ICP Forests Manual 2022 Objectives
Source: environment.data.gov.uk (2026-01-05)

NFI+ Soil Condition & Health. This dataset contains comprehensive soil chemical and physical indicators collected as part of the NFI+ (National Forest Inventory Plus) programme and the BioSoil forest soil and biodiversity monitoring network. The dataset covers forest soil sampling sites across Great Britain and provides baseline and monitoring data on soil condition and health in forest ecosystems.

Chemical indicators measured include: soil pH (measured in water and CaCl2), organic carbon content (%), total nitrogen (%), available phosphorus (mg/kg), exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na in cmol/kg), cation exchange capacity (cmol/kg), base saturation (%), and heavy metal concentrations where applicable.

Physical indicators measured include: soil texture (% sand, silt, clay), bulk density (g/cm³), porosity (%), aggregate stability, moisture content at sampling, and soil depth profiles.

Samples were collected at multiple depth intervals (0-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-40cm) using standardised protocols aligned with ICP Forests and BioSoil methodologies.  Each sampling location includes associated metadata on forest type, soil type, elevation and forest origin (plantation or natural).  The data include chemical and physical soil properties.

Quality assurance procedures included duplicate sampling, laboratory reference standards, and inter-laboratory comparisons.

Limitations:  Data coverage is limited to forest soils only. Some historical samples may have incomplete heavy metal analysis. Seasonal variation should be considered when interpreting results.

Data are georeferenced using a delocalised grid. The bounding coordinates for each grid square are included in the dataset. Further information about the delocalisation process is provided in the dataset evidence pack.

The 'NFI+ Soil Condition & Health' is a project funded by the UK Government through Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA), England sites, and the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Scotland sites.  Users should ensure they have read the supporting documentation before viewing or making use of the data. This includes the NCEA Analysis Ready Data Limitations Statement and dataset specific limitations/caveats outlined in the supporting documentation, please refer to the 'Metadata' tab on the 'Soil Condition Data 2022-24' dataset  Attribution statement: © Forestry Commission copyright and/or database right 2025. Includes data from Ordnance Survey, British Geological Survey, and the Met Office. All rights reserved.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 
Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) 
International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and 
Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) 
 
 
 
 
 
MANUAL 
on 
methods and criteria for harmonized sampling, assessment, 
monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of 
ICP Forests 
 
 
 
 
Version 2022-2 
(Last update 06/2022) 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by: 
Kai Schwärzel, Walter Seidling, Karin Hansen, Sigrid Strich, Martin Lorenz 
on behalf of the Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC) and the Task Force of ICP Forests 
 
 
Schwärzel K., Seidling W, Hansen K, Strich S, Lorenz M, 2022: Part I: Objectives, Strategy 
and Implementation of ICP Forests. Version 2022-2. In: UNECE ICP Forests Programme Co-
ordinating Centre (ed.): Manual on methods and criteria for harmonized sampling, 
assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests. Thünen Institute 
of Forest Ecosystems, Eberswalde, Germany, 12 p. + Annexes [http://www.icp-
forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual]. 
ISBN: 978-3-86576-162-0 
 
Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to Marco Ferretti for providing written 
comments. 
All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this manual for educational 
or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from 
the ICP Forests Programme Co-ordinating Centre provided the source is fully acknowledged. 
Reproduction of material in this manual for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited 
without written permission of the ICP Forests Programme Co-ordinating Centre of ICP 
Forests. 
Application for such permission should be addressed to: 
Programme Co-ordinating Centre of ICP Forests 
Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems 
Alfred-Möller-Strasse 1, Haus 41/42 
16225 Eberswalde 
Germany 
xxx@xxx.xx 
 
Eberswalde, 2022

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 3
Contents 
1 
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4 
2 
STRUCTURES AND OBJECTIVES OF ICP FORESTS ............................................................. 4 
2.1 
BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................ 4 
2.2 
GENERAL FEATURES OF ICP FORESTS ......................................................................................................... 6 
2.2.1 
Monitoring activities ........................................................................................................................ 6 
2.2.2 
Quality assurance and control ........................................................................................................ 7 
2.2.3 
Data evaluation .............................................................................................................................. 7 
2.2.4 
Deliverables ................................................................................................................................... 7 
3 
PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................ 8 
3.1 
ORGANIZATION OF ICP FORESTS ................................................................................................................. 8 
3.1.1 
Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 8 
3.1.2 
The Task Force .............................................................................................................................. 9 
3.1.3 
The National Focal Centres (NFCs) ............................................................................................... 9 
3.1.4 
The Lead Country........................................................................................................................... 9 
3.1.5 
The Chairperson ............................................................................................................................ 9 
3.1.6 
The Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC) ................................................................................ 9 
3.1.7 
The Programme Co-ordinating Group (PCG) ............................................................................... 10 
3.1.8 
The Scientific Committee ............................................................................................................. 11 
3.1.9 
The Quality Assurance Committee ............................................................................................... 11 
3.1.10 
The Working Group on Quality in Laboratories ............................................................................ 11 
3.1.11 
The Expert Panels (EPs) .............................................................................................................. 11 
3.2 
MONITORING ACTIVITIES AND MANUAL UPDATES AND REVISIONS ..................................................................... 11 
3.3 
DATA ANALYSES ....................................................................................................................................... 12 
3.4 
PUBLISHING AND REPORTING ..................................................................................................................... 12 
3.5 
DATA RELEASE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................... 12 
3.6 
CITATION OF ICP FORESTS REPORTS AND MANUALS .................................................................................... 13 
ANNEX 1: STRATEGY OF ICP FORESTS 2016–2023 ..................................................................... 14 
I 
ICP FORESTS IN SHORT ..................................................................................................................... 14 
II 
MISSION STATEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 14 
III 
AIMS ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 
IV 
FEATURES OF THE CURRENT PROGRAMME .................................................................................. 14 
V 
VISION FOR THE FUTURE .................................................................................................................. 15 
VI 
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS .............................................................................................................. 16 
VII 
ADOPTION ............................................................................................................................................ 17 
APPENDIX: AREA OF IMPLEMENTATION AND MEMBER STATES .......................................................... 17 
ANNEX 2: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PUBLICATION POLICY ......................................... 19
 
