2 Middle-Danube-Valley Protection of the Environment, Budapest, Hungary,

Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Szent István University, Páter K. 1., 2103 Gödöllõ, Hungary

njano@fau.gau.hu

There were five Sphagnum dominated mires described on the Bereg-plain (NE Hungary). The Nyíres-tó, Báb-tava, Navad-patak, Zsid-tó and the Bence-tó. These areas can be found at the South-Eastern marginal zone of Sphagnum dominated associations on the plains of Europe. The first three have had oligotrophic bogs and poor fens in the centre of them (fire damage has totally extirpated these associations from Navad-patak in 1967), and other type of fens, marshes and swamps are on the limit of their ranges. The last two mires had only different types of Sphagnum dominated fens, marshes and swamps.

There were various human caused damage effects on the five mires (draining, fire, destroy of their gallery forests and meadows, farming) as their vegetation showed progressive degradation.

Water replenishing systems were built, drainage canals were blocked, Quercus robur forest was planted to the northern part of the Báb-tava as well as other measures for the restoration of the mires. The original state seems to recover on the Nyíres tó and Báb-tava. Unfortunately the Zsid-tó and the Navad-patak was flooded by man in 1994 and the Bence-tó by great amount of precipitation in 1998, where the Sphagnum was extinct and the formation of floating mires started immediately.

The whole scale of development of mires on these five mires can be followed up. That seems to follow the progression described below: cape shape floating turf formation, quaking mats of vegetation, floating mire, ecesis of Sphagnums, continental raised bog.

This knowledge will inform our future restoration management decisions.

Conflicts on scale and intensity of restoration measures for vegetation and fauna of coastal dunes

Nijssen, M., C. van Turnhout & H. Esselink

Bargerveen Foundation, Department of Environmental Studies, Animal Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands

nijssen@sci.kun.nl

Dune ecosystems in the Netherlands are severely threatened by eutrophication, acidification, lowered groundwater tables and stabilisation of geomorphological processes. Structure and species rich vegetation change into dense vegetation dominated by a few tall grass species. With this change many characteristic dune fauna species also disappear. Restoration measures that are taken include grazing, mowing, sod-cutting and reactivation of geomorphological processes. The results of these measures (especially on fauna) are only poorly studied. However, restoration of geomorphological processes, vegetation or fauna seems to make different demands on scale and intensity of measures. Results from studies on vegetation and fauna will be presented and some thresholds will be given to design more balanced measures for restoring coastal dune ecosystems.

Restoring landfills in gypsum quarry areas and conservation of endemic flora

Pastor, J. ¹, R. Castelló ¹, J.M. Martín ¹, N. Prieto ¹ & A.J. Hernández ²

1 Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales, CSIC, C/Serrano 115 Dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain

jpastor@ccma.csic.es

Fertõ-Hanság National Park Directorate, Kócsagvár, P.O. Box 4, 9435 Sarród, Hungary

pellinger@freemail.hu

The habitat rehabilitation process in the Hanság started in 2001. The main purposes of the intervention were: firstly to establish open water bodies and furthermore restore the suitable conditions for the marshland and aquatic vegetation and the resettlement of the previous fish fauna.

Both of the two restoration area became quickly popular waterbird habitats. Characteristic breeding species are: greylag goose (Anser anser), red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), ferrugineous duck (Aythya nyroca), black winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus), black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) and common tern (Sterna hirundo).

Restoring wetlands and river bank habitats in the Valencian community

Peña, C.; A. Sebastian; P. Perez Rovira, VI. Deltoro, J. Perez Botella, L. Serra, A. Olivares, G. Ballester & E. Laguna

Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria de Medio Ambiente, Dirección de Planificación y Gestión del Medio, Servicio de Conservación y Gestión de la Biodiversidad, Centro Experimental Piscícola “El Palmar”, 46012 Valencia, Spain

piscifactoria.palmar@cma.m400.gva.es

The Valencian Community, at the eastern part of Spain, is home to wetland ecosystems of great importance included in 6 of the 38 European Union SACs (Special Areas for Conservation) which, as a result of a long term human intervention, are badly degraded. Prominent examples are overgrazing, intensive agricultural practices and urbanisation of the coastal line.

In the face of ongoing habitat degradation, the regional environmental council (Conselleria de Medio Ambiente, Generalitat Valenciana) undertook a comprehensive restoration project financed by a Life Natura project (Life99 NAT/E/6417).

