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The common currency Euro is considered one of the biggest achievements of the European political and economic integration. However, it is necessary to stress that Euro was always first and foremost a political feat. Economists by and large pointed out that the EU - even in its 1992 reincarnation - is not an optimum common currency area (OCA). But politicians and some economists hoped that the existence of Euro itself may accelerate the processes toward the OCA. However, this did not happen and the divergence processes inside the Eurozone accelerated after 1999. Today, the Eurozone stands near the crossroad - where some countries may be increasingly tempted to leave.

The possibility of knowledge maps use in the decision-making process in agriculture and rural development is discussed in this paper. Each knowledge map presents a visualization of knowledge using different tools, where a mathematical model can be applied as one of them. The hierarchical structure of a knowledge map conforms to the general structure of a mathematical model. The mathematical model, when successfully solved and correctly read, is a knowledge map in itself. The parallels exist also between the creation process of a mathematical model and of a knowledge map. In general, every phase of a system approach can lead to a special knowledge map. The following paper explains this process and demonstrates it on the farm production structure optimisation problem solved by using a linear programming model.

A dramatic forest decline due to the bark beetle outbreak, which occurs in the Norway spruce stands in the Western Beskidy (southern Poland) since 2003, was started after severe physiological drought during winter time. An analysis describing some spatio-temporal characteristics of this process, with special regard to the patterns of bark beetle occurrence related to root fungal diseases, is presented. In 2003 the bark beetle occurrence level assessed as high and catastrophic was recorded on 40% of the area, while in 2006 - on 59%. The range of Armillaria root disease and bark beetle outbreak increased towards higher altitudes, including the zone above 1,000 m a.s.l. The wind damage in 2004 and 2007, and high temperatures in the summer 2006, further stimulated the increase in bark beetle populations level. Some conclusions on possible development of the outbreak and recommendations concerning related needs in forest protection, are given.

In the present study and research work, land suitability evaluation (qualitative classification) was made for the Bilverdy research station of the Islamic Azad University in East Azarbaijan for wheat, barley, alfalfa, maize and safflower. The Simple Limitation Method (SLM), the Limitation Method regarding Number and Intensity (LMNI) and the Parametric Methods (PM) such as the square-root and the Storie methods were used. The landscape, climate and soil and characteristics that influence suitability of the land for particular crops have been combined according to the adopted methodology. Economic factors were excluded and moderate level of management was assumed. The results of different methods show that the most important limiting factors are climate, pH, organic matter (OM), gravel, salinity and sodicity, taken either alone or in combination. For safflower, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) can be added to these factors. Evaluation by the SLM and LMNI methods result in similar suitability classes, which confirms previous findings by other researchers for the same crops. However, in many cases the use of parametric methods, especially the square-root method, turned to be more realistic in distinguishing separate suitability classes. This study not only compares different methods and their results but also evaluates the suitability of the study area for particular crops. According to the square-root method, the area can be recommended as marginally suitable for cultivation of wheat, barley, alfalfa and safflower and is expected to yield about 40-65% of optimal production.

Zemspol, Dešná, Ltd is a large corporation engaged in various aspects of agriculture in the Czech Republic, including agricultural production, the assembly, maintenance and repair of agricultural machinery, the production of feed stuffs and feed mixtures,special agricultural services demanding special entitlement, business related matters and accounting. This paper focuses on agricultural production. The farm manages 2 100 hectares of agricultural land suitable for growing potatoes, although the largest area is used for growing wheat. The range of produce remains constant. Regarding livestock, the corporation specializes in cattle with the steady head count 250 for the past 15 years. These are predominantly red and white cattle, optimized for both milk and meat production. The average annual production is 1 350 000 litres of milk and 250 tons of beef. The agricultural farm can be described as being a strong perfomer with a very stable base, good reputation and very attractive products, both of crops and livestock. In order to keep this enviable status, frequent internal and external environmental analyses are undertaken.

