The Condition of Forests in Europe : 2010 Executive Report

Brüssel

2010

20 S.

zahlr. Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

170825

1. A pan-European forest monitoring programme :The ICP Forests monitoring programme was established in 1985 under the auspices of the Convention on Longrange Transboundary Air Pollution. Building on a close collaboration with the European Commission since 1986, the FutMon project co-financed by the European Commission is aiming at the further development of the programme. Results reported here are based on more than 7000 Level I and 400 Level II plots. Today, 41 countries participate in the programme. 2. Forest condition shows little change: Nearly two-thirds of the plots showed no significant change in tree crown condition over the past ten years. Forest condition deteriorated on 24% of the continuously assessed plots, with only 15% of the plots showing any improvement. Trends differ between the main tree species. European and sessile oak were the most frequently damaged species. Defoliation reacts to many different stress factors. The transnational survey based on more than 7000 plots is a valuable early warning system for environmental change. 3. Further nitrogen emission reductions are clearly required: Mean annual sulphur inputs decreased by 30% between 1998 and 2007. Significant reductions were measured on half of the plots. These findings result from measurements conducted under the forest canopy on around 150 plots. Mean nitrogen inputs showed only a minor decrease. There are still a number of plots showing an increase in nitrogen deposition. Deposition is highest on plots in central Europe. For nitrogen, considerable emission reductions are still needed. 4. Soil acidification remains a threat to forest vegetation: Critical limits for soil acidification were substantially exceeded in a quarter of the samples taken from 160 intensive monitoring plots. On these plots there is an enhanced risk of damage to vegetation. Soil acidification can result in unbalanced nutrient uptake and other stress reactions and can destabilize forest ecosystems. Between 2000 and 2006 there was little change in soil acidification on the plots studied. 5. Nitrogen deposition alters plant species composition: Biological diversity on the monitoring plots is affected by nitrogen deposition. In the past seven or more years, ground vegetation composition has changed towards more nitrogen tolerant species. Nitrogen deposition was statistically linked to the present species composition and is a driver for ongoing change. In addition, soil, climate and the main tree species present are determining the forest floor vegetation.