Hubert Brašeň: Influence of the method of management on the intensity of damage to stands by ungulates. (Thesis.) Technical University of Zvolen, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forestry. Thesis supervisor doc. Ing. Stanislav Kucbel, PhD. In my diploma thesis I analyzed the damage to forest stands, their management and subsequent investigation of an impact of forest management on the damage to forests by ungulates. I researched two research objects located at LS Plášťovce, namely compartment 46 in LHC Šahy and compartment 942 in LHC Plášťovce. Compartment 46 was managed according to the priciples of close-to-nature silviculture, while compartment 942 was managed in a conventional shelterwood system. A network of sample plots was established in the stands, on which data on the structure of the stand and damage by game were ascertained. The researched categories were divided into three categories, namely natural regeneration, ingrowth and parent stand. The first category, i.e. natural regeneration, included saplings from a height of 20 cm to a height of 130 cm, which were examined on a square area of 25 m2. Thus, the second examined category of ingrowth were the individuals from the height of 130 cm to dbh of 8 cm, which were examined on a circular plot of 100 m2. In the third category, i.e. in the category of parent stand, the stems with dbh over 8 cm were recorded, examined on a circular plot of 300 m2. We recorded the number of individuals, tree species, height, dbh and damage intensity. A total of 9,091 individuals were registered in the measured sample plots. The total numbers of individuals in the first examined stand with a close-to-nature management method ranged from 8,367 individuals of the oak, 682 individuals of the hornbeam, 30 individuals of the pine and 12 individuals of the beech. The average damage of this stand was 4.8%, while the largest was in the category of natural regeneration, namely 8%. In the second stand, the number of individuals was 2,994. The largest number of individuals was beech, namely 2,391 individuals, followed by oak with 509 individuals and hornbeam, where 94 individuals were measured. There was a significant difference in the damage rate, averaging 69%. The largest damage was in the category of natural regeneration. The study also brings closer the issue of damage to forest stands within the territory of Slovakia, as well as the possible solutions, as well as individual types of damage and their occurrence. Based on the results, it was found that the method of management has a significant impact on the subsequent development of damaged stands, especially in areas with high numbers of ungulates, as well as examined areas . The stand, which was managed according to the priciples of close-to-nature silviculture, showed minimal losses of natural regeneration due to damage by ungulates, while the second stand examined was the opposite and the damage was almost fatal. From this point of view, I consider a close-to-nature forest management as a possible solution in minimizing damage to forest stands.