The main goal is to produce and farm aquatic flora in order to restore vegetation in these habitats improving significantly the state of the wetlands at risk of degradation.

Once species have been selected, seeds and rhizomes were harvested developing the best sexual and vegetative reproduction techniques to obtain the plant.

So far a total of 54175 individuals from 59 different species have been produced in specially designed greenhouses. Most of them are vascular plants, 13 species belonging to floating and submerged hydrophytes such as Nymphaea alba, Marsilea quadrifolia and Myriophyllum spicatum; 13 species of emergent hydrophytes such as Alysma plantago-aquatica, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Iris pseudacorus, Marsilea strigosa, Thelypteris palustris and 32 species of river bank or wetland such as Apium repens, Cladium mariscus, Kosteletzkya pentacarpa, Phyllitis scolopendrium, Pteris vittata and Thalictrum maritimum. Also 1 Bryophyte species (Ricciocarpos natans) has been successfully produced.

Developing several new techniques depending on the biology of the species and its ecology, a total of 40738 individuals have been transplanted since June 1999 into different wetland habitats. The ongoing recovery work is being monitored showing very interesting and positive results.

Fallowing of low yield areas with extreme site quality within arable fields – Ecological effects and nature conservation aspects

Pfeffer, H., S. Malt & G. Berger

Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research, Department of Land Use Systems and Landscape Ecology, Eberswalder 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany

hpfeffer@zalf.de

Intensively farmed agricultural landscapes are mostly structurally poor and therefore endowed with little niche space for wildlife and wild vegetation.

In this context field internal fallowing management of low yield areas with extreme site qualities may be an landscape structural approach to enhance the ecological status of agricultural landscapes.

To test this concept a development project named “Internal Field Segregation” was established in three agricultural landscapes of the North-Eastern-Plain of Germany, which is funded by The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn.

A fallowing measurement accompanying monitoring program includes investigations to indicate ecological effects on wildlife as well as wild vegetation and to evaluate the significance in terms of nature conservation.

First findings on the level of biodiversity (species richness, species assemblage, species pattern), habitat specialists (ecologically demanding species) and endangered (Red book) species will be presented in case studies of vegetation, carabid beetles and spiders.

In a first conclusion we can summarise, that the combination of carefully selected parts of arable fields, associated by extreme site conditions, and the application of nature conservation-oriented attention management practices are a promising opportunity for the improvement of living space conditions for wildlife and wild vegetation in the agricultural landscape.

Threatened butterfly species as indicators of stability of restored wetland habitats on the Tisza Plain, Ukraine

Popov, S

Tisza EcoCentre, West Branch of National Ecological Centre of Ukraine, 40 Ruska Str., 88 000 Uzhgorod, Ukraine

dzy@psg.uzhgorod.ua

The Tisza Plain in Transcarpathia was historically completely covered with forest, mainly by damp oak woodland. Today, more than 90% of its area has been converted to human use. In this connection, the preservation of remnants of natural biotopes is important, because rare and disappearing plants and butterflies still survive here today. Place Chere is one of the most natural and unique protected areas remaining on the Tisza Plain. Since 1985 66 butterfly species have been recorded. Amongst these Proclossiana eunomia Esp., Lycaena helle D. & S., Maculinea teleius Brgstr., M. arion L., M. alcon D. & S., Erebia medusa D. & S., Glaucopsyche alexis Poda are indicators marshes and wet meadows. At the present time their European threat status in is Vulnerable. Their populations are small and continue to decline through draining of forest meadows and marshes and their subsequent change to scrub dominated by bushes of Salix, Spiraea and Rubus. A concrete management programme for the surviving butterflies is still needed here.