This study was designed to evaluate basic tree characteristics of Quercus dalechampii Ten. and Quercus polycarpa Schur and to find out differences between them. Total height, height of crown base and diameter at breast height were measured before tree felling. Cut stems were visually checked for heart rot on their basal parts. Diameters were measured on each stem in 1 meter long sections from the base to the point of life crown setting. Average values for both species were compared by t-test. The total height was proved to be statistically different; the height of crown base and diameter at breast height were quite similar for both species. Q. dalechampii Ten. was proved to be of larger stem diameter from the tree foot to the 3^rd height meter; the diameter of Q. polycarpa Schur was superior from that height upwards. However, the most significant interspecies difference was found in a number of stems affected by wood-rot fungi as Q. polycarpa Schur turned out to be less resistant than Q. dalechampii Ten.

There still exist the differences in the legal frame of VAT, its interpretation and application of the rules in practice between the EU member states. The application of VAT during providing management services to an enterprise in other EU state directly or through a subsidiary in the state of the recipient is different as well. Questions of the VAT application during the provision of management services were searched by using standard methods of the scientific work in the frame of five selected EU countries - Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Five grass species (Dactylis glomerata L., Phleum pratense L., Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacea L.) and the hybrid Felina (Lolium multiflorum L. × Festuca arundinacea L.), commonly used in roughages for ruminants, were harvested at different maturities of primary growth (n = 60) and evaluated for contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash, crude fat, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), indigestible neutral detergent fibre (INDF) and digestible neutral detergent fibre (DNDF). INDF and DNDF contents were determined by in sacco rumen degradation of grasses for 12 days in non-lactating cows. ADL content was found to be highly correlated (P < 0.05) with DNDF (r = -0.87) and presented a reliable (R² = 0.78; residual mean square error of 17.65 g/kg DM; P < 0.0001) parameter to predict INDF contents. Over a six-week period of maturation INDF contents increased (P < 0.0001) in all studied grasses. It was confirmed by this study that the INDF contents of grasses, which markedly increased during maturation, could be effectively predicted from ADL contents.

The results of research on the value production of the stands of poplar clones Robusta and I-214 carried out in Slovakia are presented. Models of value yield tables were constructed separately for each clone. The models simulate gross and net financial yield of wood production in dependence on the site index and age of stand. They were constructed on the basis of the models of assortment yield tables, timber prices according to assortments and the models of own costs of timber felling and processing. The clone I-214 produces a faster and higher proportion of thicker assortments of average and below-average quality, and therefore it has the higher value production at a younger age only. Robusta produces smaller diameter but higher quality assortments and has the higher value production only at an older age. The site index of the stand is the most important factor in the value production of poplar clones. Differences in the production between site indexes are much greater than between the clones.

The paper addresses the LEADER approach in the Czech Republic. Using documentary research and content analysis of the appropriate documents and the Local Action Groups information sheets, the paper firstly outlines the evolution of the LEADER approach in the Czech Republic (the paper points out the difference in understanding LEADER in the EU /focusing on capacity building and the use of intangible forms of capital/ and in the Czech Republic EU /focusing on investments/). The paper also analyses the participation of farmers and the farming related actors in the LEADER approach (approx. 30% of local action groups are composed by those actors, however, they mostly do not aim /similarly like non-farming actors/ at developing partnership but want to achieve the investments into production; that is why the Czech local action groups are rather quasi-partnerships; it is also reflected in a very low number of strategies aiming at the "adding value to local products" which is the closest to farmers /but it is the less opted theme: only 6% of projects/). The paper ends with the analysis of projects implemented under the LEADER scheme where the farmers participate. It shows that more than the integrated strategies, the Czech local action groups prefer the strategies of the multi-sector type. The paper also points out that the publicly available information about the activities of the local action groups is not sufficient, although the groups are funded from the public budgets. This fact makes the analysis more difficult as for the scientific merit but also contradicts the principles of democratic governance.