 
 
 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 4
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
1 Introduction 
In response to widespread air pollution and concerns about damages to human health and 
ecosystems, the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP, Air 
Convention) was signed in 1979. The Convention entered into force in 1983. The backbone 
of the scientific work under the Convention are the International Co-operative Programmes, 
the ICPs. The ICP on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP 
Forests) was established in 1985, in order to conduct monitoring and research of the effects 
of air pollution on forests. In 1986 the European Union (EU) adopted the scheme on the 
protection of forests against atmospheric pollution and with Regulation (EEC) No. 3528/86 
the legal basis for co-financing of relevant assessments was provided. This was replaced by 
Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003 (Forest Focus) adopted by the European Parliament and the 
Council for 2003 to 2006. From 2009 to 2011 the EU supported the forest monitoring at 
European scale on a project basis (Further Development and Implementation of an EU-level 
Forest Monitoring System, FutMon) under the LIFE+ Regulation. 
Besides its original purpose the monitoring system and the monitoring data can also be used 
for international processes of environmental policies other than the Air Convention. This 
applies in particular to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) and the future 
Global Forest Survey (GFS), to the Forest Europe process (formerly: Ministerial Conference 
for Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE)), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 
to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the European 
Commission. The monitoring is in accordance with the MCPFE resolutions S1 “Monitoring of
forest ecosystems” (Strasbourg 1990), H1 “Sustainable Forest management” (Helsinki 1993), 
and L2 “Pan European indicators and criteria for sustainable management” (Lisbon 1998). It also 
contributes to the discussion on global forest policy, such as the Intergovernmental Forum on 
Forests leading to the United Nations Forest Forum (UNFF). The latest example of the use 
of ICP Forests monitoring data for environmental policy processes at the European level is 
the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive (2016/2284/EU). Article 9 of the NEC 
Directive requires EU Member States to monitor the negative impacts of air pollution on 
ecosystems (including forests). Therefore, many parties to the convention use ICP Forests 
data to fulfil their reporting obligations for the EU. Finally, the monitoring and research 
infrastructure built over more than three decades can also contribute to terrestrial research 
infrastructures within new international consortia such as the long-term ecological research 
(LTER) network.   
At present, 42 European countries as well as the United States of America and Canada are 
participating in the Programme, which includes assessments according to harmonized and 
standardized methods following this ICP Forests Manual. Results of ICP Forests provide the 
scientific basis for political decisions on air pollution control and thus contribute to the 
elaboration and review of protocols of the Air Convention. Moreover, ICP Forests’ monitoring
activities can contribute to other aspects of relevance for forest policy, such as effects of 
climate change on forests, forests’ contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable 
forest management, and biodiversity in forests. 
2 Structures and Objectives of ICP Forests 
2.1 Background 
The objectives of ICP Forests are based on both the long-term strategy of the Air Convention 
(ECE/EB.AIR/133/Add.1) and the revised long-term strategy of the effects-oriented activities 
(ECE/EB.AIR/2009/17/Rev.1). The long-term aims to which all Task Forces, respectively 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 5
International Co-operative Programmes (ICPs), under the WGE (see Figure 1) are expected 
to contribute are: 
(a) Provision of quantitative policy-relevant information on monitored and modelled air 
pollution effects; 
(b) Derivation of exposure-response functions for chemical and biological effects of air 
pollutants, inter alia for effects of nutrient nitrogen, ozone and acidifying pollutants and 
ecosystems’ functioning and biodiversity, in combination with other stresses such as
land management and climate change;  
(c) Gathering information on policy-relevant user-friendly indicators to evaluate pollution 
effects on the environment and health;  
(d) Monitoring and assessment of effects on the environment and health as well as their 
trends;  
(e) Investigate the relevance of short-lived climate forces from the viewpoint of human 
and ecosystem health as well as detrimental effects on materials.  
(f) Further development of modelling and mapping procedures, in particular for effects of 
nitrogen and ozone on the environment, ozone and particulate matter on health, multi 
pollutant effects on environment and materials, and of dynamic processes of damage 
and recovery due to eutrophication, acidification and heavy metal accumulation, 
including biological effects;  
(g) Further studies of the uncertainties, robustness and validation of models, as well as 
data assumptions and uncertainties;  
(h) Gathering information on possible risks from POPs and heavy metals not regulated in 
global agreements;  
(i) Evaluation of environmental benefits of air pollution control policies, as well as 
contribution to economic assessment of damages. 
Two-year’s workplan items and in the future mandates laid down as Annex to the 
Memorandum of Understanding between the UNECE CLRTAP Secretariat and the Thünen 
Institute (see Chapter 3.1.5) further specify the effects-oriented activities.  
In order to meet the information needs of WGE, ICP Forests pursues the following four main 
objectives: 
(i) 
Provide a continued overview of forest health, vitality, forest soil condition, and 
biodiversity in relation to air pollution and its combination with biotic (e.g. pests, 
diseases) and abiotic (e.g. climate extremes) stressors, and climate change. 
(ii) Contribute to a better understanding of cause-effect relationships between 
anthropogenic as well as non-anthropogenic stressors and forest ecosystems’
conditions and processes. 
(iii) Maintain and provide high quality, harmonized, accessible data managed in one 
central database. 
(iv) Develop and maintain the ICP Forests Level I and Level II monitoring networks, 
including highly equipped forest measurement stations, as the basis for harmonized 
forest monitoring and forest ecosystem research across Europe. 
Consistent with WGE's long-term priorities, these goals imply providing a basis for calculating 
critical loads and levels and assessing their exceedance. In addition, through the use of 
models, the response of forest ecosystems to deposition scenarios expected in the future can 
be studied and evaluated.  Additional insight is gained by compiling available studies from 
the National Focal Centres (NFCs) and from related programmes inside and outside the Air 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 6
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
Convention. In this respect close cooperation is sought with the other relevant ICPs under 
WGE. 
To better address the above objectives, strategies of ICP Forests have been periodically 
developed since 1998. The most recent strategy, adopted by the Task Force in Luxembourg 
in May 2016, covers the period from 2016 to 2023 and is included as Annex 1 to this Part I of 
the ICP Forests Manual. 
 
