EN
This paper outlines the energy flow for community of forest workers Asmus in the Bory Tucholskie Forests, north-western part of Poland, community is "island" among woodland inhabited mainly by forest workers. The energy flow network observed in 1989 and nine networks reflecting theoretical conditions of the settlement are analyzed using the information-theory method described by Hirata and Ulanowicz (1984) and Ulanowicz (1980, 1985, 1986). The observed and theoretical conditions was differ for a number of variables which significant are ecologically relevant. They are: recycling, number of channals and loops, efficiency of energy transformations in nodes of the graph, level of import and export of energy and autarchy. The analysis is carried out with the use of NETWORK computer program (Ulanowicz 1985). The comparison of the structure of energy flow network in one observed and nine theoretical conditions of the settlement has demonstrated that the sustainable development of the system is better described by the "total ascendency" index (A). That result is in discrodance with the suggestion of Ulanowicz (1985) that the development of the ecological system is better described by the "internal ascendency" index (Ai), i.e. in the situations where imports of energy to system components are disregarded in calculations. The "total asendency" index reaches the highest value (point BIO in fig. 4 and tab. I) for the condition of the settlement when scrap timber from dismantled buildings is not used as fuel, the boilers in the heating plant are less efficient and the import of coal and animal feed was higher than in the condition under study (point B4). The lowest value of the "total ascendency" index (point Bl) occurs at lower fuel imports and when waste food is utilized as fodder for the livestock.