Harvester technologies represent the second most common logging system in the Czech Republic. The high productivity of this technology is very necessary to cover its acquisition and operational costs. A human factor - a machine operator is the most important factor that surely influences the machine productivity. That is why the aim of this study is as follows: to analyze the mutual dependence of machine operator's education and working experience and harvester and forwarder productivity. The analysis proves that the operator's education and even more his working experience are very important. The time of harvesting work stages was measured when the harvester was operated by an operator with two-year working experience and by an operator with no experience. The average time difference between the harvester operators was 64.9 seconds in one work stage. The statistical significance of different operation times was confirmed during technically demanding segments in the working stage (the boom out the felling head and tree processing). Operators with the same working experience in forestry mechanization - about 13 years but with different education carried out the haulage work stage. In this case, the statistical significance between calculated differences was not proved. This fact proves that the operator's working experience is more important than his education.

The study compares two methods for modeling the potential distribution of pests when applied to the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalisHubner). The development of the European corn borer (ECB) is known to be closely correlated with daily air temperature as well as other climate variables. The climatic parameters are, therefore, used to predict the potential geographical distribution using tested tools such as CLIMEX or ECAMON. These models consider the climatic suitability of a given site/region for the pest's development and, thus, the possible establishment of a population at a given location. In this study, meteorological data from 1961 to 2000 and from 45 meteorological stations were used to characterise the current climate conditions in the Czech Republic. Validation was based on available field data of the occurrence of ECB in the same period. The climate parameters were later modified according to the estimates based on the combination of three SRES emission scenarios and three global circulation models. Under all climate change scenarios, we noted a marked shift of the pest's potential niches to higher altitudes, which might lead to an increase in the infestation pressure during the first half of this century. The present area of the univoltine population will increase due to temperature increases even above 800 m a.s.l. In addition there is a risk of the establishment of a bivoltine population in the main agricultural areas and 38% of arable land in the Czech Republic before 2050.

The southern area of the province of Alicante (Spain) embraces the regions Vega Baja del Segura (The Low Valley of The Segura River) and Bajo Vinalopó (Low Vinalopó) in the Valencian Community. Although both regions have a growing residential, touristy and industrial potential, agriculture is still an important activity here. In this study, a characterization of agricultural land distribution in the southern regions of Alicante is carried out, regarding the main crops where the most important current problems are irrigation water shortage and low harvest prices. Incomes received by farmers according to the level of harvest prices and the evolution of these prices in the last two years are studied. Besides, prices have been noticed to keep stable at the best. The evolution of land for different uses, mainly industrial, is also estimated. The competition for land and water use with other sectors has significantly increased the amount of land for these uses and what is more, it is still on increase.

This paper deals with the problems of destination management. It focuses on describing the crucial principles of destination management and consecutively on proving the functionality of these principles in practice in an area with a high potential for tourism development. In the selected South-Moravian region (JMK), we have explored whether an existing organization of destination management can be found in this region (DMC Destination Management Company) and to which extent it participates in the management and efficient development of tourism. To reach the set targets, we have used a secondary analysis of current data, a depth interview with a destination agency manager and an orientation questionnaire survey among business subjects. The results have shown that the level of cooperation between the destination agency in the JMK and the subjects of tourism is not on such a level and not as intensive as proclaimed by the South-Moravian Tourist Authority (CCRJM - the organization established with the aim of destination management in the JMK). For example, 50% of the addressed subjects have not been aware of the existence of this organization and only 10% of the companies have been addressed to cooperate with the CCRJM. The insufficient cooperation of public and private sectors appears to be the weakest segment. This causes an inconsistent presentation and isolation in preparing projects for the region development. It is the task for destination management, a new organization of tourism, to find the way how to cope with these difficulties and how to make the JMK a unified and quality destinations that would be attractive for tourists.