The restoration attempt of red list species populations on roadside verges: Preliminary results

Prots, B. ¹, F. Thaler ² & W. Holzner ²

1 Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kozelnytska 4, 79026 Lviv, Ukraine

bprots@haotmail.com

Department of Botany, University of Pécs, Ifjúság 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary

albert@ttk.pte.hu

Birdseye primrose is a strictly protected plant species of the Hungarian flora and vegetation. Natural occurrences of the species are known at two sites : Sásdi and Lesencetomaj meadows. Both of them are situated in a tectonic depression accompanying the lake Balaton. The restoration and management of the habitat have a great importance because of the important fluctuation of number of individuals during several years. In 2001 coenological behaviour was examined on meso and micro scales in the two natural habitats. Field data were collected by (1) modified Zurich-Montpellier method and (2) transects marked by environmental gradients with % cover estimation by eye, (3) microquadrat methods collecting presence-absence and quantitative data. Examining the classical and transect quadrats, coenological preferences of the species were revealed in meso scale, the microquadrat samples give more information about the species preferences showing its role in vegetation. According to our results preservation of only the textural features (e.g. species composition, abundance) are insufficient to save this species from extinction but the pattern and physiognomy of vegetation have more significance in wet meadows. The tussock-fen window complex provides nudum surfaces offering favourable abiotic conditions and low competition. The investigation of soil properties and other characteristics of the preferential sites (e.g. gap size, litter or moss cover) contributed to the knowledge on the habitat requirements of the species. A restoration and management plan was elaborated focusing on two aspects : the maintenance of population size via directed seed dispersion and plantation, and controlling of biotic as well as abiotic factors in the natural habitats.

*Work has been supported by OTKA F032900 and the Balaton-felvidék National Park Directorate

The effect of mowing Calamagrostis epigejos in the Dyje river floodplain meadow (Czech Republic)

Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Department of Ecology, Porici 3B, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic

sedlak@brno.cas.cz

During the last years, spreading of the grass Calamagrostis epigejos has been reported in meadow vegetation in the Dyje River floodplain (South Moravia, Czech Republic). The traditional agricultural practice of regular and frequent cutting of meadows has stopped in many places there. The meadows were also degraded due to the absence of regular floods. The study was undertaken in a species-rich meadow of the alliance Cnidion venosi in the Dyje floodplain near the town of Lednice (48º48?N, 16º48?E). The experiment started in June 1996, when block of permanent plots of 1x1 m were fixed, with the following treatments: mowing once, twice, and three times a year, mulching once a year, and control. Five blocks were placed in Calamagrostis stands and five blocks in a species-rich meadow not invaded by Calamagrostis. Species composition, vegetation cover, number of fertile and sterile Calamagrostis shoots, and length of flowering and vegetative shoots were recorded every year. The response of Calamagrostis epigejos to mowing was a decrease in fertility (mowing 2x and more times a year reduced fertility of the population) and a decrease in the density of sterile shoots. Species richness was positively correlated with mowing. The results show that mowing is an effective means of reducing Calamagrostis epigeios and restoration of degraded meadows in the river floodplain.

On the creation of the center for reintroduction of rare species and plant communities

Nizhniy Novgorod State University, Vasyunina 10-67, 603106 Nyzhny Novgorod, Russia

kbot@unn.ac.ru

During artificial recovery of anthropogenetically degraded natural plant communities or natural landscapes, one of the main challenges is related to the source of obtaining a large number of agrarian types of plants. Seeds or plants taken from nature to be replanted under the restored-ecosystem conditions result in a still greater damage to natural communities. In particular, it is important during the reintroduction of rare plant types.

The Center of Reintroduction of Rare Species and Plant Communities was started in Nizhniy Novgorod in 2000-2001 by the Chair of Botany at Nizhniy Novgorod State University, Ecological Center "Dront", the State Natural Reserve "Kerzhenskiy", and Architecture and Landscape Center "Arkhilend". The Center was created with the financial support of the GEF World Bank Project and the Department of Environmental Protection at the Nizhniy Novgorod

Province Administration. The main tasks of the Center are: - study of propagation and bioecological features of rare species in culture and natural environment;

- development and introduction of agricultural engineering of plant reproduction;

- creation of miniplantations of rare species for their reproduction and further reintroduction to the natural environment;

At present, a biotechnology laboratory is working whose activity is aimed at reproduction of plants and microorganisms forming symbiosis with them. We have started a collection area in which about 50 plant species are planted (20 orchid and 15 fern types among them). Planting conditions maximally approach natural environment.

Modelling the restoration of chamois (Rupicarpa rupicarpa carpathica) populations in Carpathian mountains (Romania)

"Vasile Goldiº" Western University of Arad, Department of Biology and Ecology, Bucegi 17, ap 76, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

The Carpathian chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra carpathica) is one of 10-11 subspecies of the genus Rupicapra with a single species living in the European Mountains.

