Investigations were carried out to estimate the true impact of wild animals on growth of pine cultivations. For this purpose, in newly established cultivations of logging unit 119 d, ten 16-are experimental, square-shaped (40 m side) surfaces were established (Fig. 1). The following different methods of culture protection were applied: treatment with Roundup herbicide and Emol repellent, mechanical cutting of reed grass (Calamagrostis sp.) and fencing. On two experimental surfaces, seedlings were left without any protection. Experiments were conducted in years 1991-1995 measuring the height of seedlings and assessing the extent and causes of damages. Browsing was estimated using a three degree scale elaborated by the Forest Research Institute. The establishment of forest cultures was found to be affected only slightly by browsing by animals from deer family. In the first year after cultivation establishment, only 11% of seedlings were damaged by browsing, of which only 7% were damages of lll degree, whereas 41% of losses were caused by fungi and insects as well as other factors such as: drought and mistakes in planting techniques (Tab. 1). Autumn inventory of 1993 showed that only 7% of seedling losses were caused by browsing and in the following year, this level dropped to only 1%. Other, much more serious causes of damages (27%) included such fungi as: needle cast of pine (Lophodermium pinastri), root-rot fungus (Heterobastidion annosum) and honey fungus (Armillaria spp.). The highest levels of damages caused by deer were observed only in the case of oak admixture, which, 10 years after planting, could only be found on fenced surfaces.

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