The paper characterizes the natural conditions and current state of floodplain forests in the area of Litovelské Pomoraví and proposes the protective management of the area in accordance with the European Natura 2000 system. The paper describes the geographical location and the natural conditions of the area of interest (climate, geology, geomorphology, hydrology and flood regime, soils, and vegetation). Six groups of geobiocene types were identified, classified and described in detail. Assessment of the ecological stability of the forest stand was carried out using biogeographical differentiation of the landscape and the outline of the forest ecosystem management is drawn based on the differentiation of the protected landscape area into zones with various levels of protection.

The key focus of the project "Bringing the datawarehouse for agriculture into practice" is to develop an IT solution for the implementation of data integration in agriculture. This solution is elaborated in cooperation with a whole range of bodies in the Czech Republic; the lead partner is the Pardubice region where the pilot phase of datawarehouse implementation is being performed. Apart from Czech legal subjects, partners from Finland, Estonia and Poland are also participating in the eFarmer operation. The datawarehouse project is one of the biggest subprojects of the eFarmer operation and is directly connected to the subproject of "Analysis of data and information flow and storage in rural regions", which was carried out within the eFarmer operation in the last period.

The paper presents two approaches to the analysis of the impacts of landuse changes on hydrological regime in mountain catchments of northern Slovakia. An intersite comparison of measured data along the Jalovecký creek was used to test whether different landuse can be identified by means of water balance data and characteristics of runoff events. Although the comparison provided extended knowledge of the catchment, the only characteristic which might indicate possible impact of different landuse is the ratio of peakflow to flow at the beginning of the event. Simulations by means of spatially distributed hydrological model showed that different (extreme) scenarios resulted in relatively subtle impacts compared to uncertainties connected with hydrological modelling.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiologic agent of paratuberculosis, a disease with considerable economic impact, principally on dairy cattle herds. Animals with paratuberculosis shed viable MAP especially in their milk, faeces and semen. MAP may have a role in the development of Crohn's disease in humans via the consumption of contaminated milk and milk products. The current methods of milk pasteurization are not sufficient to kill all MAP cells present in milk and MAP has been cultured from raw or pasteurized milk and isolated from cheese. The purpose of the present study was to review the different methods used for detection of MAP in milk and milk products. We analyze the current methods for direct or non direct identification of MAP and culture and molecular biology methods that can be applied to milk and milk products.

On the 1^st of January 2009, the Slovak Republic should implement the Euro currency and enter the European Monetary Union. The implementation of the Euro currency is in currently the most important theme in our country. Business companies will benefit most, but they will also bear most of the single-shot costs. Up to 80% of the costs are constituted by the adaptation of information systems (IS). At the end of the year 2007, only 14% of Slovak companies were prepared in the terms of the Euro adaptation in IS. This condition of the business sector is very important and also alarming. Accelerated preparations of the changes in IS are needful, but this project is highly complicated, primarily in big business organizations. The quality of the realized project and the continuous transmission of IS will be a critical point of the firm success on the Slovak and European markets.

The uniqueness of limestone soil-forming substrate was assessed with respect to the classification of forest ecosystems. 50 soil profiles from the Bohemian Karst were studied and the results were confronted with previously published works from other karst areas. The evaluation of soil profiles was based on a macroscopic description, on the results of chemical and physicochemical analyses, and on a micromorphological study. The carbonate bedrock was a cause of specific genesis of soils in these sites - both recent and relict ones (terrae calcis). However, it does not always condition the unique characteristics of these sites whose differentiation would call for an a priori special edaphic category. Unique geochemical characteristics of the substrate are modified on the gradient of advanced pedogenesis (Holocene up to mid-Pleistocene soils were assessed) by a very intensive soil-forming process connected with the impact of allochthonous, mostly aeolian material. Two possible approaches were designed for the classification of these sites: (i) wider conception - distinction of the basic edaphic category with small limitations for the quality of soil-forming substrate, (ii) narrower conception - limestone edaphic category with a number of limitations to distinguish this edaphic category.