The authors noticed several factors, which endanger the survival of the species such as a) poaching for meat and trophy, b) the lack of ecological education of shepherds who view the chamois as competing for the same grassland resources.

The aim of authors was find an ecological way to rescue and protect the chamois. In this respect they have studied the biological, ecological and ethological needs of the animal on various hierarchic levels of life. They started with the individual level and finished with the integration of a viable population into the summer and winter ecological niches of the huge network relationship of mountains and alpine ecosystems. First they look at resources (primary productivity of alpine tundra grass and forests), the size of grassland per individual and minimum viable population. After that they estimated the effects of genetic drift and its possible avoidance in time in order to find that protected area, which can maintain the survival of a population for centuries and millennia.

Using the modelling approach the authors have found that the minimal conditions for the survivals of chamois in the Carpathian Mountains are a) a population of about 1500-2000 mature individuals and b) a protected area of about 60000 ha. For these reasons all biological conservation legislation in Romania and probably for all European Mountain Regions must be quickly changed.

Changes in contamination of plants and biodiversity of forest ecosystems around the “Konin” aluminium smelter

1 Institute for Ecology of Industrial Area, Kossutha 6, 40 833 Katowice, Poland

stasz@ietu.katowice.pl

In The Netherlands, new wetlands have been created artificially as a spin-off from major reclamation projects. The reserve Oostvaardersplassen (5600 ha) is a recently developed wetland in Zuidelijk Flevoland. This area was drained in 1968, reclaimed from the freshwater Lake IJsselmeer. The reserve consists of a reed (Phragmites australis) marsh (3600 ha) and a well-drained border zone. Another artificial wetland is Lake Volkerak-Zoommeer (8000 ha). This former estuarine area was transformed into a freshwater lake within one year (in 1987), as a result of the Dutch ‘Delta project’.

These man-made wetlands are characterised by a high species richness, related to the different successional stages of the reed marsh. Field studies indicated that these successional stages are strongly related to water level fluctuations in the reed marsh. As in natural marshes, the marsh system Oostvaardersplassen is not in a steady state. In the course of 1980-1986, the area consisting of patches of reed vegetation and open water decreased, while the area of open water increased, due to a higher water level, erosion and foraging by moulting greylag geese. The system developed into a ‘lake stage’, characterised by a sharp boundary between open water and reed vegetation. A draw-down period of four years (1987-1991) resulted in an expansion of pioneer vegetation and reed vegetation. The cyclic water level fluctuations together with herbivory by greylag geese resulted in a temporary restoration of mosaics of vegetation dominated by pioneer species. Along the shoreline of Lake Volkerak-Zoommeer, helophyte vegetation are lacking. A field experiment (3 ha) along the shoreline of Lake Volkerak-Zoommeer, excluding herbivory by geese and livestock, induced spontaneous establishment and expansion of helophyte vegetation after water levels were lowered. Apparently, grazing of greylag geese in the Volkerak-Zoommeer system takes place to such an extent that the development of helophyte vegetation along the shoreline is completely inhibited. In conclusion, in The Netherlands, the conservation value of wetlands is largely determined by water level fluctuation and herbivory.

Science in support of ecological restoration: the role of professional bodies

Martin Sharman

Research DG DI-2 Biodiversity and Global change European Commission, Post: EC, Rue de la Loi 200 (SDME 7-46) 1049 Brussels, Belgium

martin.sharman@cec.eu.int

Nature conservation in Europe is carried out in response to local, national and European legislation and to commitments under international agreements. Ecologists can greatly increase the impact and relevance of their work, both to society and to the organisms or habitats that they study, if they consider how to direct their research appropriately, and communicate their results to policy makers. Similarly, administrators involved in the environmental decision making process can greatly improve the effectiveness of legislation by basing it on sound science. In the field of ecological restoration, which is of considerable concern and importance in Europe, the new European Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration will investigate promising avenues of research and report on scientific advances of interest to European legislators. The Chapter already has links with policy-makers throughout Europe, and will certainly work strenuously to increase and strengthen those relations. Among its links, I feel that it will be important to establish and maintain close co-operation with the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy. The EPBRS allow scientists and policy-makers to identify and discuss key issues for research in Europe across the broad horizons of biodiversity. For scientific input on ecological restoration the platform can henceforth depend on the European Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration, just as for other topics it depends on other learned societies, professional bodies and individual scientists. We can expect the Chapter to play a significant role in the European Research Area and the next EU framework programme of research and technological development..

