Acid Rain: Does it Contribute to Forest Decline? (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Jan. 24, 1985 |
| Report Number |
MB84204 |
| Authors |
Adela Backiel |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Some forests in various parts of the world are showing signs of declining
productivity. Although research has attempted to find its cause, a definite
link between acid rain and th'is decline has not yet been established. The
research, however, has engendered considerable scientific debate. This
debate over acid rain's role in U.S. forest decline is a source of
controversy in congressional deliberations on whether to legislate emissions
controls and reduce the amount of pollutant that is believed to be a possible
precursor of acid rain -- sulfur oxides.
Should acid rain be implicated in this decline, the debate on emission
reductions could be influenced by the fact that large dollar values may be at
stake. Total value of U.S. forest products in 1977 was approximately $28
billion. A 2% decline, for example, could amount to $560 million.
This minibrief describes the major hypothesis explaining why acid rain may
be contributing to forest decline, along with the major arguments against
this hypothesis. For additional information on acid rain and current
legislation for pollutant emissions controls, see IB83016 -- Acid Rain:
Current Issues, and IB83005 -- Clean Air Act: An Overview.
