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Additional file 1: Figure S1. Map of Ecological Land Classes of Europe [15]. Table S1. Legend of the map on Ecological Land Classes of Europe [15]. Table S2. Description of Chemical Transport Models (CTM) used as data source. Figure S2. Predicted correlation patterns for Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn (moss; EMEP/LE) at site level as classified according to their surrounding land use with above element-specific average (= A) or below e.-s. average (= B) correlations.

The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in 1987. It is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long- range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North- America. Today, the ICP Vegetation comprises an enthusiastic group of scientists from 50 countries, including scientists from outside the UNECE region. An overview of contributions to the WGE workplan and other research activities in the year 2015/16 is provided in this report.

The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in 1987, initially with the aim to assess the impacts of air pollutants on crops, but in later years also on (semi-)natural vegetation. The ICP Vegetation is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. The ICP Vegetation is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North-America. The Convention provides the essential framework for controlling and reducing damage to human health and the environment caused by transboundary air pollution. So far, eight international Protocols have been drafted by the Convention to deal with major long-range air pollution problems. ICP Vegetation focuses on the following air pollution problems: quantifying the risks to vegetation posed by ozone pollution and the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals, nitrogen and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to vegetation. In addition, the ICP Vegetation studies the interactive impacts of air pollutants (e.g. ozone and nitrogen) on vegetation in a changing climate. The ICP Vegetation is also keen to enhance participation of countries in South-East Europe (SEE) and in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA). Hence, a new Moss Survey Coordination Centre was established in 2014 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russian Federation. The head of the new Moss Survey Coordination Centre is Marina Frontasyeva, who also assists the ICP Vegetation Programme Coordination Centre with the translation of various documents into Russian. The ICP Vegetation comprises an enthusiastic group of scientists from 50 countries (Table 1.1), including scientists from outside the UNECE region as the ICP Vegetation stimulates outreach activities to other regions in the world. The contact details for lead scientists for each group are included in Annex 1. In many countries, several other scientists (too numerous to mention individually) also contribute to the biomonitoring programmes, analysis, modelling and data synthesis procedures of the ICP Vegetation.

The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in 1987. It is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North-America. In addition to this report, the ICP Vegetation Programme Coordination Centre has provided a technical report on ‘Effects of air pollution on natural vegetation and crops’ (ECE/EB.AIR/WG.1/ 2014/8) and on ‘Air pollution: Deposition to and impacts on vegetation in (South-) East Europe, Caucasus, Central and South-East Asia’ (ECE/EB.AIR/WG.1/2014/13). The latter was also published as a glossy report and translated into Russian. ICP Vegetation also contributed to the joint report (ECE/EB.AIR/WG.1/ 2014/3) of the WGE. The ICP Vegetation Programme Coordination Centre published a glossy brochure titled ‘Have you seen these ozone injury symptoms?’, containing images of ozone-induced leaf injury on vegetation.

This report describes the recent work of the International Cooperative Programme on effects of air pollution on natural vegetation and crops (ICP Vegetation), a research programme conducted more than 40 countries, in the UNECE region and with outreach activities to other regions. Reporting to the Working Group on Effects of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, the ICP Vegetation is providing information for the review and revision of international protocols to reduce air pollution problems caused by ground-level ozone, heavy metals, nitrogen and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Progress and recent results from the following activities are reported:  Impact of ozone on ecosystem services and biodiversity.  Ozone biomonitoring programme.  European heavy metals and nitrogen in mosses survey 2010/2011.  A pilot study on mosses as biomonitors of POPs

Naturally-occurring mosses have been sampled across Europe to monitor the deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen from the air. This survey has been repeated at five-yearly intervals since 1990 for heavy metals and since 2005 for nitrogen. In 2010/2011, mosses were collected at ca. 4, 500 sites in 25 countries for heavy metals and ca. 2, 400 sites in 15 countries for nitrogen. In general, the lowest concentrations in mosses were found in northern Europe for both heavy metals and nitrogen. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were often observed in south-eastern Europe, whereas the highest concentrations of nitrogen were found in parts of western and central Europe. Europe-wide the concentration of lead (77% decline), vanadium (57%), iron (52%) and cadmium (51%) has declined the most since 1990, whereas the concentration of copper has declined the least (11% decline). Since 1995, the concentration of arsenic and mercury has declined by 26% and 23% respectively. The nitrogen concentration in mosses has hardly changed since 2005. This report is for scientists, policy makers and others with an interest in air pollution.

