KRŠIAK, Marek: Growth characteristics and damage of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) /L./ Gaertn. in Cinobanské prehorie [Diploma thesis] – Technical University in Zvolen, Faculty of Forestry, Department of forest protection and game management. Tutor of diploma thesis: Doc. Ing. Ivan Lukáčik, CSc. The degree of professional qualification: ´´Inžinier´´: abbereviated as Ing., Zvolen, 2020: The submitted diploma thesis is focused on the appearance of natural populations of the black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.Gaertn) in Cinobanské predhorie. Seven research areas were set up, where 210 subjects of the black alder were assessed (30 subjects per area). The height and thickness structure, variability of selected quantitative characteristics of the trunk and tree-top, analysis of growth characteristics as well as the total damage and health condition of the taxon´s populations were examined in every area.According to the results achieved, we may now say, that subjects with straight or diagonal trunks (73,8 % of total observed subjects) with good ability to clean from the side tree twigs dominate in the observed area. On the one hand, health conditions of the assessed trunks were quite pleasant as 79% of the subjects´ trunks were healthy and untouched. On the other hand, health conditions of the tree-tops were not as positive as in the case of trunks. Only 38,1% of the subjects had a healthy tree-top and almost 6,7% of them had strong lightning through tree-tops. Based on the results, we can report that nearly 70% of the subjects can be classified as high quality (A and B degree), and thus the quality of the observed black alder population can be considered as fairly good.Key words: black alder, Almus glutinos, growth characteristics, health condition, quantitative characteristics