The present shape of forest monitoring rises from the need for recording changes in forest condition in the 70s, when the process of forest dieback markedly accelerated. High concentrations of air pollution were admittedly considered the main cause of the phenomenon.
The programme for the monitoring of air pollution effects on forests (called technical monitoring) was established in 1985 in accordance with the Resolution No. 7 of the State Forests Council of 21 March 1984 and by Order of the Director-General of the State Forests of 16 December 1985. The concept of the network of measurement points was developed in the Forest Research Institute by the team: Dr. Janusz Olszewski, Dr. Janusz Wolak and Dr. Stanislaw Dunikowski. Mr Marian Primus and Mr. Jerzy Wawrzoniak were responsible for the implementation of the programme. The servicing of the measurement points was secured by the administration staff of the State Forests. Laboratory works were done at first by the Bureau of Forest Management Planning and Geodesy (using soil laboratories), later taken over by the Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Analyses of the Forest Research Institute. Initially, the measurements of air pollution were conducted on more than 2000 measurement points using the contact method. Gradually, the number of points were reduced to reach 1400 in 1994, when the network of measurement points and the method applied were changed.
In 1989, the Forest Research Institute launched the monitoring of changes in the level of forest health condition (biological monitoring) by establishing 1500 First-Level Permanent Observation Plots (POPs I) and making first observations of morphological features of sample tree crowns. The general outline of the forest damage monitoring system elaborated by Professor Tadeusz Trampler, Dr. Stanislaw Dunikowski, Mr. Jerzy Wawrzoniak, Mrs. Jadwiga Malachowska, Dr. Jan Głaz and Dr. Elzbieta Dmyterko. In the same year, Poland joined the International Co-operative Program "Assessment and Monitoring of Impact of Air Pollution on Forests" and the results of the national monitoring of air pollution effects on forests were published in the "Forest Condition in Europe" report.
In 1991, the forest monitoring was introduced into the State Monitoring of Environment coordinated by the State Inspectorate of Environmental Protection.
In 1992, the programme of forest monitoring took in the entomological monitoring to estimate damage to coniferous stands posed by leaf-eating insects. The general outline and methodology of the entomological monitoring were developed by Dr. Andrzej Kolk.
In 1993-2000, a mobile laboratory was employed in the forest monitoring programme to measure pollutants deposition. It supplemented the network of measurement points enabling determination of concentrations of air pollutants, as well as measurements of meteorological parameters.
Second-level Permanent Observation Plots (POPs II) being the main element to the structure of the forest monitoring system were established in 1994 in pine and spruce stands where measurements of stand volume and annual stand volume increment were performed. They are subject to a research programme with a considerably expanded scope of observations and analyses. The forest soil monitoring programme was performed according to the methodology developed by Dr. Jozef Wojcik. Measurements of concentrations of air pollutants and wet deposition on POPs II were initiated and conducted in line with the methodological assumptions proposed by Mr. Jerzy Wawrzoniak and Mrs. Aleksandra Liwinska.
Since 1995, results of the forest monitoring programme have been published in annual reports which can be found in the Biblioteka Monitoringu Środowiska (Environmental Monitoring Library) edited by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection.
In 1995, 26 POPs II were established in oak and beech stands. The measurements of stand volume and annual stand volume increment were performed. The soil monitoring allowing to assess changes in the soil in broadleaved stands was continued.
In 1996, the phytopathological monitoring programme for the assessment of the phytopathological threat to forest posed by fungi was started on POPs II according to the concept and methodological assumptions developed by Prof. Zbigniew Sierota and Dr. Pawel Lech. In the same year, the monitoring of the health of pine seeds, i.e. evaluation of cones and seeds obtained from pine stands close to POPs II was included in the programme. Methodological assumptions were laid down by Dr. Andrzej Zaleski.
In 1997, the monitoring of chemical composition of trees' assimilatory apparatus on POPs II was initiated and carried out in accordance with methodological assumptions elaborated by Mr. Jerzy Wawrzoniak.
In 1998, the monitoring of the biological diversity of forest-floor vegetation, as well as the assessment of the frequency and vitality of natural regeneration on POPs II was conducted in accordance with the methodology elaborated by Dr. Jerzy Solon and Mr. Jerzy Wawrzoniak.
The year 1999 saw the first monitoring of carabid beetles on 45 POPs II under the programme elaborated by Dr. Marek Dobrowolski in accordance with the methodological assumptions developed by Prof. Jan Szyszko.
In 1999, measurements of the volume and annual volume increment of pine, spruce, oak and beech stands on 148 POPs II were repeated.
In 1999, the first synthesised annual reports on forest condition in Poland were published in Polish and English versions.
In 1999, soil samples were collected for chemical analyses from 148 POPs II.
In 2000, a mobile laboratory completed the task of measuring concentrations of air pollutants.
In 2001, foliage samples were collected for chemical analyses from standing trees in pine, spruce, oak and beech stands from 148 POPs II.
In 2002, chemical analyses of foliage of sample trees from 148 POPs II were completed.
In 2003, soil samples were again collected for chemical analyses from 148 POPs II.
In 2003, the forest floor vegetation and natural regeneration on 148 POPs II were evaluated.
