Mars, Mont Mars, (Fontainemore, Aosta)

Installed in 1991, Fundata-beech represents an ICP-Forests level II plot, being selected as core plot in Futmon Project. Main parameters investigated in this plot are: crown condition, air chemistry, biodiversity, terrestrial biomass, soil properties, total nitrogen input, phenology, meteorology. The main research topics are: pollution effects, ecosystem structure, biodiversity driven by land use, biodiversity driven by climate change, forest ecology

In 1998 a permanent plot (50 x 50 m) was established on the slope of the Nosal Mountain at the height of 970 m asl in 120 year old spruce stand, where in the 120-year-old spruce stand bulk deposition, throughfall and soil solution are collected. The investigations of health status of trees and floral characteristic have been carried out since 2001. The analyses are carried out in a certified laboratory of the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, Katowice (Certificate No AB 325). The basic meteo data are taken from the monitoring station located at Kuźnice (about 1 kn from the plot).

Acid alpine grassland on a ridge extending westward from the summit of Mount Salatın in the Jalovecka dolina valley,Western Tatra Mountains, Tatra National Park, Slovakia. Vegetation at the site belong to the alliance Juncion trifidi and it is dominated by graminoid species, including Oreochloa disticha, Festuca supina and Agrostis rupestris, with lower cover of forb and shrub species. Soils at the site are humic ferruginous podzols, derived from biotite granodiorite parent material.

Hydrometeorological and biogeochemical observations within 5 embedded catchments (from 0.2 to 14.5 km2). Alpine Mediterranean climate with heavy rainfall and flash floods in automn. The geology is mainly granite. The land use is mainly grassland and forest. More information at http://www.ohmcv.fr

Ashiu Forest Research Station is located in the northeastern border part of Kyoto Prefecture in main island Honshu and stretches 6km east to west and 7km north to south in a rectangular shape. The area is characterized by high relief with altitudes ranging from 355 to 959 m above the sea level and encompasses the headwater zones of Yura River flowing into Wakasa bay, the Sea of Japan. This region is situated in the transition part between cool temperate forests and warm temperate forests. There is a heavy snowfall ranging from 1 to 3m in winter seasons. More than half of Ashiu Forest Research Station is covered with old-growth forests. In cool temperate forests above 600m altitude, the main species are beech (Fagus crenata), Japanese ceder (Cryptomeria japonica), deciduous oak (Quercus crispula). In warm temperate forests under 600m altitude, evergreen and deciduous oaks (Quercus salicina and Quercus sessilifolia) can be seen. There are two noteworthy characteristics in Ashiu Forest Research Station. Firstly, its high biodiversity. Since the establishment of the Research Station in 1921, new plant or vertebrate species/ varieties have been found. 801 woody, herbaceous and fern species have been recorded (Yasuda and Nagamasu 1995). Nationally protected species such as Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and Giant Saramander (Andrias japonicas) can be seen. Secondly, Ashiu Forest Research Station has been used not only for research and education but also for ecotourism by local stakeholders for more than 20 years, which has great opportunities for inter- and transdisciplinary studies.

The Lehrforst Rosalia (Rosalia University forest) is about 1000 ha, covered with all major tree species and forest types in Austria (Norway spruce, Fir, Larch, Scots pine, Beech, Oak, etc). The forest area is located in the Rosalia Mountains near the Lower Austria/Burgenland border. The Demonstration Forest (950 ha) was set up in 1972 with an agreement between the Austrian Federal Forests (Österreichische Bundesforste, ÖBf, https://www.bundesforste.at/english.html) and BOKU. Nevertheless, the University is active in this area since 1875; considerable documentation regarding forest description and planning was elaborated by that time. It is located on the western slope of the mountainous ridge called „Rosaliengebirge“ in the southeastern part of Lower Austria (LAT 47°42’N, LON 16°17’ E). Elevation is between 300 and 720 m a.s.l, annual mean temperature of 6.5 deg C and 800 mm annual precipitation. The forest is mainly composed of beech associations (Fagetums) , peripheral also spruce-fir-beech forest association (Abieti-Fagetum). The Key task of the Forest Demonstration Centre ist supporting the educational and research work of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Accordingly, accommodation, work and teaching facilities are provided. The research focus lies on following areas: · Collection and hold ready of area-based and environmental Data · Establishing and monitoring of sample plots especially for beech growth and treatment related questions · Characterization of local and microclimate · Environmental impacts to forest ecosystems · Monitoring and modelling of small forested watersheds Essential research and educational infrastructure are: · 4 Weather monitoring stations · 2 scaffolding towers for measuring (35m) with instrument cabin · 4 Measuring weirs for runoff monitoring (Watershed 230 ha) · radio linked data collection and on-line hosting · Surveying and Mapping equipments (terrestric and GPS) · Long-term experiment simulating drying and rewetting of forest soils (DRAIN Station) · IT-Room with different Software-packages (GIS, Planning Tools etc.) · Laboratories and work rooms · Lecture Rooms · Accommodation for > 40 people The available data range from base data (GIS-Data), meterological and hydrological time series (since 1990), inventory data of growing stock, data of different plots to measuring data related to numerous projects.

ICP forest monitoring plots: 0.5 ha of fenced stand + 20 m buffer area. Managment, data collection and reserch activities carried on by catholic university of Louvain (UCL)

Nature reserve, Natura 2000, protected coniferous blueberry forest.

Waroneu is a 83 ha forested catchment located in the east of Belgium (« Hertogenwald »: Duke's forest) within the municipality of Baelen. In 2011, it was covered with 38% conifers (mainly Picea abies), 45% deciduous trees (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Betula pendula), and 17% open space. Biogeochemistry (nutrient and organic carbon in throughfall, rainfall, soil solution and outlet) has been studied since 1991. The catchment was limed in 1992 with 3T/ha dolomite and 200 kg/ha potassium sulfate. Since 2013, biogeochemistry and soil microbial parameters (microbial biomass, N mineralization, basal respiration) are studied in 6 intensive plots, reflecting major combinations of vegetation and upper soil caracteristics within the catchment.