This report describes the recent work of the International Cooperative Programme on effects of air pollution on natural vegetation and crops (ICP Vegetation), a research programme conducted in 35 countries in the UNECE region, with outreach activities to other regions. Reporting to the Working Group on Effects of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, the ICP Vegetation is providing information for the review and revision of international protocols to reduce air pollution problems caused by ground-level ozone, heavy metals, nitrogen and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Progress and recent results from the following activities are reported:  Contributions to revision of the Gothenburg Protocol.  Impacts of ozone on carbon sequestration.  Ozone biomonitoring programme.  European heavy metal and nitrogen in mosses survey 2010/2011, including a pilot study on POPs.  Relationship between i) heavy metals and ii) nitrogen concentrations in mosses and impacts on terrestrial ecosystems.

Executive Summary The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in the late 1980s. It is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Longrange Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North-America. Today, the ICP Vegetation comprises an enthusiastic group of over 200 scientists from 35 countries in the UNECE region with outreach activities to other regions such as Asia, Central America and Africa. An overview of contributions to the WGE workplan and other research activities in the year 2010/11 is provided in this report.

The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in the late 1980s, initially with the aim of assessing the impacts of air pollutants on crops but, in the most recent decade, impacts on (semi-)natural vegetation have also been considered. The ICP Vegetation is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North America. Today, the ICP Vegetation comprises an enthusiastic group of more than 200 scientists from 35 countries in the UNECE region with outreach activities to other regions such as Asia, Central America and South Africa. An overview of contributions to the WGE work plan and other research activities in the year 2009/10 is provided in this report, including ozone impacts in Mediterranean areas, and a European heavy metal and nitrogen in mosses survey.

The first European moss survey was conducted in 1990/1 and has since then been repeated at five-yearly intervals. The most recent survey was conducted in 2005/6, with mosses collected from over 6, 000 sites in 28 countries, including the UK. Samples were collected according to a standardised protocol and concentrations for 10 – 12 heavy metals were determined in the last three years’ growth segments. European maps were produced based on the EMEP 50x50 km2 grid, displaying the mean heavy metal concentration for each cell (Harmens et al., 2008). In 2005/6, the lowest concentrations of heavy metals in mosses were generally found in (north) Scandinavia, the Baltic States and northern parts of the United Kingdom, and the highest concentrations were often found in Belgium and eastern European countries. Antimony concentrations were high in densely populated areas and in eastern European countries with high metal pollution levels. The decline in emission and subsequent deposition of heavy metals across Europe has resulted in a decrease in the heavy metal concentration in mosses since 1990 for the majority of metals. Europe-wide the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead and vanadium have declined the most (by 45-72%), declines in the concentrations of copper, nickel and zinc were intermediate (20-30%), with no significant reductions being found for mercury (12% since 1995) and chromium (2%). Between 1995 and 2005, the decline in heavy metal concentration in mosses in the UK was generally higher than the decline observed European-wide. Heavy metal deposition maps for the UK based on the metal concentration in mosses were produced for the years 2000 and 2005 (Ashmore et al., 2008) and compared with deposition maps based on the rural heavy metal deposition monitoring network (Fowler et al., 2006). This study has relevance to Defra policy as: • Identifying hotspots of heavy metal deposition in the UK ; • Monitoring the effectiveness of heavy metal emission abatement strategies. References: Ashmore, M., Van den Berg, L., Terry, A., Tipping, E., Lawlor, A.J., Lofts, S., Thacker, S.A., Vincent, C.D., Hall, J. , O’Hanlon, S., Shotbolt, L., Harmens, H., Lloyd, A., Norris, D., Nemitz, E., Jarvis, K., Jordan, C. (2008). Development of an effects-based approach for toxic metals. Defra contract CPEA 24. Fowler, D., McDonald, A.G., Crossley, A., Nemitz, E., Leaver, D., Cape, J.N., Smith, R.I., Anderson, D., Rowland, P., Ainsworth, G., Lawlor, A.J., Guyatt, H., Harmens, H. (2006). UK Heavy Metal Monitoring Network. Defra contract EPG1/3/204. Harmens, H., Norris, D. and the participants of the moss survey. Spatial and temporal trends in heavy metal accumulation in mosses in Europe (1990-2005). Programme Coordination Centre for the ICP Vegetation, CEH Bangor, UK. ISBN 978-1-85531-239-5.

