Health of Europe's Forests Deteriorating, Report Says
10/8/99
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Title: Health of Europe's Forests Deteriorating, Report Says
Source: Reuters
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: October 8, 1999
BRUSSELS - The condition of Europe's forests is continuing to
deteriorate, despite measures to reduce air pollution, a new report
said yesterday.
Throughout Europe, 35 percent of trees assessed in the survey can be
classified as "healthy," about 40 percent are in the "warning stage,"
while about a quarter of trees are rated "damaged," meaning they have
lost more than 25 percent of their leaves, said the report from the
European Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe.
"The results of the 1998 forest health survey show a general
deterioration of the crown condition of the main tree species," it
said. "The main causes of the vitality losses and damage are air
pollution and extreme droughts."
While the condition of pine forests in parts of eastern Europe has
recovered gradually, the health of oak forests in western Europe has
deteriorated in recent years.
This is mainly down to pollution from gases such as ozone and is
particularly bad in the Mediterranean region.
The report found that 20 percent of soils in Europe are very acid,
with the greatest problem in eastern Europe. Half of the areas
surveyed - mostly in western Europe - showed increased nitrogen
deposits. There was a general increase in ozone pollution.
The 15 member European Union has introduced a number of pieces of
legislation over the past few years to reduce air pollution.
Environment ministers are scheduled next week to debate proposals to
reduce emissions of the main gases that lead to acid rain, one of the
principal causes of forest degradation.