Vol. 438 No. 7
75 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on the recent EC report which shows that Europe's forests have deteriorated in recent years, and in a comparison of the surveys results since the year 1988 more species of trees in Europe recorded their highest level of defoliation and discoloration in the year 1992.
The report in question is prepared by the UN — Economic Commission for Europe as well as the European Commission, and involves 34 European countries. Its results are a matter for concern in the overall context of European forests, but the extent of forest damage differs in participating countries. The most heavily affected areas are mostly in eastern Europe, while damage to Ireland's forests is low.
The most important probable causes of forest damage are adverse weather, insects, fungi, forest fires, human actions, damage by game and air pollution. Air pollution is considered by some countries to be the essential factor affecting forest health and in others as a factor leading to the weakening of forest ecosystems. It has not been an identifiable cause in damage to Irish forests.