Land Useand biodiversity status, use and Maintenance: the case of Na heao, Thailand

Ampornpan, L. ¹, S.S. Dhillion ², M. Eriksen ², A. Choosang ¹

1 Department of Biology, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU), Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok, Thailand

Ecological restoration of the steppe (the experience of the Botanical Garden of Belgorod University, Russia)

Lisetskiy, F., O. Degtyar & O. Kornilova

Belgorod State University, Pobeda 85, 308015 Belgorod, Russia

liset@bsu.edu.ru

The alternation of the typical steppe on chernozem with the chalk outcrop is the peculiarity of the botanical garden, opened at the Belgorod State University. Out of 36 plant species growing in our region, protected at federal level, 26 species are related to the chalk and marlstone exposures.

The main problems of the new botanical garden (besides the introduction of the tree flora) related to the above circumstances, are as follows:

- conservation of the gene pool of rare and endemic plants of the Middle-Russian Belgorod region

- restoration of the steppe and chalk vegetation which experienced intensive anthropogenic impact.

Previously the area was grazed by cattle. It led to the impoverishment of the phytocoenosis. After the floristic inspection of the plot (250 square metres) 49 species of 43 genera were detected. Presently 468 plant species belonging to 264 genera are established at the permanent plot. According to our opinion, the average degree of the flora preservation is 10 %, but concerning the genus composition, it is 16 %.

For the conservation of the gene pool, we have chosen the following methods for stimulating species spread over the area:

- improvement of niche regeneration;

- creation of an artificial coenosis to keep the disappearing species.

The restoration of the steppe phytocoenosis is planned to carry out with the help of the following methods: restoration of the plant association by sowing natural grass-mixture, by using the complex method which is based on the introduction of the majority of some species; and by rapid recreation of the grass association by transplanting of sod and soil inoculation.

The results of the restoration project will help to preserve rare and endemic species and the vegetation will provide a basis for reintroduction.

Goal development through communication in restoration projects – “Reference state” or “as much nature as possible”

Gerhard Wiegleb

LS Allgemeine Ökologie, BTU Cottbus, Postfach 101344, 03013 Cottbus, Germany

wiegleb@tu-cottbus.de

The ecological justification of restoration aims is mainly a scientific question. However well these goals might be set, a particular project can fail in the lack of support of the local community. Researchers are usually not trained for communication techniques to be applied in case of, so called "discursive development of environmental aims" or "open, co-operative, or participatory planning" procedures. Ecologists are often desperate that their arguments are down-weighted in the planning process. Therefore experiences of successful programs can enhance future efficacy. During the communication process ecological information is digested by various actors in the social system according to their knowledge, education, worldviews etc. This applies not only for restoration projects but any kind of landscape planning. The plan will only be accepted if the actors agree on basic values, and if the ecological goals are in accordance with the socio-economic framework of the region. “Reference states" can be regarded as cultural norms, the acceptance of which depends on other various cultural aspects. In Central Europe people often cannot accept the restoration strategy "do nothing - process conservation - use of natural succession" because of specific cultural traditions. Therefore they need exact reference states as guidelines for action and they are ready and willing to spend much money and use heavy technical equipment for reaching their goals. In post mining landscapes we have good examples that both cheap and ecologically justified solutions were not accepted because some options are virtually "unthinkable" for some people.

Successful partnership involvement in a long term wetland restoration project, 1996 – 2006

Unterm Berg 39, 26123 Oldenburg, Germany

brux@ibl-umweltplanung.de

Ecological restoration in wet grasslands for the benefit of endangered pasture birds requires mowing and grazing or its simulation by management measures. Local farmers have traditional knowledge of the management of such sites but their objectives are different than those of conservation and restoration. They are both responsible for ecological conflicts and for the development of these important bird areas. Former restoration projects have shown that sole subsidies (as compensation for restrictions) reduce the interest in both good yield and sustainable management, resulting in neglected grassland unsuitable for both farming and pasture birds.

The soils in the project area are classified as degraded fens. Nature conservation measures implemented on peat grasslands comprise: raising water levels, cessation of fertiliser use, limitation of stocking density, delay of the first cut and restricted use of sward renovation measures. These measures are also preconditions for stopping soil degradation and sustainable land use by farmers, thus resulting in common interests of restoration ecologists, farmers and conservation authorities. The delay of the first cut (hay or silage) results in a serious decrease of the nutritional value of the grass. Grazing systems seem to be the better option in order to achieve an acceptable agronomic output as well as nature conservation goals.

