Science, Land Management and Policy in International Studies on the Effects of Air Pollution on Carpathian Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

US-Central and Eastern European (CEE) collaborative studies on the distribution and effects of air pollution on CEE forests have been conducted since 1992. Based on 1997-1999 ambient ozone (O3) monitoring, maps of O3 distribution in the Carpathian Mountains of central Europe were developed. These maps helped to understand air pollution risks in the Carpathian forests and to develop national regulations for the protected areas and for forest vegetation monitoring. The Carpathian study led to the establishment of two international long-term ecological research (ILTER) sites in the Retezat (Romania) and Tatra Mountains (Poland and Slovakia). During 2000-2002, differences in responses of natural versus managed forest to air pollution, including biodiversity changes, were investigated. During 2003-2005, research in these two ILTER sites focuses on the evaluation of resources and responses of Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) to the increasing O3 concentrations. The US-CEE collaboration helps in establishing a strong partnership between scientists and managers, and comparing the status and effects of air pollution in mountain forests of North America and Europe.