Forest Condition in Europe - ICP Forests

88 Forest Condition in Europe 2013
The results of the available data processing and the assessment of the degree of defoliation of
individual conifer and broadleaf species % are: Abies alba (None 94,2, Slight 2,9, Moderate
0,0, Severe 2,9 and Dead 0.0); Picea abies (None 86,9, Slight 11,0, Moderate 1,4, Severe 0,0,
Dead 0,7); Pinus nigra (None 38,8, Slight 14,9, Moderate 35,8, Severe 10,5, Dead 0,0); Pinus
silvestris (None 83,9, Slight 14,3, Moderate 0,0, Severe 1,8, Dead 0.0).
The degree of defoliation calculated for all conifer trees is as follows: no defoliation 78,3 %
trees, slight defoliation 10,7 % trees, moderate 7,7 % trees, severe defoliation 3,0 % trees and
dead 0,3% trees.
Individual tree species defoliation (%) are: Carpinus betulus (None 76,9, Slight 12,0, Moderate
8,5, Severe 0,9, Dead 1,7); Fagus moesiaca (None 88,9, Slight 8,8, Moderate 1,6,
Severe 0,5, Dead 0,2); Quercus cerris (None 61,6, Slight 25,1, Moderate 9,4, Severe 3,5,
Dead 0,4); Quercus frainetto (None 74,7, Slight 16,7, Moderate 7,3, Severe 0,8, Dead 0,5);
Quercus petraea (None 50,0, Slight 33,8, Moderate 15,0, Severe 0,6, Dead 0,6) and the rest
(None 51,2, Slight 28,8, Moderate 13,9, Severe 3,9, Dead 2,2).
Degree of defoliation calculated for all broadleaf species is as follows: no defoliation 70,8%
trees, slight defoliation 19,0% trees, moderate 7,6%, severe defoliation 1,8 % trees and dead
0,8 % trees.
The data in the above show the presence of sample trees with moderate and severe degrees of
defoliation, but this does not always signify the reduction of vitality score caused by the effect
of adverse agents (climate stress, insect pests, pathogenic fungi). This can only be a temporary
phase of natural variability of crown density.
6.11. Slovak Republic
The 2012 national crown condition survey was carried out on 108 Level I plots on the
16x16km grid net. The assessments covered 4787 trees, 3898 of which being assessed as
dominant or co-dominant trees according to Kraft. Of the 3898 assessed trees, 37.9% were
damaged (defoliation classes 2-4). The respective figures were 43.5% for conifers and 33.9%
for broadleaves trees. Compared to the 2011, the share of tree defoliated more than 25% increased
by 3.2 percent points. Mean defoliation for all tree species together was 25.5%, with
27.2% for conifers and 24.4% for broadleaves trees. Results show that crown condition in
Slovak Republic is worse than in European average. It is mainly due to worse condition of
coniferous species.
Compared to 2011 survey, worsening (average defoliation) was observed in all broadleaved
tree species except for Fagus sylvatica. Since 1987, the lowest damage was observed
for Fagus sylvatica and Carpinus betulus, with exception of fructification years. The most
severe damaged has been observed in Abies alba, Picea abies and Robinia pseudacacia.
From the beginning of the forest condition monitoring in 1987 until 1996 results show
a significant decrease in defoliation and visible forest damage. Since 1996, the share of
damaged trees (25-32%) and average defoliation (22-25%) has been relatively stable. The
recorded fluctuation of defoliation depends mostly on meteorological conditions.
As a part of crown condition survey, damage types were assessed. 84.9% of all sampling
trees (4822) had some kind of damage symptoms. The most frequent damage was
caused by insects (46.1%) and fungi (32.9%). Additional damage causes were other factors
(28.8% - mainly epiphytes and competition). Epiphytes had the most important influence on
defoliation. 59% of trees damaged by epiphytes revealed defoliation above