Report - ICP Forests

112 4. National Survey Reports in 2009
The share of trees in defoliation classes 2-4 decreased to 48.4% (50.7% in 2008). Mean
defoliation of Quercus robur was 0.9 percent points higher than in 2008 (21.3%), and the
number of trees in defoliation classes 2-4 decreased to 16.8% (23.0% in 2008).
17.1% of all sample trees had some kind of identifiable damage symptoms. The most frequent
damage was caused by direct action of man (4.8%), abiotic agents (3.3%), and fungi (2.6%).
The highest share of damage symptoms was assessed for Fraxinus excelsior (46.2%) and for
Populus tremula (30.5%), the least for Alnus glutinosa (10.1%).
4.18 Republic of Moldova
The climate conditions at the beginning of the vegetation period were favorable for tree growth
and development, whereas in the second half of the vegetation period drought events were
observed nearly in the whole country. This had adverse impact on the health condition of
forests. However, in general, the health condition of the assessed trees did not show distinct
changes in comparison with the previous year.
In 2009, 13 676 broad-leaved trees on 622 plots of the national 2 x 2 km grid net were assessed.
Trees without any sign of damage (defoliation class 0) constituted 43.1% against 42.8% in 2008.
The percentage of trees in defoliation classes 1 – 4 remained approximately at the same level
and accounted for 56.9% against 57.2% in 2008.
In 2009, a decrease of trees in discolouration classes 2-4 was observed, and they accounted for
7.6% of all assessed trees against 12.6% in 2008.
A significant decrease in the share of trees in defoliation classes 2-4 was observed in Robinia
pseudoacacia stands with 41.5% in 2009 against 58.0% in 2008. 28.4% of Quercus robur were
assessed in defoliation classes 2-4. In Fraxinus plantations a decrease of trees in defoliation
classes 2-4 was observed with 28.2% of trees in these classes. Overall, the slight improvement
of health condition of trees in 2009 seems to stop the process of degradation.
The number of trees with identified types of damage constituted 1 899 trees, or 13.8% of the
whole sample. The most common type of injury was damage caused by insects, which
constituted 79.1% of all infected trees.
4.19 Norway
The results for 2009 show a small decrease in crown defoliation for all tree species compared to
the year before. The mean defoliation for Picea abies was 15.5%, for Pinus sylvestris 15.2%,
and for Betula spp. 22.2%. After a peak with low defoliation for both Norway spruce and Scots
pine in 2004, the last years represent deterioration in defoliation. Betula spp. had the lowest
defoliation in 2001. Since then, defoliation has increased.
Of all the coniferous trees, 48.5% were rated as not defoliated in 2009, which is a small increase
by about 1.4 percent points compared to the year before. Only 39.9% of the Pinus sylvestris
trees were rated as not defoliated, while 54.3% of all Picea abies trees were not defoliated. For
Betula spp. 25.6% of the trees were observed in the class not defoliated, representing about the