Establishment of observation plots for intensive monitoring
1. The network of permanent observation plots established by the Member States, hereinafter ‘Level II plots’, shall be used for intensive and continuous monitoring of air pollution effects on forest ecosystems. The number of Level II plots to be selected for that network shall be limited to 15 for each Member State.
However, Member States may select a larger number of Level II plots on the condition that the number does not exceed 20 % of the number of national Level I points.
2. Once a new or additional Level II plot is established Member States shall together with the first data transmission concerning that plot forward a review of the selection criteria and a complete list of all plots to the Commission, including basic information such as location, that is to say longitude, latitude and altitude, and species, as well as general plot information for each Level II plot installed in a standardised form.
3. The Level II plots shall be selected using the common methods set out in Chapter 1 of Annex I.
Monitoring
The intensive and continuous monitoring of the forest ecosystems shall include the following:
(a)
the continuous inventory of crown condition, foliar chemistry measurements and increment changes, on each observation Level II plot in accordance with Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of Annex I;
(b)
measurements of deposition chemistry, meteorology and soil solution chemistry, as well as assessment of ground vegetation, on at least 10 % of the observation Level II plots in accordance with Chapters 5 to 8 of Annex I;
(c)
where appropriate, other monitoring activities such as assessment of ambient air quality, visible ozone injury and litterfall and phenological observations in accordance with Chapters 9 to 12 of Annex I.
Transmission of data
1. By 15 December each year Member States shall forward to the Commission all data measured during the preceding year for each Level II plot using the methods and forms set out in Chapter 14 of Annex I.
In addition to that data, Member States shall submit a data accompanying report setting out the background information on the monitoring methods applied. That report shall be drawn up in accordance with Chapter 13 and point IV.1 of Chapter14 of Annex I.
The instructions and codes set out in Chapter 15 of Annex I shall be used for the transmission of data collected in accordance with the first subparagraph.
2. Data related to privately owned land shall be geo-referenced by latitude and longitude coordinates expressed respectively at least in degrees and in minutes. All other data shall be geo-referenced in terms of latitude and longitude coordinates expressed respectively in degrees and in minutes and in seconds.
3. The part of the data accompanying report describing the monitoring methods shall remain valid until those methods are changed.
