Study

The restoration of species-rich heathland communities in the Netherlands

  • Published source details Jansen A.J.M., de Graaf M.C.C. & Roelofs J.G.M. (1996) The restoration of species-rich heathland communities in the Netherlands. Plant Ecology (formerly Vegetatio 1948-1996), 73-88.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Cut trees and remove leaf litter

Action Link
Shrubland and Heathland Conservation
  1. Cut trees and remove leaf litter

    A before-and-after trial in 1989–1994 in a formerly forested wet heathland in the Netherlands (Jansen et al. 1996) found that cutting trees and removing the leaf litter layer increased the cover of two heather and three grass species. Fifteen years after trees were cut and leaf litter removed, the cover of common heather Calluna vulgaris and cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix (heather: 3%; cross-leaved heath: 2%) was higher than before cutting and removal of leaf litter (heather: 0%; cross-leaved heath: 0%). This pattern was also seen for purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea (before: 0%; after: 18%), bulbous rush Juncus bulbosus (before: 0%; after: 9%), and sharp flower rush Juncus acutiflorus (before: 0%; after: 7%). All trees were cut and the leaf litter removed in winter 1989. Twelve permanent plots measuring either 1 m2 or 4 m2 were established at the site in 1989 and vegetation cover was recorded in July or August for every year in 1989–1994.

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