 
Figure 1: Organisational chart of the Air Convention. ICP Forests is one of seven ICPs, 
respectively Task Forces.  
2.2 General features of ICP Forests 
2.2.1 Monitoring activities 
In order to meet its reporting obligations, ICP Forests employs data collection at two levels. 
• 
The systematic large-scale monitoring (Level I) provides periodic overviews of the spatial 
and temporal variation of forest condition, forests health and vitality, and forest soil 
condition. Level I plots, national forest inventory (NFI) plots, and other related inventory 
plots may be combined when appropriate, feasible and necessary, according to defined 
and agreed procedures. 
• 
The intensive monitoring (Level II) is carried out on permanent, highly equipped forest 
monitoring plots to foster integrative studies on cause-effect relationships based on 
consistent and harmonized long-term data series. These plots are dedicated to in-depth 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 7
investigation of the interactive effects of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic stressors 
on the condition of forest ecosystems. 
Details of the ICP Forests monitoring design can be found in Manual Part II on Basic Design 
Principles for the ICP Forests Monitoring Networks (http://icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-
manual). 
2.2.2 Quality assurance and control  
All monitoring activities are largely harmonized and standardised within ICP Forests among 
the participating countries and are laid down in this Manual. This ensures a standard 
approach for data collection and evaluation and can be further developed towards a future 
common European or even global forest monitoring programme. A consistent quality 
assurance (QA) approach is applied within the programme covering the setup, methods, data 
collection, submission and investigation as well as reporting. The elements of the Quality 
Assurance programme and the available QA/QC procedures are described in Manual Part III 
on Quality Assurance within the ICP Forests Monitoring Programme.  Details about specific 
QA/QC procedures are described in each of the individual parts of the Manual and compiled 
in Manual Part XVI on Quality Assurance and Control in Laboratories for all surveys 
depending on analyses in laboratories (http://icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual). 
2.2.3 Data evaluation 
A range of monitoring variables is required to meet the information requirements of the Air 
Convention and other international institutions. The Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC), 
the Programme Co-ordinating Group (PCG) and the Expert Panels (EPs) are responsible for 
a data evaluation and reporting approach based on the general mandate given to the PCC of 
ICP Forests and on the current 2-years’ workplans, negotiated at WGE level and approved 
by the Executive body of the UNECE CLRTAP.  If appropriate, international and national data 
from other programmes and institutions should be included in combined analyses. The main 
topics for data analyses are: 
o Forest condition 
o Effects on forest ecosystems from acidity, nitrogen, and ozone 
as well as contributions in the fields of  
o Climate change 
o Biodiversity. 
The integrative monitoring approach of ICP Forests using the Level I and Level II networks 
provides robust data on the condition including health aspects and stability of forests. This 
facilitates an understanding of the effects of deposition on the role and functioning of forest 
ecosystems in protecting soils and water. Furthermore, the programme surveys can 
contribute to the understanding and forecast of climate change effects on forests and can be 
used to supply information on the sequestration of carbon and on forest biodiversity.  
Trends in deposition and effects on the adaptation and vulnerability of forest ecosystems are 
evaluated. This includes spatial and temporal changes and cause-effect relationships with 
special emphasis on the exceedances of critical limits. Dynamic models and transfer functions 
derived from suitably selected intensive monitoring plots are used to investigate the effects 
of air pollution and climate including climate extremes on forest ecosystems in space and 
time. Resulting model values are validated against measured data collected at the plots.  
2.2.4 Deliverables 
Results are published via reports and scientific publications available under: http://icp-
forests.net/page/publications (see Chapter 3.4). 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 8
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
Relevant results from ICP Forests important for WGE and other CLRTAP bodies are 
summarized by PCC and the chairperson of ICP Forests and presented at the Joint Session 
of the EMEP Steering Body and Working Group on Effects. The most recent versions of such 
summaries are available under the official documents of the respective Joint Session: 
https://unece.org/info/events/unece-meetings-and-events/environmental-policy/air-pollution. 
3 Programme Implementation 
3.1 Organization of ICP Forests 
3.1.1 Overview 
The organisational structure of ICP Forests is shown in Figure 2. The programme is steered 
by its Task Force where all participating countries are represented by their ministries and 
National Focal Centres (NFCs). The Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC) and the 
Programme Co-ordinating Group (PCG) including a Quality Assurance and a Scientific 
Committee care for the full implementation of the programme. The Forest Soil Co-ordinating 
Centre (FSCC) assists in preparing and evaluating soil data while the foliar data are treated 
and evaluated by the Forest Foliar Co-ordinating Centre (FFCC). In response to the demand 
for harmonized and standardised monitoring at both Level I and Level II, Expert Panels (EPs) 
were established. In appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of the committees, expert panels, 
and working groups listed below, ICP Forests strives for a high degree of diversity in terms of 
age, gender, origin, nationality and race. 
 
