National Ecosystem Monitoring Network (NEMN)-Design: monitoring air pollution impacts across sensitive ecosystems

Under the EC National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD 2016/2284), EU member states are required to monitor (Article 9) and report (Article 10.4) air pollution pressure and impacts on ecosystems that are representative of each country’s freshwater, forest, natural and semi-natural habitats. Ireland developed the National Ecosystem Monitoring Network (NEMN) in 2018, with the first data submission on 1st July 2019. In this document, are proposed methods for monitoring air quality and ecosystem parameters, and for selecting sites to be included in NEMN to improve representative coverage across sensitive habitat types and major pollution gradients. Prepared for the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland by University College Dublin and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.