Experts in European forest environment monitoring gathered in Helsinki
Approximately 70 experts in forest environment monitoring from 23 European countries convened in Helsinki from March 3–6, 2025, for an expert panel meeting organized by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) at Hotel Arthur. The meeting was part of the international ICP Forests monitoring program, which Finland joined in 1995.
The program has been running for 40 years and involves nearly all European countries. The data collected across Europe enables the integration and analysis of extensive and reliable information on forest conditions, providing insights that even the most advanced remote sensing techniques or modeling alone cannot achieve.
Panels examined the development of forest conditions
The event was a success, despite the challenges posed by four parallel panels running simultaneously. The panels broadly addressed changes in forest ecosystems, including variations in deposition, soil conditions, nutrient levels in tree foliage and litterfall (e.g., nitrogen), as well as developments in crown condition, understory vegetation, and air quality over the past 40 years.
One of the panels focused on quality assurance in chemical analyses, which is a critical aspect of ICP Forests monitoring. The network regularly organizes so-called ring tests, where laboratories from participating countries analyze the same samples (e.g. needles). Passing these tests is required to ensure the quality and reliability of laboratory results submitted to the ICP Forests network.
Luke plays a key role in leading expert panels
Luke's experts play a significant role in leading the panels. Leena Hamberg chairs the Biodiversity and Understory Vegetation Panel, while Pasi Rautio and Liisa Ukonmaanaho lead the Foliage and Litterfall Panel. Tiina M. Nieminen heads the Soil Water Panel, and Päivi Merilä serves as Finland's National Focal Center (NFC) Coordinator.
ICP Forests monitoring operates at two levels:
- Level I, a broad-scale extensive monitoring network.
- Level II, an intensive monitoring network where study plots are observed either continuously (e.g., soil temperature and moisture) or through periodic sampling (e.g., monthly deposition measurements, soil samples collected every 10 years).
Research network supports forest policy and addresses environmental challenges
Comprehensive and standardized monitoring data have become increasingly important for guiding forest policy and management. The ICP Forests network has demonstrated its adaptability in addressing environmental challenges over different time periods. Originally established to monitor the effects of air pollution on forests, the network now also helps tackle contemporary issues such as the impacts of climate change and the drivers of biodiversity change.
