EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF FOREST DECLINE ASSOCIATED WITH ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS

Objective

IN THE YEAR TO SEPTEMBER 1986, THE PROPOSER AND COLLEAGUES FROM ITE AND THE UNIVERSITIES OF LANCASTER, ULSTER AND FREIBURG CARRIED OUT A PILOT SAMPLING EXERCISE (CEC EV 3V 0904 "EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF FOREST DECLINE ASSOCIATED WITH ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS"). LEAF MATERIAL WAS TAKEN FROM 3 SPECIES OF TREE WHICH ARE IMPORTANT FOR EUROPEAN FORESTRY (SCOTS PINE, NORWAY SPRUCE AND BEECH). SITES WERE SPECIALLY SELECTED TO COVER A WIDE RANGE OF POLLUTION CLIMATES : BLACK FOREST (LARGE OZONE CONCENTRATIONS AND ACID MIST), NETHERLANDS (LARGE POLLUTANT GAS CONCENTRATIONS, ESPECIALLY AMMONIA), HARZ MOUNTAINS (LARGE WET DEPOSITION OF ACIDITY), FICHTELGEBIRGE (LARGE WINTER S02 CONCENTRATIONS), S.ENGLAND (INTERMEDIATE OZONE CONCENTRATIONS) AND N.SCOTLAND (SMALL POLLUTANT GAS CONCENTRATIONS). ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN LOCALLY AT ALL SITES INVOLVING COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH GROUPS, THE NETHERLANDS FOREST SERVICE AND UK FORESTRY COMMISSION.
THERE HAS BEEN A CLOSE LIAISON WITH OTHER RESEARCH GROUPS, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN FIELD WORK BY STAFF FROM THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, CANADA. PLANT MATERIAL FROM THIS SAMPLING EXERCISE IS BEING ANALYSED BY THE PARTICIPATING LABORATORIES.
THE RESULTS WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY AND SELECT POTENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.

THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PROJECT REQUIRES THE FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF EXISTING, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DIAGNOSTIC TESTS BY MEANS OF CONTROLLED EXPERIMENTATION UNDER WELL-DEFINED CONDITIONS OF POLLUTANT AND OTHER STRESSES.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

FP1-ENVPROT 4C - Multiannual research and development programmes (EEC) in the field of the environment - Protection of the environment -, 1986-1990

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

Address

C/o bush estate
EH26 0QB Penicuik
United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 0,00