What about the dying of forests?
The industrialised nations were very alarmed by the dramatic, large-scale dying of forests in the former CSSR, in Poland and in the GDR in the early eighties, when the horror scenario of “dying forests” became a subject of public discussion.
In fact, varying symptoms of damage can be observed in all large forest areas with virtually all species of conifers and broad-leaved trees. The most conspicuous features (visible symptom) are yellowing, as well as premature loss of needles and leaves, which results in thinning of the tree crowns. What is new about this damage is the large-scale occurrence, even at great distances from sources of pollution, and the fact that it is impossible to identify the individual polluters causing the damage.These new forms of forest damage are an expression of the complex disease affecting the entire ecosystem, where there is multiple overlapping of and interaction between numerous cause-and-effect chains. Thereby air pollution from various sources, which can be transported over great distances before settling on the forest and the soil, plays a key role. The sum total of all measures taken to counteract dying forests in Austria so far can be regarded as a measurable success: catalytic exhaust converter legislation, reduction of sulphur emissions, nitrogen oxide reduction and dust extraction plants, programmes to save the protection forest and forest improvement measures have certainly helped to prevent the dying of large forest areas in Austria so far. Even so, it is much too early for euphoria, because the endeavour to maintain forest health is a never-ending challenge. The important thing is to identify and combat any threats as early as possible.
ÖBF (Österreichische Bundesforste) AG
08.04.2010,