Nitrogen Deposition, Critical Loads and Biodiversity : Proceedings of the International Nitrogen Initiative Workshop, Linking Excpets of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and the Convention on Biological Diversity

This volume brings together extended reviews and papers of new scientific research on atmospheric nitrogen deposition impacts globally. While there is a wealth of evidence on the magnitude, components and effects of nitrogen disposition on floral biodiversity in Europe and North America, there is an obvious lack of information on impacts on above- and below-ground fauna, and all impacts in other parts of the world, with no clear overview of how the different strands of evidence fit together. This overall synthesis is targeted at the international conventions, but is equally readable for scientists, environmental managers, conservation agencies and policy makers. 'This timely book highlights the global nitrogen deposition problem. Major regions of the world are exceeding sustainability thresholds for adverse effects on ecosystem function and biodiversity. This highlights the importance of ongoing work, including under the Convention on Biological Diversity, in developing indicators and monitoring nitrogen deposition effects to enable appropriate measures. This book presents a milestone towards this global goal as the international community works toward meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, especially Target 8: "By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity". Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity “This key volume highlights the global challenge to reduce atmospheric nitrogen pollution resulting from energy production, transport and agricultural activities. It takes forward the agenda recently launched in the UNEP commissioned report ‘Our Nutrient World”. Dr. Anjan Datta, UNEP.

Mark A. Sutton is a leading international expert in the behaviour of nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere and their impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. He has a special interest in interactions of atmospheric ammonia and on development of the science policy interface. He is based at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (Edinburgh) and is currently Chair of the International Nitrogen Initiative. Kate E. Mason is an information systems professional working at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (Edinburgh). She has an MScEcon in Archives and extensive experience working in academic libraries and archives. Lucy J. Sheppard has been leading field manipulation experiments into pollution effects on terrestrial ecosystems for nearly 30 years. She has a special interest in effects of different N forms on semi-natural vegetation and carbon cycling in peatlands. She is based at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (Edinburgh). Harald Sverdrup researches actively into chemical weathering of minerals in soils, and the modelling of soil chemistry and forest and aquatic ecosystems involving population dynamics and nutrient and pollution flows. His research on Critical Loads has been used widely under the UNECE-LRTAP Convention where his team have built and adapted models such as PROFILE, SAFE, FORSAFE, AGRO-SAFE and BigMERK to regional use in Europe. At present he focuses on integrated sustainability assessments and is using biogeochemical models to drive biodiversity models. He has been Professor of Chemical Engineering at Lund University since 1994. Richard Haeuber leads the Assessment and Communications Branch in the Clean Air Markets Division of the US Environmental Protection Agency. He was formerly Associate Director of the Ecological Society of America’s Science Programs Office, where he focused on the ecological effects of air pollution on terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal ecosystems. As a Congressional Fellow, he advised US Senate staff on air quality issues and multi-pollutant control legislation. W. Kevin Hicks is a leading researcher with an interest in the transfer of scientific information to the policy process, especially concerning air pollution impacts on terrestrial ecosystems from local to global scales and the linkages between air pollution, climate, biodiversity and ecosystems services. He currently sits on Steering Committee of the European Centre of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) and is a Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Environment Department, at the University of York, UK.