Forest surfaces, under which the exploitation of the hard bituminous coal takes place with “the infarction of the ceiling" method are the object of this work. The scope of research includes the surface of 6.2 square km of Zacisze and Ksiazenice forestries at the Forestry Commission Rybnik, located in the Mining Area of the Szczyglowice and Knurów coal mines. The applied way of extracting coal causes settling of the mountain base and transformations of forest surfaces. They manifest themselves mainly: with different deformations of the surface, development of hollows, inundated areas, as well as with changes in the natural-woody environment. The changes which are taking place are seriously curbing the possibilities of leading rational forest management on these areas. There is a most urgent need of creating a comprehensive way of redeveloping forests located in the mining areas. The plan of forest redevelopment will be based on the present and future changes of forest surfaces occurring under the influence of coal exploitation. This work shows methodology and research findings of forest surface transformations located in the zone of post exploitation descent of Szczygłowice and Knurów coal mines. Areas of intense transformations of forest surfaces were also outlined until the year ...
