Further reductions in emissions are needed to improve ecosystem health and vitality.
Air pollution and depositions, especially of sulphur, have been reduced in recent years; however, past depositions accumulated in soils may lead to higher levels of nitrogen, sulphate and soil acidity, which make forest more vulnerable to environmental stress and changing climatic conditions.
Tree crown condition has stabilized but defoliation levels are still high in most regions, indicating that trees have a reduced potential to withstand adverse environmental impacts. Further reduction of related emissions is needed to bring depositions below critical loads.
Forests in Europe have suffered severe storm damages, and forest fires continue to be a major challenge.
Since 1999, large storm damages have occurred in Europe almost annually. Hundreds of thousands of ha of forest are burnt annually. While the number of forest fires increased, the area burnt did not increase in the period 2000-2005, mainly due to more effective fi re suppression in many countries.
0