Co-operation and partnership involvement of all actors instead of confrontation and authoritarian restrictions are a main tool for restoration success. The combination of trust in self-responsibility, control of abiotic parameters (especially water management), qualified mutual information and, last but not least, good communication is a promising strategy in the conservation in cultural landscapes.

Redeeming landscapes: Working with communities tackling environmental degradation which draws together the ecological goals and socio/cultural goals

Groundwork Wales and Executive Director, Groundwork Merthyr & Rhondda Cynon Taff, 844000 Aberdale, United Kingdom

mhpopp@groundworkmerthyrrct.org.uk

Groundwork is a federation of over 44 Charitable Trusts which is committed to the regeneration of the Communities of England, Wales and Northern Ireland most affected by the environmental degradation of 19^th and 20^th Century Industry.

Groundwork Merthyr & Rhondda Cynon Taff (GMRCT) is one of the four Trusts which constitutes Groundwork Wales.

Based in the South Wales Valleys, the Trust has worked in a landscape and cultural setting which has experienced most of the issues of degradation and social exclusion which has followed from the industrial processes of Mining and Manufacturing and the Political/Economic Renewal Strategies of the 19^th and 20^th Centuries.

Over the past 14 years it has adopted a commitment to empowering Communities in tackling Environment Improvement Projects through a range of Participative Methodologies and Partnership Initiatives which has repositioned the relationship with the natural and restored landscape which is locally expressed as ‘From Green, Black and Back’.

The Paper sets out what we see as a position to offer as an approach in the 21^st Century to the Valleys and to share with similar regions across Europe.

A wider understanding of processes in Restoration Projects which recognises and values the role of the Community Member (Individual and Collective) rendered powerless and isolated by the Technical Experts of the Restoration and Revival Agencies is proposed.

Communities are culturally isolated from the new centres of economic activity, physically islanded by degradation and inadequate transport links and politically excluded from the decisions made on their environment – yet they hold the key to the success of Restoration Projects which restores the equilibrium of People, Places and Prosperity.

Creative conservation: The importance of keeping things simple

Landlife, The National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park, L16 3NA Liverpool, United Kingdom

info@Landlife.org.uk

One problem in doing ecological restoration solutions is the effort needed to reach a target vegetation community. This implicates on seed and staff resources and most importantly cost. In the United Kingdom for example projects are usually targeted to precise communities of the National Vegetation Classification. This is often to the detriment of projects which can become impractical and unsustainable in the longer term. Targets are set which are practically impossible to meet, on soils that are often too fertile and using seed mixtures that are too complicated. Instead we can develop projects- that have significant value, and which get better over time.

Landlife proposes a system whereby the starting point becomes the more critical part of the project and simple but carefully chosen sowings of wildflower species are made. A simple matrix of species is established with confidence, allowing nature to mould the final result with an appropriate level of management, rather than seeking complexity at the outset. By keeping things simple much larger projects can be attempted to achieve greater benefit. Creative Conservation has also involved sowings on unusual substrates such as, crushed concrete and stripped topsoil, or by inverting topsoil ver subsoil, or even on re-cycled clothing.

Landlife has developed the craft of establishing wildflower landscapes on a large scale involving and celebrated by local communities, and has built the UK's new National Wildflower Centre. This promotes the benefits of wildflower landscapes and creative conservation to a much wider audience than more traditional conservation groups or academic institutions.

The role of NGOs in wetlands restoration – An example from the Zahorie lowlands, Slovak Republic

sibl@changenet.sk

kusik@changenet.sk

A review of ecological and restoration ecology education in Romania

Kleszken, É., J. Bíró & V. Soran

"Lucian Blaga", Nagyvárad, Romania

The study of biology and ecology in Romanian schools (gymnasiums, the 5th-8th grades and secondary schools, the 9th-12th grades) is very low, probably the lowest in Europe. Students take ecology only in the 8th grade for just one hour per week. They learn something about the organism and its environment, the ecosystem, trophic chains and ecological equilibrium. In the 12th grade, during general biology lectures, students learn about some ecology subjects like biological and ecological equilibrium, but only as minor parts of the course. The ecological information available from textbooks greatly varies from one text to another. In addition, the problems of ecological restoration in Romania are not covered in the texts.

