Forest Decline in the Atlantic and Pacific Region

Forest damage, forest decline, forest dieback – unrelated to biotic agents – is occurring in the Atlantic and Pacific regions. In Europe and Eastern North America this serious problem is considered to be, at least in some part, related to industrial air pollutants and their atmospheric conversion products, such as acid rain or ozone. Forest decline in the Pacific region has been attributed largely to natural causes involving forest dynamics, since air pollution and other negative anthropogenic influences are practically absent. Presented here are typical decline phenomena in the Pacific and Atlantic regions, potential causes, effects and mitigation strategies.