The International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) was established in 1985 under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention, formerly CLRTAP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
ICP Forests monitors the influence of air pollutants, climate change and other stressors on the condition of forest ecosystems at two levels of monitoring intensity. The Level I monitoring is based on around 6,000 observation plots on a systematic 16 x 16 km transnational grid across Europe and beyond to provide insight into the geographical and temporal variation of forest condition. The Level IIintensive monitoring comprises over 600 plots in selected forest ecosystems with the aim of clarifying cause-effect relationships.
Currently, 40 European countries as well as the USA and Canada are members of the ICP Forests.
- 42
paticipating countries
- 2
intensity levels
of monitoring
- Over 6,000
forest monitoring plots
- 40 years
since its foundation
Dresden Declaration
This year ICP Forests celebrates its 40th Anniversary (1985-2025). The celebration event and the annual ICP Forests Scientific Conference FORECOMON 2025 and Task Force Meeting took place in Dresden, Germany, from 19 - 21 May 2025. We welcomed 125 delegates from 28 countries including representatives from politics, administration and science.
In the spirit of the celebration of ICP Forests anniversary, the Dresden Declaration was prepared:
Forest monitoring under the ICP Forests is essential for a science-based forest- and environmental policy and needs continued support.
© Christina Waitkus, Thünen Institute
ICP Forests plots
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