The decline of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands in Beskid l ski and ywiecki: theoretical concept and reality

From 2003 the Norway spruce decline started in the Beskid l ski and ywiecki (western edge of the Carpathians). The attempt to formalize this process using the Manion's spiral forest decline concept is presented in the paper. The selected characteristics of stands (species composition, age) and the Armillaria sp. root rot are identified as predisposing factors, the climatic drivers -- as inciting and contributing factors, and among the latter ones -- also the wind damage and stress to trees are considered. The main contributing factor that determines the spruce decline are bark beetles, which outbreak is shortly characterized in spatio-temporal dimension. The relation of the described real decline process to the spiral forest decline concept is discussed.