structural Components of Forest Ecosystems: ecology, conservation and management" held in honour of Prof. Nicolae Doniță, under the generous auspices of the Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" in Timișoara. The celebrated scientist, Professor Nicolae Doniță (also member of the Romanian Academy of Agricultural and Forest Sciences “Gheorghe-Ionescu Șișești” and, Doctor Honoris Causa of the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences University of Banat "King Mihai I of Romania" and of the University Ștefan cel Mare of Suceava) marked in that occasion his 90th anniversary, surrounded by his fellow scientists, former students and collaborators. Fifty-three participants in the conference honoured the personality and lifetime achievements of one of the most prominent figures among the Romanian forest ecologists, who reshaped the fundamentals of the Romanian silviculture based on the ecosystemic approach. The most consistent section of the conference was dedicated to the presentation of oral communications and posters circumscribed to the conference's central theme. The systemic, holistic paradigm adopted in forest ecology was brought forward in the opening lecture given by Prof. Doniță: “On the formation of the forest ecosystem”. The rest of presentations focused on more specific topics or case studies, of which some are briefly mentioned hereinafter. The old-growth forests in Romania were presented from the perspective of significance for the conservation efforts and various hindrances, with special reference to the integration in the larger European concern raised by climatic change and anthropogenic pressures. The forest dynamics in terms of species composition was employed as a tool for the evaluation of forest naturalness in Bosco Quarto (Gargano, Italy). The overview of tropical monospecific forest plantations brought a close insight into an old and controversial problem related to the balance between economic benefits and biodiversity loss. The study of the complex interactions between herbs and tree saplings in southern Appalachian forests revealed the mediator effects of soil fertility and stand evergreenness. The current status of forest habitats in Romania was summarized by means of the second national report to the European Commission (article 17 in the Habitats Directive). The importance of dead wood preserved in situ was demonstrated by the high diversity of saproxylic beetles within the natural reserve Voievodeasa Forest (North-Eastern Romania). The analysis of data contained in management plans was shown to provide useful information for mitigating the consequences of climatic change by improving the ecological status of forests and enhancing their environmental services. The synthesis on the old-growth and virgin beech forests from Carpathians and other European regions, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, was presented as an important contribution to the forest conservation effort at European level. The role of soil physical and chemical properties, as important determinants for the distinction of forest ecosystem types, was highlighted in the Subsidiary Timiș Forest. The old-growth beech forests included in the nature reserve Izvoarele Nerei (South-Western Romania), famous for its big trees and pristine status, were shown to harbour a high biodiversity encompassing species from different groups. The comparison of two estimation methods of the foliar area index in a beechfir old-growth forest provided interesting insights on the influence of environmental factors. The speakers referred to the scientific stature of Prof. Doniță, but also to his friendly human nature, his talent in gathering people around a common theme, his generous approach to science and scientists, being a leader but not misusing his authority, while always remaining a kind and patient guide. His achievements, spanning across six decades, consist of important international projects, seminal books and a vast array of scientific papers. Several outstanding books he coordinated or co-authored should be mentioned in this context: Forest Ecosystem Types of Romania (1990), Habitats of Romania (2005-2006), Forest Ecology (1978), The Vegetation of Romania (1992), Silviculture on Ecosystemic Bases (1997), The Virgin Forests of Romania (2001), Population, Species, Biocoenosis - An integrating Vision (2019). One of the milestones of Nicolae Doniță’s activity was his participation in the project “Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe, Scale 1:2500000, with Explanatory Text”, which extended over 20 years of intensive collaboration between experts from across all Europe. Another notable achievement consisted in the elaboration (along with several co-workers) of the Forest Geospatial Database of Romania according to ecosystemic units and the corresponding digital map. In conclusion, the conference gave the rare opportunity of gathering around a hallmark personality of forest ecology and a series of valuable scientific contributions, while celebrating the lifetime achievements of Prof. Doniță in the context of the contemporary forest science. A selection of papers, either presented at the conference or submitted later on, are included in the first section of the current journal issue.