Degradation and restoration of wet and moist meadows in the Czech Republic: General trends and case studies

Abstract

Summary: The main stages of well managed and degraded wet and moist meadows are reviewed together with their respective species diversity. Results of three case studies are presented, demonstrating changes in species diversity under various management and experimental treatments. The studies are of (a) alluvial meadows; (b) wet meadows adjacent to a standing water body; (c) submontane moist meadows. Results indicate that despite the great degradation of the majority of moist (i.e. slightly wet) and wet meadows in the Czech Republic, potential still exists to restore many of them. Re—establishment of a regular cutting regime and a decrease in nutrient inputs are necessary for successful restoration or rehabilitation of the meadows, which can be rapid under certain conditions, especially if the input of diaspores of desirable species is ensured, such as in many flooded alluvial meadows. © 1996, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.