 
Figure 2: Structure (organogram) of ICP Forests. 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 9
3.1.2 The Task Force 
The programme is steered by the Task Force, in which 42 participating countries are 
represented by their responsible ministries and their NFCs. The European Commission (EC) 
might be represented as well. The Task Force is the official and highest body of ICP Forests. 
All relevant programme issues have to be presented to the Task Force. The Chairperson - 
supported by the Lead Country and the PCC - prepares, convenes and chairs annual Task 
Force meetings.  
3.1.3 The National Focal Centres (NFCs) 
The NFCs are nominated and financed by the participating countries. They are responsible 
for the collection, validation, evaluation and storage of their monitoring data and aggregation 
of national data in accordance with the ICP Forests Manual. The NFCs and their responsible 
agencies have to ensure that the data is collected according to the methods described in the 
Manual and that the quality assurance programme has been applied. The NFCs evaluate and 
interpret their national data. In the last years an enormous potential for evaluation and 
advancement of knowledge of forest ecosystems has been gained at national level. 
Increasing attention also at national level is paid to integrative data evaluations. 
The NFCs have the task to submit the Level I and Level II data and accompanying information 
to the PCC in accordance with the agreed deadlines and format. The NFCs are invited to 
participate in the evaluation and interpretation of the data at European level. In case that part 
of the national responsibilities is delegated to sub-national agencies, PCC needs to be 
informed accordingly. 
Within the procedures under the Intellectual Property and Publication Policy of ICP Forests, 
NFCs inform PCC on contact details of experts that are interested to participate in specific 
evaluations. 
3.1.4 The Lead Country 
The Lead Country of ICP Forests is Germany represented by the Federal Ministry of Food 
and Agriculture (BMEL). The Lead Country installs the Chairperson and maintains the 
Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC) of ICP Forests, supports the Chairperson and the 
PCC to prepare, convene and chair the annual meetings of the Task Force. The Lead Country 
also convenes and chairs meetings of the PCG, fosters co-operations with the EC, and 
supports the contact with other monitoring programmes within and outside the Air Convention. 
3.1.5 The Chairperson 
The Chairperson of ICP Forests is appointed by the Lead Country or by a Co-lead Country. 
This(these) country(ies) is(are) responsible for funds to enable adequate scope for action. 
The chairperson represents ICP Forests externally and plays a central role internally. The 
chairperson connects the different entities of ICP Forests and fosters its coherency, leads the 
Task Force and – in accordance with the Lead Country – the PCG meetings. He or she 
supports the contact with other monitoring programmes within and outside the Air Convention 
as well as the co-operation with the European Commission. Together with the head of the 
PCC of ICP Forests, the chairperson represents ICP Forests within the WGE and is part of 
its Extended Bureaux.  
3.1.6 The Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC) 
The PCC is hosted by the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute 
for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries and located at the Institute of Forest Ecosystems in 
Eberswalde, Germany. Together with the chairperson, the head of the PCC of ICP Forests 
represents ICP Forests within the WGE and is part of its Extended Bureaux. The PCC 
coordinates the implementation of the programme and its further development on behalf of 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 10
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
BMEL in close consultation with the ICP Forests chairperson and the ICP Forests Programme 
Co-ordinating Group (PCG). Specifically, this includes the following:  
• 
Assistance to the Chairperson, the Task Force and the PCG in the continuous review, 
further development, and implementation of the programme 
• 
Contact point for the Ministries and National Focal Centres (NFC) of the member 
countries as well as for the Expert Panels (EP) 
• 
Development and maintenance of the ICP Forests Website 
• 
Data management including 
o Establishment, maintenance and further development of the ICP Forests data 
portal and the ICP Forests database 
o Supporting NFCs with annual data submissions to the ICP Forests database 
o Data management and validation 
o Coordinate data sharing with third parties in accordance with ICP Forests' 
Intellectual Property and Publication Policy 
o Technical implementation of manual changes in the data model of the central 
ICP Forests database 
• 
Preparation, implementation and follow-up of the following annual steering meetings: 
Task Force Meeting (TFM), Programme Co-ordinating Group Meeting (PCGM) and 
the ICP Forests Scientific Conference (FORECOMON). 
• 
Support in the planning and implementation of the Combined Expert Panel Meetings 
and Head of the Lab Meetings 
• 
Coordinate periodic revisions of the ICP Forests Manual, including editorship and 
technical implementation of manual changes approved by the Task Force. 
• 
Management of the ICP Forests budget and fundraising. 
• 
Initiation and implementation of data analyses 
• 
Initiation and development of scientific publications  
• 
Development and publication of the annual ICP Forests Technical Report.  
• 
Representation of ICP Forests including reporting at international meetings, 
conferences, workshops, forums, etc. 
• 
Annual reporting to the Task Force, UNECE, Working Group on Effects and the 
following sister ICPs: ICP Integrated Monitoring, ICP Vegetation, ICP Waters, ICP 
Modelling and Mapping 
3.1.7 The Programme Co-ordinating Group (PCG) 
The PCG has the task to continuously review and further develop the monitoring and to 
support the Chairperson and PCC in all issues of relevance for the future of the programme. 
Recommendations of the PCG are directed to the Task Force of ICP Forests. Members of 
the PCG are the Chairperson, the Lead Country, the PCC, the chairpersons of the Expert 
Panels, the Scientific Committee, the Quality Assurance Committee, the Working Group on 
Quality in Laboratories and occasionally a representative of the European Commission and 
the WGE. In order to meet these tasks, the PCG needs to convene regularly. A participation 
of representatives of NFCs in PCG meetings as well as representatives of the UNECE 
secretariat may be considered. 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 11
3.1.8 The Scientific Committee 
The Scientific Committee promotes and fosters scientifically sound evaluations and 
publications within the programme and explores links between ICP Forests and international 
scientific communities at various levels in close cooperation with PCC, PCG and the EPs. 
This includes the organisation of the annual scientific conference of ICP Forests 
FORECOMON (Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Conference) in regards to content.   
3.1.9 The Quality Assurance Committee 
The Quality Assurance (QA) Committee has the task to identify and support the 
implementation of a consistent QA approach valid throughout the various investigations 
carried out within the ICP Forests. Members of the Quality Assurance Committee include the 
chairpersons of the Expert Panels and possibly one more person involved in QA issues per 
EP, the chairpersons of the Working Group on Quality in Laboratories and of the Scientific 
Committee, the PCC, delegates from data managers, and when necessary the Chairperson 
of ICP Forests. 
3.1.10 The Working Group on Quality in Laboratories 
