GDP per capita in Western Europe countries is typically ten times higher than in the rest of the region. Forest area in Western and Central Europe has grown by more than 10 per cent since the 1960s - but nearly 60 per cent of forests are seriously or moderately damaged by acidification, pollution, drought or forest fires. In many countries in the region, half the known vertebrate species are under threat. One of the most serious forms of river pollution is high concentrations of nutrients, causing eutrophication in the lakes and seas into which they discharge. Most stocks of commercially exploited fish in the North Sea are in a serious condition - the North Sea fishing fleet needs to be reduced by 40 per cent to match fish resources.
Road transport is now the main source of urban air pollution.
Of the ten countries in the world with the highest SO 2 emissions per capita, seven are in Central Europe, one in Eastern Europe and two in North America. About 60 per cent of large cities in the region are overexploiting their groundwater resources. The late 20th century has been yet another dramatic period in Europe's turbulent history. In Western Europe, the material standard of living has improved steadily since 1945, along with growing agricultural and industrial production. Signs of severe environmental degradation became increasingly obvious during the 1960s and 1970s, and most countries responded by developing environmental policies - initially directed at local and regional air and water pollution problems.