Nitrogen pollution threatens Europe’s
forests
Geneva, 31 August 2001
Extreme weather conditions, parasites and
air pollution wreak havoc on the crowns of a quarter of all trees. In
particular, nitrogen pollution is a major threat to Europe’s forests, which
are struggling to absorb annual depositions of 14 kg or more per hectare. And
despite steep cuts in sulphur pollution (current depositions of 9 kg per
hectare), past emissions continue to take their toll on forest soils. Both
nitrogen and sulphur – emitted from intensive livestock farming, vehicle
exhaust, fossil fuel burning and other sources – cause acidification when
soils become saturated. The problem is particularly acute in central and
western Europe, but less so in Scandinavia and south-western Europe.
These are the main findings of the 2001
report on ‘Forest Condition in Europe’1 published jointly by
the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European
Commission. The annual report of the UNECE International Cooperative Programme
on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests includes data
from 38 countries. The Programme has been monitoring forest condition in
Europe for 15 years. Its 6000 forest plots constitute one of the world’s
largest bio-monitoring networks. The Programme provides important information
on the effect of clean air policies implemented under the UNECE Convention on
Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. Its findings are also relevant to
international processes on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable forest
management.
Crown condition varies from region to region
and from one species to another. In Scandinavia and the Baltic region, there
are fewer damaged trees. In some central European forests, which were
particularly badly hit in the past, crown condition is recovering. Moreover,
this year’s focus on Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) gives this
Mediterranean tree species a relatively clean bill of health.
In south-eastern Europe, however, long
periods of drought, high temperatures and forest fires have led to a sharp
increase in the proportion of damaged and dead trees. Crown condition also
deteriorated in central European plots with high atmospheric deposition.
On a positive note, the latest forest health
survey shows that soil and foliage concentrations of heavy metals are usually
within safe limits.
_________
1 The report is
available on http://www.icp-forests.org/RepEx.htm
For more information on the report, please contact:
Keith BULL
UNECE Environment and Human Settlements Division
Palais des Nations, office 346
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: (+41 22) 917 23 54
Fax: (+41 22) 907 01 07 or 917 06 21
E-mail: [email protected]
Or:
Martin LORENZ
Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products
Leuschnerstraβe 91
D - 21031 Hamburg, Germany
Phone: (+49 40) 739 62 119
Fax: (+49 40) 739 62 480
E-mail: [email protected]
Or:
Thomas Hauβmann, Chairman of ICP Forests
Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture
Rochusstr. 1
D - 53123 BONN, Germany
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/ENV/01/07