Forest soil survey and monitoring in the Czech Republic

1. Forest soil survey and monitoring in the Czech Republic Prof. Jiri Kulhavy Institute of Forest Ecology Mendel University Agricalture and Forestry Brno Protection of Soil Resources, September 26 th 2006, Brussel

2. Czech Soil Science Society Based 1994, member of IUSS 120 active members 5 honorary members Non-govermental status Main activities – seminars, conferences, expertizes, excursions, publications, education etc.

3. Forest soil monitoring and survey • ICP/Forest Focus (Reg. EC No. 2125/2003) • Development and implementation of new Czech National Forest Inventory • Inventory of ecosystem carbon stock • Mapping of degradation of forest soil caused by soil acidification and eutrophication

4. Currently running projects • Cost Action E 43 Harmonization of national Inventories in Europe. Techniques for common reporting(founded by EU) • Inventory of forest ecosystem carbon stock…(forest management practices)- founded by Ministry of Environment • Zoning degradation of forest soils caused by acidification and nutritional degradation(founded by Ministry of Environment) etc. • CONFOREST (EFI) • EFORWOOD (6FP), etc.

5. Soil Research • Ecosystem Processes and Functions • basic and applied research on carbon budget, nutrient balance,soil processes, sustainability and global change, modeling and scenario analysis, growth models, production ecology • development of methodology for forest inventory, development of technology and software for data collection, data procession etc. • acidification and nutritional degradation of forest soils • countermeasures against acidification

6. Development of Forest soil Monitorig in the Czech Republic 1985 ICP Forest - Level I (EEC directive No. 3528/86) 1994 ICP Forest - Level II 2004 Forest Focus (Reg. EC No. 2125/2003) 2006 BioSoil 2007 LIFE+ Protection of Soil Resources, September 26 th 2006, Brussel

7. ICP Forest In 1985, the International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP-Forests) has been established by the UN/ECE under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), motivated with growing concern about forest conditions in Europe. The EEC resolution No. 3528/86 and the amendments direct the programme, to fulfil the basic goals. A soil analysis including the description of soil profile was carried out in the total 100 monitoring plots of international grid 16 × 16 km (Level I) in 1995–1996. Identification of soil type based on the soil profile description and the findings of chemical analysis of particular genetic horizons was conducted according to both the national classification system and international system (FAO) Since 2003 Forest FOCUS (EC 2152/2003) Protection of Soil Resources, September 26 th 2006, Brussel

8. 1st level of ICP

9. Forest Focus • Biosoil - In 2005-2007, it is carried out on 146 plots of the ICP Forest and Forest Focus monitoring. The project is international being 70% covered from EU resources. It is carried out according to a standard sampling and analytical methodology. Thus, it also represents a pilot project for the creation of an integrated European database on forest soils. In the CR, the project is a follow-up of the similar survey of forest soils, which was carried out within the ICP Forest monitoring network in 1995 (it overlaps on 63 plots) and partly also the analysis of assimilatory organs from the same year (it overlaps on 26 plots). • The project is coordinated by the Research Institute of Forestry and Game Management (RIFGM)

10. Monitoring soil properties in regions with an increased air pollution load • Since 1992, the CR Ministry of Agriculture contracts the area survey of chemical properties of soils in regions subject to the direct or potential impact of air pollution • 25 forest regions have been processed, in four of them the second repeated survey has been already carried out • Supported by the Central Inspection and Testing Institute of Agriculture (ÚKZÚZ), inspection of liming in carried out in co-operation with RIFGM.

11. National Inventory of Forests (NIF) • More than 1400 plots available of the NIF in the CR. Sampling was carried out in the period 2001 – 2004. Within the NIF survey, humus forms, soil types, soil-forming substrates, the depth of root penetration and the total depth of soil are described. Chemical properties are determined only in the upper horizon of 0-10 cm. • Supported by the RIFGM.

12. LIFE+ • the general objective of LIFE+ shall be to contribute to the development, implementation monitoring, evaluation and communication of Europian environment policy and legislation as a contribution to promoting sustainable development in the EU • since 2007 Protection of Soil Resources, September 26 th 2006, Brussel

13. Forest monitoring: Forest reporting: Forest assessment: Forest policy: European/Global level National level UNECE/FAO Forest Resource Assessments National Forest Inventories National Correspondents Ministerial Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe NFPs State of Europe’s Forest Forest Focus ICP Forests DG ENV + DG JRC Data submission UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution PCC Hamburg Countries International Source – Persson 2006 EEA

14. Thanks you for your attention