EN
This review of the literature regarding the Promotional Forest Complex “Lasy Bieszczadzkie” („Bieszczady Forest”) showed that the earlier research results are out of date and do not show the true phytosociological diversity of the studied area. These apply mainly to lower montane coniferous forests dominated by spruce and fir. Most of the authors of the phytogeographic papers recognize their uniqueness and state the need for further research. However, there is also the general assumption that the spruce and fir stands are artificial within meso- and eutrophic beech woodland habitats, as a result of them being favoured by the forestry management. Based on historical data, the authors challenge these findings and suggest intensifying research into the provenance of East Carpathian spruce and fir, and plant communities created by them. There is a methodological requirement to link forest typology with phytosociology but this brings purely academic problems onto a practical level in forest management planning. The point is to establish what types of forest are natural and which should be restored to match the habitat conditions. In the Bieszczady circumstances there is also a serious problem with the restoration objectives relating to the seral forest communities on former farmland. These are mostly made up of grey alder and spruce, and also pine at lower altitudes, and cover more than 30% of the total forest area.