Aggravation of forest decline by radioactivity

The examination of damage patterns from maps prepared for the area of the Obrigheim nuclear power plant and the uranium-containing spoil banks at Wittichen by the Forestry Research Institute of Baden-Wuerttemberg revealed no significant relationship between potential emitters and forest decline in the vicinity. This finding is clearly in contradiction with Reichelt's mapping results. These diverging results are to be attributed to different mapping processes. The process used by Reichelt has some decisive shortcomings and must be rejected, in the form in which it is practised, especially for two reasons: The inventory design is strongly subjectively tinted in all its phases and allows the mapper unwarranted subjective scope with uncontrollable effects on the mapping result. The standardization conditions are insufficient; the part played by parameters superposing the decline characteristics is only eliminated in part or not at all. The statements here presented apply first of all only to the two objects discussed and solely to crown damage recognizable with the naked eye. It is recommended to do a revised mapping also of the remaining regions investigated by Reichelt. Moreover all points of doubt expressed by Metzger must at once and without prejudice be verified. (orig./MG)