Consequences of reduced immissions on the ecochemical conditions of forest ecosystems in Saxony (Germany)

With the German reunion in 1989 a strong reduction in industrial emissions occured in the former GDR. However, the acidity in precipitation is still very high. Since 1993 the Saxon State Institute for Forestry (LAF) monitors the element budgets at 6 different forest ecosystems within the scope of the European Level II Programme. The aim of the programme is to get regional informations of ecological risks for forest ecosystems and to achieve recommendations for forest management. Base cation deposition, concentrations of Ca and K as well as pH in soil solution of subsoils have decreased, while large amounts of previously stored sulphur and pedogenic aluminium are released from the soil matrix. This gives rise to concern about an increasing risk for root damages, nutritional imbalances and thus decreasing elasticity of forest ecosystems.