Transhumant pastoralism in Poland: Contemporary challenges

Since the mid-2000s, transhumant pastoralism and the production of artisanal sheep’s cheeses have experienced a revival in the Polish Carpathians. This revival has largely coincided with Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004, leading to a re-valuation of extensive livestock production from an economic and environmental liability to a form of ‘High Nature Value’ farming. Supported by Common Agricultural Policy CAP European Union subsidies, Polish pastoralists have been re-classified from being producers of livestock and agricultural products to suppliers of environmental and ecosystem services. Despite these changes, however, they continue to face significant systemic challenges which are rooted in the marked decline of the communist-era pastoral economy in the late 1980s and a subsequent increasing competition for land and labour under market conditions. Based on anthropological fieldwork conducted in Poland’s Carpathian Highland region during the 2015, 2016, and 2017 pastoral seasons, this article provides insight into four sets of challenges deemed most important by working shepherds today: recruiting qualified labour, gaining access to pasture, gaining access to markets, and working within a Polish policy environment which fails to recognise the particular conditions and requirements of pastoral agriculture

Nastawy technologiczne frezarek Gleason Phoenix CNC do obróbki kół stożkowych i hipoidalnych o kołowo-łukowej linii zęba

The paper contains the description of basic technological setups for conventional milling machines and for 6-axes CNC machines for Gleason spiral bevel and hypoid gears. Cartesian reference system are discussed for Gleason's series Phoenix CNC machines. Numerically controlled machines allow cut and grind the generated and formate spiral and hypoid bevel gears in all technological methods.W opracowaniu przedstawiono podstawowe nastawy technologiczne frezarek konwencjonalnych oraz 6-osiowych obrabiarek CNC stosowanych do obróbki kół zębatych stożkowych i hipoidalnych kołowo-łukowych według metody Gleasona. Podstawą opracowania nastaw jest kinematyka obrabiarek CNC firmy Gleason serii Phoenix. Wykazano, że obrabiarki sterowane numerycznie pozwalają na skrawanie i szlifowanie generowanych numerycznie i kształtowanych kół stożkowych i hipoidalnych o kołowo-łukowej linii zęba przy użyciu wszystkich metod technologicznych obróbki

Matematyczny model modyfikacji odtaczania frezarek do kół stożkowych o kołowo-łukowej linii zęba

This paper contains the description of conventional roll modification mechanism used for spiral bevel gears generation and presents several possible solutions for the implementation of this mechanism using mathematical equations. Accuracy of each method has been compared with respect to nominal values, and mathematical derivation has been discussed. Possible practical application in numerical machine control units and geometric simulation environments has been outlined.W pracy przedstawiono ideę mechanizmu modyfikacji odtaczania dla kół stożkowych o kołowo-łukowej linii zęba. Przedstawiono również kilka możliwości realizacji tego mechanizmu za pomocą równań matematycznych. Prowadzono analizę dokładności każdej metody z uwzględnieniem wartości nominalnych oraz omówiono sposoby ich matematycznego wyprowadzenia. Podano możliwości ich praktycznego zastosowania w sterownikach numerycznych urządzeń używanych do obróbki kół stożkowych, także w geometrycznych środowiskach symulacyjnych

Applying geomathics to determination of landscape altitudinal zones in the mountains

The paper presents a method enabling determination of the extent of landscape zones, based on the criterion of area coverage by vegetation. This method made it possible to objectively determine the extent of landscape zones both in the entire Tatra Mts. and in their particular parts. The altitude, at which dominant type of vegetation changes, is considered to mark the boundary of a landscape zone. Boundaries distinguished in this way in the Tatra Mts. are presently situated at: 1,510 m a.s.l. (forest zone), 1,730 m a.s.l. (subalpine zone), and 1,880 m a.s.l. (alpine zone)

Changes of a subalpine spruce forest in the Tatra National Park in 1973-2002

The paper presents nearly 30−year changes in the structure of a 160 ha subalpine spruce stand in the Tatra National Park that has been subjected to strict protection during last 50 years. In 1973 a regular network of 65 small 0.05 ha circular plots was established over the whole area. In 2002 diameter and height of trees were remeasured in 61 plots. Similar changes were recorded nearly in the whole forest area. The density of trees decreased and the stand volume increased considerably on most plots. At the same time the variability among plots in trees' number and volume decreased and in 2002 the stand became more homogenous in terms of both characteristics. The obtained results were compared to the suggestion of Korpeľ that subalpine spruce stands reach the equilibrium between decay and growth processes on the area of 70 ha. The investigated forest was far from such equilibrium in spite of its area being more than two times bigger than that suggested by Korpeľ

Changes of spruce stands in the lower mountain forest belt subjected to active protection in the Tatra National Park

One of the most important objective of the active nature protection in national parks situated in Polish mountains is the restoration of mixed stands replaced by Norway spruce monocultures. Seven spruce stands situated in the Tatra National Park were measured in 1983−1986 and in 2001. The density of all stands decreased whereas the basal area and volume increased. In some of them the changes were considerable. The contribution of Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba, two most important tree species in natural mountain forests, changed only slightly and even decreased in three stands. Intensity of elimination of trees was related to their thickness – thin trees were removed from stands more often. Due to this way of thinning the variation of tree thickness diminished in all spruce stands. The densities of Fagus sylvatica and Acer pseudoplatanus saplings increased in all stands as a result of former planting. However, they are still to low for effective restoration of mixed stands. It can be concluded that mainly sanitary cuttings have been used recently in all stands. This line of management is not deliberately focused on the restoration of mixed stands and the diversification of their structure. It results in aging of dense spruce stands and increases the risk of future large−area disturbances due to strong winds and insect outbreaks