Development of proposals to improve national forest monitoring, including forest biodiversity monitoring and level II air pollution impact monitoring components, as well as consultative scientific support for the preparation of Latvia's positions on Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a monitoring framework for resilient European forests (2025)

Study supported by the Forest Development Fund (agreement No. 25-00-S0MF11-000004)

The aim of the Study is to obtain information on the state of biodiversity (at the genetic and species levels), including the assessment of indicators characterizing biodiversity, as well as to assess changes at the national level in order to ensure sustainable management of Latvian forests. At the same time, the Level II Air Pollution Impact Assessment Monitoring was also carried out as part of the study to obtain information on the state of forest health, the interaction between forests and environmental factors, and the condition of forest soils, as well as to assess the impact of air pollution and other environmental factors on forest ecosystems. Level II Forest Monitoring is a component of the European Forest Monitoring System, and by conducting annual monitoring, mutually comparable information is obtained on the state of forests and the processes occurring in forest ecosystems. In addition, a census of spruce bark beetles using pheromone traps was carried out to obtain more comprehensive information on the current situation in Latvia.

Tasks performed in monitoring:

1. Assessment of plant communities and epiphytic and epixylic bryophytes and lichens in at least 100 forest resource monitoring plots;
2. In-depth assessment of dead wood in all forest resource monitoring plots containing dead wood;
3. Monitoring of structures important for biodiversity in all forest resource monitoring plots containing trees;
4. Monitoring of forest genetic diversity in two forest genetic resource stands and two seed plantations;
5. Monitoring of mandatory parameters of the level II air pollution impact assessment program in accordance with the ICP Forests guidelines in two sample plots;
6. Provision of scientific advisory support for the preparation of Latvia's positions on the draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a monitoring framework for resilient European forests;
7. Additional counting of spruce bark beetles using pheromone traps was provided as part of the monitoring of biotic risk factors in forestry.