The Bohemian-Moravian Upland shows a large-scale decline and dieback of Norway spruce up to the forest altitudinal vegetation zone (FAVZ) 5. This phenomenon has been observed in the last 7 years and its progress is rapid. Healthy, declining and standing dry trees of equal height were mutually compared in nine forest stands (aged 3-73 years). These parameters were measured: increment dynamics, root system architecture, biomass, fine root vitality and mycorrhiza, infestation by biotic and abiotic agents. Analyses were done for 414 trees, soil characteristics and weather course data covered the period 1961-2004. Warming and precipitation deficit are the predisposition factors. Weakened trees are aggressively infested by the honey fungus (Armillaria mellea), and they die from root rots. In this paper we describe the mechanism of damage to and dieback of the spruce trees concerned.

Sequential extractions, metal uptake by Taraxacum officinale, Ruby's physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), were used to assess the risk of Pb and Zn in contaminated soils, and to determine relationships among soil characteristics, heavy metals soil fractionation, bioavailability and leachability. Regression analysis using linear and 2nd order polynomial models indicated relationships between Pb and Zn contamination and soil properties, although of small significance (P < 0.05). Statistically highly significant correlations (P < 0.001) were obtained using multiple regression analysis. A correlation between soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil organic matter and clay content was expected. The proportion of Pb in the PBET intestinal phase correlated with total soil Pb and Pb bound to soil oxides and the organic matter fraction. The leachable Pb, extracted with TCLP, correlated with the Pb bound to carbonates and soil organic matter content (R² = 69%). No highly significant correlations (P < 0.001) for Zn with soil properties or Zn fractionation were obtained using multiple regression.

Out of the total number of 434 horses that underwent colic surgery, small intestine was operated in 195 (44.9%) patients, caecum in 10 (2.3%) horses, large colon surgery was performed in 196 (45.2%) cases and small colon surgery in 14 (3.2%) horses. In 12 patients (2.8%) two different parts of the gastrointestinal tract were affected simultaneously, one horse suffered from peritonitis, torsion of the uterus developed in two mares and three animals had negative surgical findings. Of 434 horses, 371 (85.5%) survived. After small intestinal surgery, 159 patients (81.5%) recovered from anaesthesia and were discharged home as well as seven horses (70%) after caecal surgery, 175 horses (89.3%) after large colon surgery and 14 horses (100%) following small colon surgery. 75 out of 103 horses (72.8%) were discharged home after the small intestinal resection and 89 of 98 horses (90.8%) with small intestinal problems where no resection was needed. In total, 43 of the patients that underwent one surgery did not survive the immediate postoperative period. The most frequent lethal complications in horses following the small intestinal surgery included peritonitis (five horses) and paralytic ileus (four horses) and in horses with large colon problems it was typhlocolitis (six cases). Relaparotomy was indicated in 41 of 434 horses (9.4%) that recovered from colic surgery. 21 out of the 41 (51.2%) relaparotomised colic patients were released from the clinic. All successfully repeated surgeries were carried out to overcome primary small intestine ileus problems, and in 14 of these cases (66.7%) resection and anastomosis were performed. The most common finding, diagnosed in 9 of 21 reoperated horses, was paralytic ileus. Of 20 relaparotomised horses that did not survive, three animals were lost after the introduction of anaesthesia, nine horses were euthanised after the abdominal cavity revision, one horse did not recover after the surgical procedure and seven horses did not survive the postoperative period. In 15 of 20 dead horses, the cause of the first surgical intervention was small intestinal ileus, in other four horses there was a large colon problem and in the last patient, it was a stomach disease. In 13 of 15 (86.7%) horses with small intestinal problems and in three of four (75%) patients with large colon disease, either resection or bypass was performed. In the remaining four non-surviving horses of 20 relaparotomised ones, peritonitis and/or adhesion formation was diagnosed at the second surgery, in three horses anastomosis complications were the main problem. Peritonitis or paralytic ileus led to death or euthanasia in four of seven horses that recovered after relaparotomy.