This working group is mainly concerned with the analysis of samples from different media in 
the forest ecosystem. This includes the setup of specifications for the safe transport of the 
samples to the laboratory, the optimal and complete sample preparation (e.g. grinding, 
digestion) up to the need of a correct analysis of the samples. The group also deals with 
method harmonization, quality assurance and quality improvement measures in the 
laboratories, including the performance of regular and mandatory ring tests. Members of the 
Working Group on Quality in Laboratories are national experts or heads of the national 
laboratories of ICP Forests participating countries and possibly experienced scientists. A 
close cooperation and coordination with the chairpersons of the involved expert panels (EP 
on Soil & Soil Solution, EP on Foliage & Litterfall and EP on Deposition) concerned is needed 
and necessary. 
3.1.11  The Expert Panels (EPs) 
The EPs further develop the harmonized methods as laid down in this manual. This includes 
the development of methods and standards including data quality assurance, as well as 
supporting and actively working towards integrative data evaluations and scientific 
publications. Members of the Expert Panels are national experts of ICP Forests participating 
countries. For specific purposes and for a limited period of time, additional ad hoc working 
groups may be established consisting of representatives from different EPs. The EPs hold 
EP and joint-EP meetings. 
3.2 Monitoring activities and ICP Forests Manual 
The methods and standards of the monitoring activities are laid down in the various parts of 
this manual. Part II describes the monitoring design at the two intensity levels (Level I and 
Level II) including plot selection and plot design and general information on monitoring plots 
and stands. Also described are the data submission procedures and data validation. Part III 
describes the elements of the Quality Assurance programme and the QA/QC procedures that 
EPs and Working Groups should develop and implement within their own field of application. 
From Part IV onwards, data quality assurance and the methods and standards of individual 
surveys are described in detail. 
Investigation methods, variables to be measured and QA/QC procedures are under 
continuous screening by the EPs (see Part III). This continuous process provides the basis 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 12
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
for two kinds of amendments, the Manual update and the more comprehensive Manual 
revision (see Part III). 
In short, the Manual update consists of minor changes and need to be discussed among the 
respective EPs/WGs and the PCC. Manual revisions by contrast are a more comprehensive 
process and are carried out on a 5-year basis. Manual revisions must be formally approved 
by the Task Force (see Part III). 
3.3 Data analyses 
Analyses of the monitoring data pursue the objectives of ICP Forests laid down in 
Chapter 2.1. Both the Level I and in particular the Level II approaches call for an integration 
of the data from various monitoring surveys. The possibility for integrating data from different 
investigations into a cohesive evaluation system is the most important aspect related to the 
Level II plots. The integration can be achieved at different levels according to data availability 
in space and time. Forest over-all condition (health) in terms of growth, tree condition, plant 
diversity and soil condition can be impacted by biotic (pests and diseases) and abiotic (e.g. 
climate, air pollution) factors, the effects and importance of which depends on inherent site 
properties (e.g. site history and management, topography, soil condition) according to 
complex and often mutual relationships. These relationships can be fully investigated only if 
data from all investigations are available. Another option can be to consider modelled data 
from available and suited models, provided model outputs can be applied with confidence to 
the situation of the plot being considered. In this respect, the wealth of data collected on 
Level II sites can be used to establish deterministic relationships that can be useful for 
deriving estimates of unmeasured variables at given sites. 
3.4 Publishing and reporting 
The WGE asks in its long-term strategy to “further develop forms and methods for efficient,
comprehensive and timely communication of scientific results with the Convention and to 
policymakers, the scientific community and the general public”. To comply with these
demands ICP Forests has developed a multi-level publication and reporting system. 
Research, review and methodological papers regarding air pollution and other impacts on 
forest ecosystems published in reviewed scientific journals are targeted at the scientific 
community. The initiative for these publications is to be taken up by all members of ICP 
Forests, however initiatives are expected especially from members of the EPs, the 
Committees, and the PCC. 
In order to provide general overviews on monitoring results and their interpretation with 
respect to relevant results of forest damage research as well as on special topics for a broad 
public, ranging from politicians across NGOs and environmentalists to forest owners and the 
general public currently ICP Forests briefs are issued. The scientific and technical basis of 
the monitoring is provided by annually published ICP Forests Technical Reports along with 
evaluations and reviews to be carried out by the EPs, the PCC, and the NFCs. Other suitable 
contributions can be included as well. The target group of the Technical Reports are mainly 
experts involved in the work as well as the ministries of the participating countries. The 
responsibility for the briefs and the Technical Reports lies with the PCC. 
3.5 Data release and acknowledgement 
ICP Forests data is available for use by the wider scientific community. Experts and data 
providers of the monitoring programme are available to support external data users. Data is 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 13
made available upon request. All data users need to agree to and need to acknowledge the 
intellectual property policy of ICP Forests (see Annex 2). 
3.6 Citation of ICP Forests reports and manuals 
ICP Forests reports and publications should be cited as follows: 
Author(s or editor), year: title. (In: Editor [e.g. UNECE ICP Forests Programme Co-ordinating 
Centre (ed.)]: title of omnibus volume [e.g. Technical Report...]), publisher [e.g. Thünen 
Institute of Forest Ecosystems], place, pages or n of pages. [optional: DOI], [optional: 
available from: IP address].  
The recommended form of citation should be included in all scientific ICP Forests publications 
on the back cover or on a colophon page. The DOI and IP address of the respective ICP 
Forests website should additionally be given in square brackets. 
The ICP Forests Manual as a whole is suggested to be cited as follows: 
UNECE ICP Forests Programme Co-ordinating Centre (ed.), 2022: Manual on methods and 
criteria for harmonized sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air 
pollution on forests. Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems, Eberswalde [available from: 
http://icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual]. 
Individual parts of the ICP Forests Manual should be cited as follows: 
Authors, year: [Title of relevant manual part]. [version number]. In: UNECE ICP Forests 
Programme Co-ordinating Centre (ed.): Manual on methods and criteria for harmonized 
sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests. 
Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems, Eberswalde, [n of pages], [available from: http://icp-
forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual].

