Przyrodnicze i społeczne aspekty wandalizmu podpaleń drzew pomnikowych

The article analyses cases of arson attacks on trees – natural monuments in Poland in terms of their social and natural losses over a period of almost 100 years (1925-2021), with the incidents recorded mainly in the second decade of the 21st century. The loss in the natural aspect is related to the species structure of the trees set on fire (only deciduous species), age (the reported minimum age was about 300 years), dimensions (the reported circumference range was from about 460 cm to about 1050 cm) and biocenotic value (hollows, decay, habitat for protected animal species). Some of the trees set on fire were exceptional in respect of nature terms on a national or even international scale (the Chrobry Oak, the Mieszko I Oak and the Napoleon Oak). The loss, in social aspect, results from the loss in the value of the monumental trees in terms of tourism and recreation, history, culture, emotions and education. However, the analysed websites lacked references to the undoubted value of these trees in the scientific aspect. The presented problem of arson attacks on monumental trees and the resulting considerable natural and social losses requires that legal and organisational steps be taken as soon as possible in order to reduce or eliminate the discussed threat in the future.