The paper is focused on the problems of income disparity in agriculture. This economic as well as social phenomenon is often discussed, especially at the administrative level, nevertheless, it has not been exactly defined and methodically delimited yet. The comparison of average wages of farmers with average wages in inhomogeneous industry and with average wages in the very sector-differentiated national economy used today can be considered as problematic. In the paper, the possible system of income disparity monitoring is suggested which would remove the current deficiencies. In its frame, a special attention is paid to regional aspects of income disparity and the relation of wages and labour productivity.

A survey of forest nutrition was carried out in Natural Forest Region (NFR) No. 40 Moravskoslezské Beskydy. The reason for this survey was the gradually worsening state of forest stands in this region and especially in a part of it - in the Jablunkov Pass. Air pollution was the suspected cause of the unfavourable development. According to methodology established for the survey of forest nutrition, the samples of soil and assimilatory organs were collected at 375 sampling sites. The spatial distinctness of Jablunkov Pass was expressed on the basis of selected soil characteristics (quantity of organic material, exchangeable pH, content of total nitrogen, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium) and of the contents of chemical elements (total nitrogen, magnesium, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium) in two-years-old Norway spruce needles. These analyses were done by the software Statistica. The medians of concentrations of elements in two-years-old Norway spruce needles in the area of NFR except Jablunkov Pass are: Zn - 34, Pb - 0.71, Cd - 0.15 and Cr - 0.38 (mg/kg). In the area of Jablunkov Pass: Zn - 43, Pb - 12.1, Cd - 0.25 and Cr - 0.41 (mg/kg). Particular attention was paid to the content of heavy metals both in the whole area of NFR and in the area of Jablunkov Pass particularly. The spatial homogeneity is disturbed by the influence of air pollution there. Markedly higher contents of zinc, lead and cadmium are found in the whole soil profile, in the case of chromium in the forest floor only. The distribution of heavy metal contents in the soil profile is influenced by the quantity and quality of organic matter and by the altitude of sampling sites. The higher values of medians of zinc, lead and cadmium contents are found in the area of the Pass. Chromium is an exception with the highest contents found in the southern part of NFR. The medians of concentrations of elements in the forest floor of Norway spruce stands in the area of NFR except Jablunkov Pass are: Zn - 70.6, Pb - 88.6, Cd - 6.4 and Cr - 0.69 (mg/kg). In the area of Jablunkov Pass: Zn - 103, Pb - 138, Cd - 8.8 and Cr - 1.02 (mg/kg). The spatial distinctness of the area around the Jablunkov Pass is confirmed by the evaluation of the data of forest nutrition survey. Particularly, it consists in the high contents of phytotoxic heavy metals. The exceptionally high pollution of this area can be a cause of the physiological weakness of trees with following attack of the honey fungus.

This paper analyses the enforcement of the 2003 CAP reform in 5 countries of the West European Union: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom. The reform gives multiple possibilities of adaptation at a national or regional level. Two standard strategies are foreseen: that of the States which mobilized to the maximum the innovations that the reform allowed, and that of the States which have chosen the option of a minimal application, to limit the effects of reorientation of the productions (maximum sectors remain coupled) or of the redistribution of the payments (historical references). The great diversity of the conditions of agricultural production is one of the main explanations of the differences of enforcement of the reform. We analyse the first impacts of the reform. One can generally expect that the market of entitlements will be a priori limited, because of the links of the entitlements to land. The regionalisation of the calculation of the entitlements is incontestably the mechanism, which introduces the most redistributive effects, compared to the individual historical references. We examine also the consequences of the Single Payment System (SPS) on land rent and land market.