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 14
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
Annex I - Strategy of ICP Forests 2016–2023 
I 
ICP FORESTS IN SHORT 
The ‘International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution 
Effects on Forests’ (ICP Forests) is a work programme within the ‘Working Group on Effects’
(WGE) of the ‘Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution’ (CLRTAP) under the 
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). ICP Forests is led by a 
Chairperson and administered by its Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC). The 
Programme Co-ordinating Group (PCG), its Committees (Scientific Committee (SC); Quality 
Assurance Committee (QAC)), the Expert Panels (EPs) and the National Focal Centres 
contribute to the Programme. 
II 
MISSION STATEMENT 
The mission of ICP Forests is to carry out multifunctional long-term monitoring of forests within 
the UNECE region and beyond and provide scientific knowledge on the effects of air pollution, 
climate change and other stressors on forest ecosystems.  
III 
AIMS 
ICP Forests pursues the following aims: 
• 
Forest Condition. Provide a continuing overview on forest health, vitality, forest soil 
condition and biodiversity status in relation to anthropogenic (air pollution, atmospheric 
deposition) and natural stressors. 
• 
Cause-effect relationships. Contribute to a better understanding of cause-effect 
relationships between anthropogenic as well as natural stressors and forest condition and 
processes. 
• 
High quality data. Provide high quality and open access data managed in one central 
database for risk assessment for forests across Europe, large-scale and long-term trend 
analyses as well as model validation and calibration, serving also as a reference for global 
assessments.  
• 
Infrastructure. Develop and maintain highly equipped forest measurement stations as 
central data hubs and standardized forest monitoring and research infrastructures across 
Europe.  
IV 
FEATURES OF THE CURRENT PROGRAMME 
ICP Forests works at two levels: 
•
The systematic large-scale monitoring (Level I) provides periodic overviews of the spatial
and temporal variation in forest health, vitality and forest soil condition.  

