Air pollution and vegetation: ICP Vegetation annual report 2007/2008

The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in the late 1980s, initially with the aim of assessing the impacts of air pollutants on crops, but in later years impacts on (semi-)natural vegetation have also been considered. The ICP Vegetation is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Bangor (CEH Bangor). It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North-America. Today, the ICP Vegetation comprises an enthusiastic group of over 200 scientists from 34 countries. An overview of contributions to the WGE work-plan and other research activities in the year 2007/8 is provided in this report.