1. Introduction

Plate 1. A beech stand in Jagiełek Forest District - photo by Jerzy Wawrzoniak

Poland's upcoming accession to the EU makes the forest monitoring program subject to legal regulations already existing in the EU or those to be yet introduced. Between 1986-2001, Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3528/86 "Protection of EU Forests against Atmospheric Pollution" [2] remained in force, including many later amendments introduced by the EU Commission's regulations specifying the ways of reaching the goals set by the European Council. Regulation (EC) No.804/2002 of 15 April 2002 [15] extends the validity period of Regulation (EC) No. 3528/86, thus enabling drafting of a new regulation, to cover the period of 2003-2008. The draft of such a regulation is in its final consultative stage and is likely to be effective from 2003, governing the scope and the financial settlements of the forest monitoring programme to take place from mid 2004. The draft resolution under the working title "Forest and Environmental Interactions Monitoring in the Community" (Forest Focus) [12] refers to Resolution (EEC) No. 3528/86 "Protection of EU Forests against Atmospheric Pollution" (EC) No. 804/94 "Protection of Forests against the Fire" [14] thus creating a joint regulation. The main purpose of the proposed resolution is to set a framework for the protection of forest ecosystems in the Community through monitoring of the status of those ecosystems, which cannot be effectively carried out by the member countries, separately. The following aspects were taken into consideration:

Forests cover nearly 44% of the total area of the European Union and serve very diversified functions.

Forest ecosystems are exposed to serious threats posed by air pollution, forest fires, climate changes and biotic agents, and insects and pathogenic fungi in particular. Most of these agents are of a transboundary nature.

The forest strategy and the sixth environmental programme address the identification of forest issues to the monitoring programme.

Changes in the functioning of forest ecosystems and their response to environmental stresses can be surveyed and identified at early stages of development only through the monitoring activities, which ensure that appropriate measures will be taken.

A long-term monitoring programme is necessary to fulfil the assumed goals.

Plate 2. Training for observers tree crown damages in Nidzica Forest District - photo by Jerzy Wawrzoniak

The planned EU regulation will focus on:

The monitoring programme will be performed by the member countries, especially through the collection of data, conducting research and experiments under a long-term (3 years) national programme of forest monitoring evaluated and accepted by the Commission. A scientific coordinating body will be appointed by the Commission probably within the framework of the Joint Research Centre, which will be responsible for collecting and evaluation of data, as well as for the development of the database for the Union. The preparation or reports will be entrusted to the European Environmental Agency in cooperation with the pan-European and international institutions, especially ICP-Forests.

The draft resolution anticipates co-financing of up to 50% of the monitoring activity, including: database creation, research and experiments carried out by the member countries under the national programme of forest monitoring. A fund of EUR 52 million is envisaged. It can be increased to cover new tasks in 2007-2009, after being approved by the budgetary authorities. These funds will be augmented after the candidate countries' accession to the EU. To secure the effectiveness of activities, data management, data transfer and administration of the Community's funds, the member countries design national-level institutions as a National Focal Centre. Annual data transfer and a 3-year reporting period for the activities related to the evaluation of the status of forest ecosystems, as well as an annual reporting period for forest fire monitoring are envisaged.