The paper focuses on the problematic issues of tourism, namely on the area of relationships among travel and tourist agencies and their clients. It analyses the current situation and defines key problems that emerge from the insufficient legislative adjustments in the area of tourism entrepreneurship regulated by the Act 159/1999 of the Collection that concerns some conditions of tourism business, as well as by the amendment of this law from year 2006. The ambiguous interpretation of the law concerning the conditions of entrepreneurship in tourism area and other facts that emerge from this, such as the rise of asymmetrical information, untransparency of the market as well as the insufficient protection of the consumer-client of travel agencies - all these issues represent key problems of the contemporary practice that this paper intends to react to and it also aims to suggest a potential solution to them. The theory of strategic alliances and the theory of signalling behaviour are used as a methodological basis for solving the problems mentioned above.

This paper analyses the impact of the LFA payments on farms economic results on the basis of the Farm Accountancy Data Network in the Czech Republic. Firstly, the approaches are compared to the structure of farms based on the LFA type. Secondly, the share of the LFA payments on economic results of farms is evaluated. The evaluation considers the LFA type, share of grassland, size of the eligible area of farms. Basic economic indicators are being monitored, such as Gross Farm Income, Farm Net Value Added, Family Farm Income, current subsidies, of which in particular the LFA payments. The share of the LFA payments in economic results of agricultural holdings is compared. As a result of the analysis, the winners and losers of the current system were defined.

Detailed characteristics (tree species composition, tree representation, identification features) are presented by 3^rd (i.e. geobiocenoses of Querci-fageta s. lat.) and 4^th (Fageta (abietis) s. lat.) vegetation tiers in north-eastern Moravia and Silesia. 3^rd VT occupies 45.6% of the study area - from 190 m a.s.l. up to 430 m a.s.l. Fagus sylvatica is a dominant tree (with the height of 35-40 m). Quercus robur and Quercus petraea have their ecological optimums there with the representation of up to 30%. Abies alba occurs in the crown level with the representation of up to 10%. 4^th occupies 35.2% of the study area - from 310 m a.s.l. up to 650 m a.s.l. Fagus sylvatica is dominant (the height over 50 m). Abies alba occurs in the co-dominant level (sporadically in the level exceeding the main level) with the representation of ±20% and the height of up to 50 m. Quercus petraea and Quercus robur occur only as an interspersed species with the representation of up to 10%, they do not reach the co-dominant tree level any more. Carpinus betulus is represented regularly only in the overtopped tree level.

The main aim of this work was to compare the results of the water storages obtained in the experimental basins in the Jizerské hory Mountains before the time of snowmelt with the total outflows, which were measured in the hydrological stations during the snowmelt period in two winter seasons with extraordinary snow depths (2005 and 2006). The snow water equivalent (measured in weekly steps), daily precipitation amount, and runoff in hourly values were the input data; the calculated runoff coefficients were the output values. The runoff coefficients from the snowmelt periods of 2005 and 2006 were compared in the Uhlířská and the Jezdecká Basins. The runoff coefficient in the Uhlířská Basin increased in 2006 from 0.636 to 0.688 (increase by 4%) and in the Jezdecká Basin it increased in 2006 from 0.660 to 0.749 (increase by 9%). It may have been the result of a bigger volume of precipitation during the snowmelt period 2006. The calculated runoff coefficients, which express the differences between the water storage obtained and the total outflow, can describe the specific characters of the experimental basins. It may be useful for the estimation of the expected inflow into water reservoirs and also for the hydrological forecasting in the foothills of the Jizerské hory Mountains. The measured data of snow cover also serve as a check, and also for the possible adjustment of the snow water equivalent generated by the model SNOW 17 - which is a part of the forecasting modelling system Aqualog. This system is in everyday use for the Elbe river forecasts in the Forecasting Centre of CHMI. The usefulness of this procedure was proved especially during the floods arising from snowmelts in last years. The model SNOW 17 has been calibrated for the catchment of the Černá Desná Stream with the Jezdecká closing profile (one of the experimental basins in the Jizerské hory Mountains). The results obtained demonstrate a very good capability of the model to duplicate the dynamics of the snow cover accumulation and thaw, if quality input data are available.