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 15
• 
The intensive monitoring (Level II) is carried out on permanent, highly equipped forest 
monitoring plots to foster integrative studies on cause-effect relationships based on 
consistent and harmonized long-term data series. 
All monitoring activities are described in the “Manual on methods and criteria for harmonised
sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests”. This
ensures reliable and consistent information and quality assurance by a standardised 
approach for data collection and evaluation. 
Quality assurance and control  
A consistent quality assurance is guaranteed for the set-up of methods, data collection, 
submission, validation, as well as reporting and publishing. This includes field checks, inter-
calibration and cross-comparison courses, inter-laboratory ring tests, data validation 
procedures and internal reviewing. 
 
Data and database 
A large range of data is provided. All data are kept in a central database and managed 
according to agreed guidelines as laid down in the Manual. Data are open for internal and 
external use upon request. 
 
Evaluation, reporting and publishing 
ICP Forests  
• 
publishes annual technical reports on main scientific topics including long-term effects 
from e.g. acidification, eutrophication, ozone and other relevant impacts on forest 
ecosystems; 
• 
publishes syntheses, highlights, and extracts of results compiled in annual executive 
reports addressing public and political stakeholders; 
• 
publishes scientific papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals addressing the scientific 
community; 
• 
organizes scientific conferences and publishes proceedings to foster the exchange 
among scientists, stakeholders and policy makers; 
• 
encourages participating countries to publish national forest reports, which complement 
and support the ICP Forests dissemination efforts. 
V 
VISION FOR THE FUTURE 
Our vision is for a European-wide forest monitoring infrastructure, integrating multiple levels 
and providing high quality, transparent, robust and open access data i) on the status and 
trends of forest health, vitality, productivity and biodiversity; ii) on risks of forests being 
exposed to anthropogenic and natural stressors (separately and combined), and iii) on 
progress in achieving relevant policy goals to diminish risks. 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 16
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
VI 
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS 
We focus on new challenges for forest health, vitality and diversity in relation to the impact of 
transboundary air pollution and climate change to further develop the ICP Forests programme 
in the next period (2016–2023). To support work to realise the future vision ICP Forests states 
its commitment to: 
• 
intensify co-ordination of the national monitoring activities by offering standardized 
infrastructure and facilities to potential users, such as forest authorities, environmental 
agencies, and research institutions, for additional research activities complementing the 
central purpose and data, thereby deriving improvements and/or extensions such as long-
term experimental monitoring sites to the programme. 
• 
broaden the scope of monitoring activities for the unique long-term data series of traits 
and processes in forest ecosystems by considering topics such as climate change effects, 
ecosystem services, biodiversity, and large-scale scientific investigations. 
• 
follow-up on relevant international policy issues and offer collaborations by supplying 
the scientific background for forest related policies and providing advice to national and 
European policy makers. 
• 
strive for long-term financing of activities, particularly including the maintenance of 
existing infrastructure and required staff as well as exploring more mechanisms for 
sustainable funding. 
• 
increase the visibility of the programme to improve the acknowledgement as well as the 
funding opportunities, by organizing scientific conferences and workshops (partly in co-
operation with other ICPs and forestry organizations), by publishing peer-reviewed 
scientific articles in highly ranked journals, policy briefs, fact sheets, information bulletins, 
and in social media (internet blogs, ResearchGate, Facebook, etc.). The current 
publication strategy is renewed. 
• 
foster a high quality and transparent database and work towards open access to 
researchers and stakeholders. 
• 
strive towards maintaining used field measurement methods at the latest state of the 
art to guarantee for high-quality data. A review of the Manual every five years and Expert 
Panel meetings continuously promote the awareness and discussions on the latest 
methodologies and instrumentation. The concept of core plots with more in-depth 
investigations will be further explored. 
• 
explore new tools and technologies (e.g. satellites, remote sensors, proximal sensing, 
new analytical instruments, modelling tools, information technology) and strive for 
incorporating them into the programme. 
• 
use monitoring data for testing cause-effect relationships, long-term trend analyses, 
modelling (calibration, parameterization, and validation) and evaluating effects of forest 
management and environmental policy strategies. 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 17
• 
enhance co-operation with other ICPs to promote integrated and cross-sectorial 
evaluations and reporting as well as unified measurement protocols through e.g. mutual 
funding and scientific conferences. 
• 
stress the global importance of air pollution monitoring and increase the motivation 
to common activities by closer collaboration with monitoring networks outside of Europe, 
such as NADP (USA) and EANET (East Asia) and by inviting members from SEE and 
EECCA countries into the ICP Forests network. 
• 
encourage and increase future collaborations with other research activities and 
monitoring platforms by joint use of research infrastructures, open data access, data 
harmonization, federated databases and large-scale scientific evaluations and hereby 
attain possibilities for an even more comprehensive terrestrial monitoring research 
programme. 
• 
feed information into other bodies and programmes such as the FAO Forest 
Resources Assessment (FRA 2015 and its long-term strategy), the Ministerial Conference 
for Protection of Forests in Europe (Forest Europe), the UN Convention on Biological 
Diversity (CBD), the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and other 
appropriate bodies, e.g. of the European Commission. 
VII 
ADOPTION 
This strategy of ICP Forests is fully in line with the long-term strategy of the Convention 
(2010–2019, ECE/EB.AIR/2008/6 and ECE/EB.AIR/106/Add.1, Annex), the revised long-term 
strategy of the WGE (2010–2020 and beyond, ECE/EB.AIR/2009/17/Rev.1) and the most 
recent work plan (ECE/EB.AIR/122/Add.2) for the effects-oriented activities of the WGE. 
This document was adopted at the 32nd Meeting of the Programme Task Force of ICP Forests
in Luxembourg, 13 May 2016. By the end of 2016, ICP Forests develops a plan for how and 
when to work towards implementation of each of the actions. In the year 2020, a mid-term 
review of this strategy will take place. 
APPENDIX: AREA OF IMPLEMENTATION AND MEMBER STATES 
The ICP Forests Strategy 2016–2023 is targeted at all 51 Parties (as of November 2013) of 
the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP): Albania1, 
Armenia2, Austria, Azerbaijan2, Belarus2, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina1, Bulgaria1, 
Canada, Croatia1, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia2, 
Germany, Greece1, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan2, Kyrgyzstan2, Latvia, 
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, 
Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova1, Romania1, Russian Federation2, Serbia1, Slovakia, 
Slovenia1, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1, 
Turkey1, Ukraine2, United Kingdom, United States of America, and the European Union.  
ICP Forests has 42 members (as of January 2016): Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, 
Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 18
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, 
Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, 
Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The 
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United 
States of America. 
1) South East Europe (SEE) Programme of the EU and 2) Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia (EECCA) 
region of the OECD 
 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 19
Annex II - Intellectual Property and Publication Policy  
The Intellectual Property and Publication Policy (IPPP) covers rules, rights and obligations to 
be applied for data supply, request, and use from the official ICP Forests PCC Collaborative 
Database (ICP Forests DB). 
The aims of this Intellectual Property and Publication Policy (IPPP) is to 
• 
stimulate cooperative scientific studies among internal and between internal and 
external partners of the ICP Forests Network;  
• 
protect the rights of owner- and authorship;  
• 
ensure proper co-authorship and acknowledgement.  
Rights and Obligations of the Applicant  
Data Application  
1. In order to receive access to data from the ICP Forests DB, the applicant has to 
submit this application form to the PCC. The applicant is declaring the intended use 
of the data requested specifying the scientific purpose of the study, the duration, the 
methodological approach and the sub-contractors foreseen to also work with the 
data.  
2. The data application is first evaluated by the PCC due to formal correctness. 
Hereafter, the PCC sends it to all relevant NFCs for evaluation.  
3. A response by the NFCs containing the decision over the submitted proposal may 
be expected from the PCC within 4 weeks. [1] 
4. Following the rules under the LRTAP Convention data access by applicants can only 
be denied or restricted by the contributors if appropriate reasons are provided. [2] 
5. Information provided with the application will be made public on the ICP Forests 
website. [3]  
Use of Data  
1. In case of a positive evaluation the applicant is allowed to use the requested data for 
the scientific purpose described in the proposal and to publish the results.  
2. It constitutes a breach of the agreement if data is submitted to other parties or used 
for purposes other than declared in the proposal.  
3. The applicant is free to provide requested data to peer-reviewed journals for 
validation purposes on demand if the peer-reviewed journal does not request to 
publish this data.  
4. The applicant is not allowed to include the explicit coordinates of ICP Forests 
monitoring plots in any publication.  
5. The applicant is allowed to include plot coordinates accurate to geographic minutes 
in published results.  
Distribution of Results  
 
 
1. Any publication based on data from the ICP Forests DB has to be provided to the
PCC for publication on the ICP Forests website. [4] 

