DOWN DEAD WOOD IN A FOREST - STILL AN OBSTACLE TO FOREST MANAGEMENT OR ALREADY AN ECOLOGICAL ISSUE?

This paper consists of three complementary sections, preceded by a short review of various Polish publications. The discussed sections cover: I. Method of measuring down dead wood (DDW) in a forest, II. An estimation of DDW resources in stands which are managed and of uneven-age, III. Suggestions for DDW management in managed forests -a look at the results of the suggestions made 10 years ago. The first section is a review of the main assumptions of the American approach to measuring DDW. The second section presents an evaluation of DDW resources in the three Forest Promotional Complexes of Puszcza Bialowieska, Bory Lubuskie, Bory Tucholskie. An analysis of the correlations is included. The third and final part offers a critical look at the implementation of the recommendations made 10 years ago by the authors of the project. These were recommendations for, what were at that time, new principles of handling DDW in Polish forests.