The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in the late 1980s, initially with the aim of assessing the impacts of air pollutants on crops, but in recent years impacts on (semi-) natural vegetation have also been considered. The ICP Vegetation is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North-America. Today, the ICP Vegetation comprises an enthusiastic group of over 200 scientists from 35 countries in the UNECE region. An overview of contributions to the WGE work-plan and other research activities in the year 2008/9 is provided in this report.

The first European moss survey was conducted in 1990/1 and has since then been repeated at five-yearly intervals. The most recent survey was conducted in 2005/6, with mosses collected from over 6, 000 sites in 28 countries. Samples were collected according to a standardised protocol and concentrations for 10 – 12 heavy metals were determined. In 2005/6, the lowest concentrations of heavy metals in mosses were generally found in (north) Scandinavia, the Baltic States and northern parts of the United Kingdom, although higher concentrations were reported near local sources. Relatively low concentrations of iron, mercury, nickel and vanadium were also observed in central Europe. Depending on metal, the highest concentrations were often found in Belgium and eastern European countries, with localised lower concentrations being present. Antimony concentrations were generally high in densely populated areas and in eastern European countries with high metal pollution levels. The decline in emission and subsequent deposition of heavy metals across Europe has resulted in a decrease in the heavy metal concentration in mosses since 1990 for the majority of metals. Between 1990 and 2005, the concentration in mosses has declined the most for lead (72.3%, based on 16 countries), arsenic (71.8%, five countries), vanadium (60.4%, 11 countries), cadmium (52.2%, 16 countries) and iron (45.2%, 13 countries). An intermediate decrease was found for zinc (29.3%, 16 countries), copper (20.4%, 16 countries) and nickel (20.0%, 16 countries) and no significant reduction for chromium (2%, 14 countries). Since 1995, the arsenic concentration in mosses has declined by 21.3% (14 countries), whereas mercury showed no significant decline (11.6%, eight countries). However, temporal trends were country or region-specific, with no changes or even increases being observed since 1990. Therefore, even in times of generally decreasing metal deposition across Europe, temporal trends are different for different geographical scales.

This study aimed at investigating the correlations between nitrogen (N) depositions and air concentrations and heavy metal depositions and element concentrations in mosses collected across Europe to quantitatively characterise the indicative value of mosses as biomonitors of HM and N deposition. Correlations between the total N and HM concentrations in mosses and atmospheric HM and N depositions and air concentrations were examined for the first time at a European scale. In addition to the deposition values, predictors such as urban and agricultural land uses, population and livestock density were integrated in the analyses to account for emission-related influences. The total N concentrations in mosses were determined at 2781 (2005/6) and the HM concentrations up to 7000 sites (1990, 1995, 2000, 2005) across Europe. Modelled atmospheric N and HM deposition and air concentration data were calculated using the Unified Model of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) of the Longrange Transboundary Air Pollution Convention. The modelled deposition and air concentration data encompass the metal elements Cd, Hg and Pb as well as several N compounds. Spearman rank correlation analysis and Classification and Regression Trees (CART) were applied. The Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the total N concentration in mosses and modelled N depositions and air concentrations are significantly associated (0.53 rs 0.69, p < 0.01). Correlations with other predictors were lower than 0.55. Concerning the metal elements, the calculations corroborated that modelled atmospheric Cd deposition and Cd concentrations in mosses were correlated (0.62 rs 0.69, p < 0.01). The correlation coefficients for Pb were between 0.67 and 0.73 (p < 0.01). Hg deposition and concentrations in mosses were correlated at a much lower level (0.09 rs 0.24, p < 0.01). Multivariate correlation analyses showed that the Cd and Pb concentrations in mosses were mainly affected by depositions, emissions and urban land use around the sampling sites. Regarding Hg, in addition to these factors the moss species and analytical methods were found to be relevant. The CART analysis indicated that the variation in the total N concentration in mosses could be mainly explained by the variation in dry deposition of oxidised N, total dry N deposition as well as the livestock density and the ratio of urban land use around the sampling sites. Therefore, the total N concentration in mosses appears to mirror land use-related atmospheric N deposition across Europe to a high degree. The heavy metal and total N concentration in mosses is a valuable tool in identifying areas at risk from high atmospheric heavy metal and N deposition at a high spatial resolution.

