The ICP Forests monitoring Manual documents the harmonized methods for sampling and analysis as adopted by the participating countries of ICP Forests.

The latest revision of the ICP Forests Manual has been carried out in spring 2020. The updated parts of the Manual have then been adopted by the Programme Task Force on 12 June 2020.

For older Manual versions please refer to the bottom of the page or by contacting pcc-icpforests@thuenen.de .

Database Reports

The Database reports provide a quick overview of relevant database changes:

• Database Report 2023
• Database Report 2022
• Database Report 2021 (period 2019–2021, of which most come from the last manual revision)

Manual versions (2020-2022)

Part I Objectives, strategy and implementation of ICP Forests 

Part II Basic design principles for the ICP Forests monitoring networks

Part III Quality assurance within the ICP Forests monitoring programme

Part IV Visual assessment of crown condition and damaging agents

Part V Tree growth Level II

Part VI Phenological observations

Part VII.1 Biological diversity - Assessment of ground vegetation

Part VII.2 Biological diversity - Assessment of epiphytic lichen diversity (no update with regards to content, version of 2016)

Part VIII Assessment of ozone injury

Part IX Meteorological measurements

Part X Sampling and analysis of soil, Annex

Part XI Soil solution collection and analysis (no update with regards to content, version of 2016)

Part XII Sampling and analysis of needles and leaves

Part XIII Sampling and analysis of litterfall

Part XIV Sampling and analysis of deposition

Part XV Monitoring of air quality

Part XVI Quality assurance and control in laboratories

Part XVII Leaf area measurements

Manual versions (2016)

Valid for data submission starting with survey year 2017 (Level I) and 2016 (Level II)

Table of Contents

Part I Objectives, strategy and implementation of ICP Forests

Part II Basic design principles for the ICP Forests monitoring networks

Part III Quality assurance within the ICP Forests monitoring programme

Part IV Visual assessment of crown condition and damaging agents

Part V Tree growth

Part VI Phenological observations

Part VII.1 Biological diversity - Assessment of ground vegetation

Part VII.2 Biological diversity - Assessment of epiphytic lichen diversity

Part VIII Assessment of ozone injury

Part IX Meteorological measurements

Part X Sampling and analysis of soil, Annex

Part XI Soil solution collection and analysis

Part XII Sampling and analysis of needles and leaves

Part XIII Sampling and analysis of litterfall

Part XIV Sampling and analysis of deposition

Part XV Monitoring of air quality

Part XVI Quality assurance and control in laboratories

Part XVII Leaf area measurements

Manual versions (2010-2012)

Valid for data submission until survey year 2016 (Level I) and 2015 (Level II)

Part I Objectives, strategy and implementation of ICP Forests

Part II Basic design principles for the ICP Forests monitoring networks

Part III Quality assurance within the ICP Forests monitoring programme

Part IV Visual assessment of crown condition and damaging agents

Part V Tree growth

Part VI Phenological observations

Part VII.1 Assessment of ground vegetation (2011)

Part VII.2 Assessment of epiphytic lichen diversity (2012)

Part VIII Assessment of ozone injury

Part IX Meteorological measurements

Part X Sampling and analysis of soil

Part XI Soil solution collection and analysis (2011)

Part XII Sampling and analysis of needles and leaves

Part XIII Sampling and analysis of litterfall

Part XIV Sampling and analysis of deposition

Part XV Monitoring of air quality

Part XVI Quality assurance and control in laboratories

Part XVII Leaf area measurements (2012)

Manual versions (2000-2009)

Part I Mandate of ICP Forests and programme implementation (last update: 2004 / annex: 2006)

Part II Visual assessment of crown condition, including damage causes (last update: 2006)

Part IIIa Sampling and analysis of soil (last update: 2006)

Part IIIa (Annex) Sampling and analysis of soil (last update: 2006)

Part IV Sampling and analysis of needles and leaves (last update: 2000 / 2007)

Part V Estimation of growth and yield (last update: 2004)

Part VI Sampling and analysis of deposition (last update: 2009)

Part VII Meteorological measurements (last update: 2004 / forms: 2006)

Part VIII Assessment of ground vegetation (last update: 2007)

Part IX Phenological observations (last update: 2004)

The phenological photos of the manual are also available at METLA, Finland

Part X Monitoring of air quality (last update 2000) and assessment of ozone injury (last update: 2004)

Photos of ozone damage to leaves and needles are available at CEAM, Spain

Part XI Sampling and analysis of litterfall (last update: 2004)

FutMon (Life+)

Sampling procedure for evaluation of nutrient budgets in vegetation (2009)

BioSoil Demonstration Project (2006-2008)

Manual Biodiversity

Biodiversity Data Analysis

Soil Data Analysis

ForestBIOTA (2003-2006)

Forest Biodiversity Test-phase Assessments

Manual: Russian version (update 2000)

Part I

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part IX

Part X

Manual: Chinese version (update 2002)

The Chinese translation can be ordered as paper copy from the Programme Co-ordinating Centre of ICP Forests.

Manual version (1994)

Manual