Jonas Ardö

The extent and rate of deforestation from 1972 to 1989, including some spatial properties in the heavily polluted mountains of Krusne Hory, on the border between the Czech Republic and Germany were studied. Deforestation was assessed using satellite remote sensing integrated with digital elevation data. The results show that over 50% of the coniferous forest disappeared during this period. Especially affected areas were between 600 and 1000 m a. s. l. and slopes facing south and southeast. The sector downwind of a large point source of SO₂ and NO(x) was strongly deforested. The relation between deforestation and distance to the point source is unclear. A satellite estimation of forest damage in 1989, based on needle loss, resulted in 79%, 17% and 4% of the remaining 308 km² conifers being classified as lightly, moderately and heavily damaged forest, respectively.