Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

The article describes 91T0 habitat resources in the Natura 2000 network. It is noted that Poland has a special responsibility for the maintenance of the habitat on the European continent, by virtue of its participation in Polish Natura 2000 sites and Poland’s request that it be added to Annex I of the Habitat Directive. It has been shown that the information about lichen Scots pine forest resources and their present condition in many Pol- ish Natura 2000 sites need to be verified and updated. The authors conclude that the proposed methods for the maintenance of existing patches of habitat 91T0 at a favourable conservation status are too conservative and do not guarantee achievement of the conservation objectives. This paper proposes the removal of litter and humus or optionally controlled surface fires, as a method of ensuring a stable presence of lichen forests in the Polish landscape. The rationale for this approach is the accumulated knowledge in the field of development of the lichen forests in Poland and its role in ecological succession.