Report - ICP Forests

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4. National Survey Reports in 2009
4.1 Andorra
The 2009 crown condition survey in Andorra was conducted on 3 plots of the Level I
16 x 16 km transnational grid. This was the 5 th survey undertaken in Andorra which included 73
trees, 43 Pinus sylvestris and 30 Pinus uncinata.
Results obtained in 2009 show a slight improving tendency in forest condition as already
noticed in 2008. The majority of trees are classified in defoliation and discolouration classes 0
and 1.
Related to defoliation, an important increase of not defoliated trees was registered from 29.2%
in 2008 to 60.3% in 2009. The number of slightly defoliated trees decreased (from 55.6% in
2008 to 32.9% in 2009). The share of moderately defoliated trees decreased to 5.5%. One dead
tree was identified.
Results for discolouration show a significant increase in discolouration class 0 from 16.7% in
2008 to 67.1% in 2009, mainly caused by an important decrease in the slight discolouration
class. The number of moderately and severely discoloured trees also decreased and achieved
only the 2.7% of the trees.
In 2009, the assessment of damage causes showed, as in previous surveys, that the main causal
agent was the fungus Cronartium flaccidum which affected 8% of the sample trees and which
caused the death of one tree.
4.2 Belarus
The assessment of crown condition in Belarus in 2009 included 9 764 trees on 410 plots of the
transnational network. 72.5% of the trees were coniferous species and 27.5% were broadleaves.
According to the results of the observation hardly any change in defoliation was noted in
comparison to 2008. The share of trees without any defoliation increased by 0.3 percent points
to 27.7%, the share of trees in defoliation classes 2 to 4 increased by 0.4 percent points to 8.4%.
Average defoliation of all species remained at the level of 2008 (17.7%). From all tree species
Alnus glutinosa remained the species with lowest defoliation (15.0%).
As in previous years, Fraxinus excelsior and Quercus robur had the highest average defoliation:
35.6% and 21.0%, respectively. These species had the highest share of trees in defoliation
classes 2 to 4, namely 45.4% and 12.7 %, and also the smallest share of trees without any
defoliation, namely 9.1% and 14.4%. A substantial deterioration of condition of Fraxinus
excelsior has been observed during the last years.
The share of trees in defoliation classes 2 to 4 and the average percentage of defoliation of
Quercus robur decreased slightly in comparison to 2008: by 0.3 and 0.8 percent points,
respectively. However, compared to 2005 when the share of trees in classes 2 to 4 had reached
35.4% and average defoliation was 31.9%, an improvement in tree crown condition is obvious.