Protection of forests against atmospheric pollution
On 21 June 1995, the European Commission adopted a new Regulation on the protection of forests against atmospheric pollution (Regulation No 1398/95). This Regulation amends the previous Commission Regulation 1696/87 (OJ No L 161 of 22.6.87) which laid down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation 3528/86 (OJ No L 326 of 21.11.86) on the protection of the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution (inventories, network, reports). This Regulation set up a Community scheme designed to protect forests against atmospheric pollution by helping the Member States to establish a periodic inventory, using common methods, of damage caused to forests. A network of permanent observation plots carry out intensive and continuous surveillance and the data thus gathered is forwarded to the Commission by the Member States. The present amendment to the existing Regulation is necessary in view of the accession of Finland and Sweden to the European Union. The specific forest conditions in the northern parts of these two countries, which include large areas homogenous forest areas and site conditions, have led to certain modifications in the existing common methodology for the periodic inventory. In particular, it is specified that the inventory may be carried out on the basis of a grid up to 32x32 km, instead of the normal 16x16 km grid.