Abstract
The chapter addresses whether the critical load of nutrient nitrogen (N) is a relevant, necessary and sufficient indicator to address adverse effects of reactive nitrogen (Nr) on biodiversity in different regions of the world. Based on a description of the critical loads concept for nutrient N, and the relationship to biodiversity endpoints, applications of the critical load for nutrient N are summarized in the context of policies under the Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention. Potential applications of critical loads are addressed with respect to the relevance of adverse effects of N under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The chapter considers the prospects for effect-based applications in different regions of the world and poses some questions that need to be addressed. Finally, the potential for a broader indicator for N (a ‘threshold’ rather than a ‘load’) that could apply to all forms and impacts of N is considered, as it could potentially increase the coherence between CLRTAP and CBD.
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Acknowledgments
This investigation has been performed by order and for the account of the Directorate for Climate Change and Industry of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (2009) . The work of the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE) is partially supported by the trust fund for the funding of core activities, including effect-oriented work, of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the European Science Foundation under the NinE and COST729 programmes for attendance to present this chapter, the ÉCLAIRE project for underlying research support,
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Hettelingh, JP., Vries, W., Posch, M., Jan Reinds, G., Slootweg, J., Hicks, W. (2014). Development of the Critical Loads Concept and Current and Potential Applications to Different Regions of the World. In: Sutton, M., Mason, K., Sheppard, L., Sverdrup, H., Haeuber, R., Hicks, W. (eds) Nitrogen Deposition, Critical Loads and Biodiversity. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7939-6_30
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