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 20
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
2. The applicant informs the PCC if a publication can be shared on the ICP Forests 
website according to the publisher’s rules.  
3. If any rules and regulations stand against an open publication, only metadata on the 
article such as author, co-authors, title and journal will be published.  
4. The applicant agrees to report on the progress of the data evaluation using a 
standardized report form which will be distributed by the PCC annually. 
Scientific Collaboration – Co-Authorship  
1. The applicant is obliged to offer a scientific collaboration to interested members of 
the ICP Forests Network to gain the requirements for a co-authorship.  
2. According to the Vancouver Protocol [5], which is used as an international standard 
for ethics of publication, all following criteria have to be fulfilled to be named as a co-
author:  
• 
Conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of data  
• 
Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content  
• 
Final approval of the version to be published.  
Acknowledgements  
1. The applicant is obliged to properly acknowledge the origin of used data with 
following acknowledgement text in any publication: “The evaluation was based on 
data that was collected by partners of the official UNECE ICP Forests Network 
(http://icp-forests.net/contributors). Part of the data was co-financed by the European 
Commission (Data achieved at “download date”).”  
2. For any form of graphical presentation of results (e.g. maps, tables, presentations) 
the following short label should be used including the hyperlink to the official ICP 
Forests website: “Based on ICP Forests data” (http://icp-forests.net)  
Rights and Obligations of the ICP Forests Network  
1. A two-year exclusive right for data evaluation is granted to the ICP Forests Network 
for Internal Evaluations. Data evaluation by the ICP Forests Network is regarded as 
the final step of validation and is thus essential to ensure appropriate data quality.  
2. Internal Evaluations can be initialized by the Chairperson of ICP Forests, the PCC, 
the Expert Panel Chairs and/or other bodies under the LRTAP Convention [6] 
3. For any Internal Evaluation the official application form is to be submitted to the PCC 
by the person(s) initializing the evaluation.  
4. The NFCs will be informed by the PCC about any Internal Evaluation using the 
provided application form.  
5. Internal Evaluations do not need the permission of concerned contributors.  
6. Any member of the ICP Forests Network has the right to be included in any Internal 
Evaluation.  
7. The requirements for a co-authorship remain according to the criteria of the 
Vancouver Protocol. 
 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 21
Processed Datasets  
Based on the measurement data collected during the monitoring activities several processed 
datasets have been created by members of the ICP Forests Network. Those datasets can 
only be requested for Internal Evaluations.  
Precision and Quality of Data  
1. In order to respect national property rights, plot coordinates of some countries will be 
provided at the accuracy of geographic minutes only for External Evaluations.  
2. A list of those countries is included in the data approval by the PCC.  
3. The measurement data is not interpolated to those generalized coordinates. So data 
from listed countries cannot be used for spatially explicit pinpoint analyses. 
4. Neither the PCC nor the contributor is fully responsible for data quality. Only the 
close collaboration between the applicant and the concerning members of the ICP 
Forests Network can guarantee for a full understanding of the data, their relevant 
background information (metadata), and overall quality, including accuracy and 
applicability. A list of (national) experts of the ICP Forests network is available under: 
http://icp-forests.net/page/expertlist 
 
Annex  
Application and Publication Process  
In the following, the individual steps of the required application process are described for both, 
Internal and External Evaluations. Recommended response times are given in parentheses.  
1. The applicant completes this official data application form and submits it to the PCC, 
hereby accepting and agreeing to the conditions of this IPPP.  
2. The PCC informs the NFCs about the application and the proposed purpose for the 
provision of data (2 weeks).  
3. The NFCs consider the application and respond within the following categories (2 
weeks). In case other parties than the NFC are responsible for the data contribution 
the NFC might further distribute the request to concerned parties and coordinate the 
final decision delivered to the PCC: 
• 
Rejection: the contributor is not convinced that the data will be fairly used and 
duly acknowledged or there is a significant conflict of interest. Following the data 
rules under the LRTAP Convention, the contributor is obliged to provide specific 
reasons for rejecting the release of data.  
• 
Permission: the contributor is satisfied with the proposal and agrees that the 
respective data is provided to the applicant. The contributor may name contact 
details of relevant experts of the ICP Forests Network for scientific collaboration.  
An Internal Evaluation cannot be rejected by the contributors. There is no formal reply of the 
contributors to the applicant. Instead, the contributors that are interested in a direct 
involvement of the proposed analyses may contact the applicant directly.  
In case, the contributor does not participate in the application approval process within a 
predefined period (4 weeks), the final decision over the application is up to the PCC.  

Part I 
Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Page 22
www.icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-manual
4. The PCC compiles the NFCs’ responses and informs the applicant about the final
decision on the approval of the submitted application (2 weeks), including:  
• 
any information needed to get access to the data;  
• 
the list of experts to be contacted for collaborations.  
 
5. The applicant shares any publication based on ICP Forests data with the PCC as 
pdf-file. The applicant informs the PCC if the publication can be shared on the ICP 
Forests website according to the publisher’s rules. If any rules and regulations stand
against an open publication, only metadata will be published on the website.  
Explanation of Used Terms  
• 
ICP Forests DB: the official ICP Forests PCC Collaborative Database  
• 
Contributor: representatives of NFCs and any other institution delivering data to the 
ICP Forests DB listed under http://icp-forests.net/contributors  
• 
Applicant: a third party, individual, or institution that applies for data access  
• 
NFC: National Focal Centre  
• 
PCC: Programme Coordinating Centre of ICP Forests [7] 
• 
ICP Forests Network: Contributors, Expert Panels (EPs) and the PCC  
• 
Internal Evaluations: Evaluations initialized by the Chairperson of ICP Forests, the 
PCC, the Expert Panel Chairs and/or other bodies under the LRTAP Convention [6] 
• 
External Evaluations: Evaluations initialized by Applicants other than bodies under 
the LRTAP Convention [6] 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
[1] In case that data is contributed by different contributors of one country (e.g. 
representative institutions of federal states) the corresponding NFC organizes the 
national work and information flow.  
[2] Report of the Executive Body on its twenty-fourth session held in Geneva from 11 to 14 
December 2007 – Addendum – Part Two: Decisions adopted by the Executive Body – 
Decision 2006/1  
[3] http://icp-forests.net/page/project-list  
[4] http://icp-forests.net/page/scientific-publications  
[5] Anonymus (2008): Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical 
Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication. Updated October 2008. 
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. http://www.icmje.org  
[6] Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP)  
[7] The PCC is responsible for the application approval process and the protection of the 
rights of both parties, the Contributors and the Applicants, according to this IPPP. 
 
 

Objectives, Strategy and Implementation of ICP Forests 
Part I 
Version 2022-2
Page 23
Annex III: Minor changes after 2022 
 
Date 
Minor change to latest published 
version in 2022 
Affected sections of this document 
06/2022 
To specify tasks, the following 
sentence was added: This includes 
the organisation of the annual 
scientific conference of ICP Forests 
FORECOMON (Forest Ecosystem 
Monitoring Conference) in regards to 
content. 
3.1.8 Scientific Committee 
Addition of Annex III as missing  
Annex III