Picture
Conifer forest view.
Coniferous forest

The conifer damage and trunk lichen mapping of the South Karelia region begins

Release
22.4.2022 16:26
Field work for bioindicator monitoring, which is part of air quality monitoring in South Karelia, will begin in May 2022.

Field work will start in May 2022
The bioindicator monitoring, which is part of monitoring the air quality of South Karelia, is carried out as a conifer damage and trunk lichen mapping in 245 observation areas, which are evenly located around almost the entire province of South Karelia.
The research to be carried out in 2022 is a continuation of the bioindicator monitoring that has been carried out locally in the area since the 1980s. The study was conducted for the first time in 2005 as a joint monitoring covering almost the entire South Karelia. This study is already the fourth bioindicator study covering the entire province. The municipalities of the region commissioned the study.


 - In the bioindicator monitoring of the province of South Karelia, trunk lichens growing on pine trees are used as bioindicators of the effects of air pollutants. Lichens react sensitively to air pollution both with their appearance and with changes in species composition and abundance, which is why they are good indicators of air quality, says environmental expert Tiina Osmala from Eurofins Oy.


The mapping is done year after year in the same observation areas
There are five research trees in each observation area, which are marked with white paint marks. If the field has been destroyed by logging or as a result of a change in land use, the field will be re-established at the nearest location suitable for mapping. The research does not affect the trees or their growth. The research areas have been placed in both urban and background areas in mature and mature pine trees. The results of the study will be reported by the end of 2022.
The research is carried out by Eurofins. The field work will be carried out by three environmental experts who will be traveling in the area alone or in pairs during May and June 2022.


For more information:
Environmental expert Tiina Osmala
TiinaOsmalaateurofins.fi (TiinaOsmala[at]eurofins[dot]fi)
p. 040 660 7414


Environmental inspector Arto Ahonen
Environmental action of the Imatra region
arto.ahonenatimatra.fi (arto[dot]ahonen[at]imatra[dot]fi)
p. 020 617 4392