The BIOMA Institute Brings Together Experts from 14 Countries to Advance the Monitoring of European Forests

In late June, the Biodiversity and Environment Institute ) at the University of Navarra hosted the X meeting of laboratory Directors laboratory ICP Forests program, organized by our researcher David Elustondo.

ICP Forests is a European forest monitoring initiative that assesses the effects of air pollution, climate change, and other stressors on forest ecosystems. To this end, it continuously monitors forests throughout Europe with the goal creating an infrastructure that integrates data , reliable, and high-quality data to support research and decision-making subject forest conservation and management.

The meeting together 20 researchers and laboratory directors laboratory 14 countries to address the main methodological and analytical challenges related to studying the impact of air pollution on forests. During the sessions, analysis protocols were reviewed, experiences were shared among the various participating laboratories, and new methodologies were agreed upon that will be incorporated into the program to enhance the quality, harmonization, and comparability of the data at the European level.

 _{David Elustondo, during his remarks at the meeting.}
 

The meeting held within the framework contract that the BIOMA Institute has with the General Administration Biodiversity, Forests, and Desertification of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the challenge , through which the Institute analyzes samples from the Level II network the ICP Forests program in Spain. This work to the long-term monitoring of the condition of our forests and to a better understanding of the effects that air pollution and climate change have on these ecosystems.

During their visit, the participants also learned about the research activities of the BIOMA Institute and toured its facilities at the University of Navarra, a setting that fostered the exchange knowledge strengthened international partnership .