Registration open until 3 April 2025.
Background. For 40 years, ICP Forests has been monitoring the condition of European forests. Launched in 1985 under UNECE Air Convention, the main focus of ICP Forests was initially on air pollution effects on forests. Air pollution has since then been reduced, also thanks to the information provided by scientific studies under the Air Convention. Meanwhile, climate change has become a major environmental concern, which poses a threat not only to forest health and wood production, but also to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and a wider range of forest ecosystem services. With its flexible monitoring structure, ICP Forests has responded to these challenges and was able to detect the effects of climate change, climatic extremes and their interactions with air pollution on European forests. What have we learnt from these studies? How have our forests responded to changed environmental conditions? How strong is their resilience? How do they respond to the current situation with multiple stressors? How can we further develop our monitoring systems?
Goal. By seeking answer to the above questions, the goal of FORECOMON 2025 is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ICP Forests and present the temporal developments in air pollution, climate change, and in forest ecosystem responses. The conference will also highlight how the experience gathered by forest monitoring systems, and by ICP Forests in particular, may support forest management and the development of future monitoring activities. Besides scientists, decision and policy makers as well as other stakeholders are welcome to join the discussions of results, opportunities and needs of future forest monitoring.
Excursion. The conference excursion will take us to the Ore Mountains, one of the most severe hot spots of the forest decline due to acid rain. Among other topics, we will explore how long-term forest monitoring supports the development and assessment of forest management practices.
Welcome!
We welcome contributions addressing long-term perspectives on forest monitoring of air pollution and climate change pressures and responses, and how this knowledge can support the development of resilient forests, that fulfill various services to society.
FORECOMON 2025 will take place from 19-21 May 2025 in Dresden, Germany, followed by the 41st Task Force Meeting of ICP Forests on 22-23 May 2025.
