The Austrian Bioindicator Grid

Velenje

2005

S. 22

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

200126269

In Austria, the impact of sulphur has been assessed since 1983 with the help of the Austrian Bioindicator-Grid. The aim of this monitoring programme is to identify air pollutants and nutrient imbalances through foliage analysis and to show their temporal and spatial variation. In addition to national efforts to identify transboundary pollution sources, these data are used in forest-technical appraisals by the local forest authorities in legal proceedings according to the mining, waste and trade law to prove the impact of air pollutants. The annual sampling allows a precise evaluation of the temporal and regional development of the impact of sulphur on the basis of legal standards. During the investigation period the maximum values of sulphur decreased significantly. Despite the reduction of SO2 emissions in Austria, the legal standard is still exceeded 2004 on 4.2% of the plots (see http://bfw.ac.at/600/1491.html). These plots are mainly located near large Austrian pollution sources, but also in areas affected by transboundary sulphur emissions from neighbouring countries.