Indicators of Ecological Effects of Air Quality Project

The Heinz Center and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnered to develop tools that help resource managers understand how ecosystems are responding to changes in air quality. 

The effort engaged multiple stakeholders who focused on four major ecological effects of air pollution: acidification by nitrogen and sulfur, nitrogen enrichment, ozone damage to plants, and mercury bioaccumulation.

This project drew upon a rich body of scientific work and guidance from expert advisors to produce a set of ecosystem indicators.  Indicators are quantitative tools that can be used by federal and state agencies, as well as other natural resource managers and policy makers, as they develop and evaluate policy and management strategies to address air pollution. 

Indicator selection and design was built on the foundation of an advisor-driven, ‘state-of-the-science’ assessment. The project Steering Committee oversaw three technical subcommittees charged with providing guidance for indicator metric selection and development.

 

Project accomplishments:

• Identified the most important metrics of ecosystem exposure and response to atmospheric nitrogen, sulfur, ozone and mercury;

  Full Report (4.3MB, .pdf) Executive Summary (.4MB, .pdf) Chapters:     Acidic Deposition (1.5MB, .pdf)     Nitrogen Enrichment (1MB, .pdf)     Ozone (1MB, .pdf)     Mercury (2MB, .pdf) About the Project: Committee Rosters Ecological Change Subcommittee Meeting Notes (August 2007) Air Quality Subcommittee Meeting Notes (September 2007) Analysis Subcommittee Meeting Notes (November 2007)

• Investigated the ecological links between air quality and the condition of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems;
• Recommended eight (8) indicators and seven (7) areas for future research in the development of additional indicator metrics to complement the recommended indicators; and
• Produced an authoritative report (accessible online) to be used as a resource for policymakers and resource managers.

This project was made possible through funding from EPA’s Clean Air Markets Division.

For more information please contact Dr. Christine Negra, project director, at (202) 737-6307 or Negra@heinzcenter.org