Professional paper
DEFOLIATION OF FOREST TREES IN CROATIA IN THE PERIOD 2001-2011
Nenad Potočić
orcid.org/0000-0002-5581-2976
; Croatian forest research institute
Ivan Seletković
; Croatian forest research institute
Abstract
The International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests - ICP Forests started in 1985 in the framework of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), with the mandate to monitor
the effects of anthropogenic factors (in particular air pollution) as well as natural stress factors on the condition and development of forest ecosystems in Europe and to contribute to a better understanding od cause-effect relationships in forest ecosystem functioning in various parts of Europe. Croatia joined the programme in 1987. The share of moderately to severely defoliated trees in the period 2001-2011 ranged from 20,6 % (2002) to 27,7 % (2010). For broadleaves, the share was between 14,4 % and 19,2 %, and a continuous growth of defoliation is recorded since 2006. The share of moderately to severely defoliated conifers sharply grew from 2003 to 2006, with a maximum in 2005 (79,5 %). With some single species (common beech, narrow-leaved ash, sessile oak) also a rise in defoliation is
recorded after dry years, while with others, such as pedunculate oak, dry years have no discernible effect on the crown condition. The results of monitoring show that crown defoliation can, depending on the species, be linked to climate properties of either current, or past
years.
Keywords
ICP Forests; crown defoliation; climate; drought
Hrčak ID:
129280
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2014.
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