The first European moss survey was conducted in 1990/1 and has since then been repeated at five-yearly intervals. The most recent survey was conducted in 2005/6, with mosses collected from over 6, 000 sites in 28 countries. Samples were collected according to a standardised protocol and concentrations for 10 – 12 heavy metals were determined in the last three years’ growth segments. In 2005/6, the lowest concentrations of heavy metals in mosses were generally found in (north) Scandinavia, the Baltic States and northern parts of the United Kingdom. Relatively low concentrations of iron, mercury, nickel and vanadium were also observed in central Europe. Depending on metal, the highest concentrations were often found in Belgium and eastern European countries. Antimony concentrations were generally high in densely populated areas and in eastern European countries with high metal pollution levels. The decline in emission and subsequent deposition of heavy metals across Europe has resulted in a decrease in the heavy metal concentration in mosses since 1990 for the majority of metals. Between 1990 and 2005, the concentration in mosses has declined the most for lead (72%), arsenic (72%, based on five countries), vanadium (60%), cadmium (52%) and iron (45%). An intermediate decline was found for zinc (29%), copper (20%) and nickel (20%) and no significant reduction for chromium (2%). Since 1995, the arsenic concentration in mosses has declined by 21% (based on 14 countries), whereas mercury showed no significant decline (12%). However, on a national/regional scale large deviations from the general European trend were found. At the European scale, spatial and temporal trends in heavy metal concentrations in mosses were generally in agreement with trends in heavy metal deposition modelled by EMEP (Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe) for the metals cadmium, lead and mercury.

The ICP Vegetation is an international programme that reports to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) on the effects of air pollutants on (semi-)natural vegetation and crops. The WGE considers the effects of air pollutants on waters, materials, forests, vegetation, ecosystems, and health in Europe and North-America (Working Group on Effects, 2004). The ICP Vegetation has focussed on two air pollution problems of particular importance: quantifying the risks to vegetation posed by ozone pollution and the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals to vegetation. Two further pollution problems investigated by the programme are plant responses to pollutant mixtures (e.g. ozone and nitrogen interactions) and the deposition of nitrogen pollutants to vegetation. In addition, the ICP Vegetation is taking into consideration consequences for biodiversity and the modifying influence of climate change on the impacts of air pollutants. The work of the ICP Vegetation currently aims to provide information for the review of the Gothenburg Protocol (1999) designed to address the problems of acidification, nutrient nitrogen and ground-level ozone, and the Aarhus Protocol (1998) designed to reduce emissions of heavy metals (Working Group on Effects, 2004). Over 180 scientists from 35 countries of Europe and North-America contribute to the programme. The ICP Vegetation is chaired by Mr Harry Harmens at the Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor, UK, and the coordination is supported by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Temporal trends (1990-2000) in the heavy metal concentration in mosses across Europe

An overview of the achievements of the ICP Vegetation in 2006

Julkaisussa on selvitetty ympäristönäytteiden pitkäaikaisen säilytyksen ja yhteiskäytön nykytila ja kehittämistarpeet Suomessa. Selvityksessä on huomioitu elollisia tai elottomia ympäristönäytteitä keräävät ja tallentavat tutkimuslaitokset, yliopistot ja luonnontieteelliset museot. Ihmisperäisten näytteiden tallentaminen (ns. biopankit) on tässä selvityksessä jätetty vähemmälle huomiolle. Julkaisu koostuu itsenäisistä kappaleista, jotka ovat luettavissa myös erillisinä omina osakokonaisuuksinaan. Julkaisussa pyritään luomaan pohja laajemmalle yhteistyölle ympäristönäytteiden sekä näytteitä käsittelevän tiedon tallennukseen ja käyttöön liittyvissä kysymyksissä. Selvityksen mukaan ympäristönäytteiden säilytystä ja hyötykäyttöä voidaan kehittää toimintoja keskittämällä ja laitosten välistä yhteistyötä tehostamalla sekä välittämällä aineistoja käsittelevä informaatio laajempaan saatavuuteen. Nämä toimet myös vähentävät ympäristönäytteiden keräämiseen ja säilyttämiseen liittyviä päällekkäisyyksiä.