Biological teaching in Romania is organised so that a future mature individual has only limited knowledge about his or her own body or about living beings and their environment. Therefore, the authors present several improvements of biological and ecological teaching in Romania.

Trying to work some magic in the English Community Woodlands

Landlife, National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park, L16 3NA Liverpool, United Kingdom

pgreen@landlife.org.uk

This four year project is the first of it’s kind to work on a national scale with local people in the enhancement of their local woods in 12 different regions across England.

The project is a development of a successful “Bluebell Recovery” project that involved local people in the collection of bluebell seed Hyacinthoides non-scripta from well established sustainable ancient woodlands. These seeds are then grown on in nursery conditions. When the seeds have matured into bulbs these are made available for planting in depleted or species poor woodlands.

The present project extends this work and a summary of the aims are as follows-

To develop an effective strategy for the introduction of locally abundant appropriate wildflowers into our species poor woodlands

To involve as many local people as possible in the enhancement of their woodlands by participating in the project

To build – up a national picture of how to ensure that woodland wild flowers are an essential part of the extensive woodland development programme.

To help create places that will be good for wild life

To help to introduce some beauty into what are often unattractive woodland environments

The presentation will report some of the progress that has been made during the first two years of the project.

The interface between ecological restoration and restoration ecology

Jelte van Andel

University of Groningen, Laboratory of Plant Ecology, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands

j.van.andel@biol.rug.nl

Conservation and restoration of biodiversity, both in terms of species richness and in terms of genetic variation, is considered a main goal of nature management. I will explore in what way quantitative and qualitative biodiversity parameters can be developed to evaluate the status of ecological systems (populations, communities, biocoenoses, ecosystems), i.e. to diagnose the rate of disturbance of ecological systems and to evaluate the rate of recovery or restoration of disturbed systems.

Definitions of 'disturbance' of an ecological system always include reference to an undisturbed system. Disturbance of a population, a community, a biocoenosis or an ecosystem may be reversible or irreversible. In case of reversibility, the way back to the original state (real recovery or restoration) generally differs from the way to disturbance. In case of irreversibility, restoration in a strict sense is impossible, but the system may be restored to a system more or less similar to the original one. Anyway, the biodiversity criteria for measuring the success of recovery or restoration may differ from the biodiversity criteria to evaluate the state of disturbance as compared to a reference system. Indeed, the reference system for restoration may differ from the reference system to measure disturbance. Goals should focus on the desired characteristics for a system in the future, rather than in relation to what these were in the past. Recognising ecosystem dynamics is as important as it is to take into account the evolution of species. What can ecological science on biodiversity contribute to evaluate disturbance and restoration?

Plant immigration windows in a mesic old field succession

Bartha, S. ¹, S.T.A. Pickett ² & M.L. Cadenasso ²

1 Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Alkotmány 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary

sanyi@botanika.hu

Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad de Córdoba, Recogidas 64, 18004 Granada, Spain

jrguzman@cap.junta-andalucia.es

In 1998, the dike-wall of pyrites mine residuum pool collapsed in Aznalcóllar, Sevilla (Spain). As a consequence, two hundred m³ of metallic fluid residuum and more than three hundred m³ of polluted water ran down to Guadiamar river, flooded its banks and inundated its adjacent soils in a 200 m strip each side of the riverbed. Over the following months, a thorough cleaning has been done by transporting the mud, but at the same time causing an important disturbance to the environment.A field survey has been carried out with the purpose of studying vegetation restoration in this area, choosing representative sites of the different ecosystems (river side, Quercus ilex open forest, farmlands). A floristic survey and an interpretation of data through multivariate techniques has been done, in order to study the processes of this particular vegetal succession. Results of this research are presented in this paper.

Influence of topography and reforestation on seed bank formation in an abandoned East-Hungarian sandy pasture

Matus, G. & M. Papp

Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 14, 4010 Debrecen, Hungary

matus@tigris.klte.hu

Vegetation and seed bank of a dune grassland endangered by grass encroachment and Robinia invasion after decline of cattle grazing were studied in Nyírség region in 2001. Our aim was to reveal seed longevity of Cynodonto-Festucetum species to predict which of them could reestablish during restoration management.

Two grassland plots and two plots in the nearby Robinia thicket, 16 sqm each, were sampled. In both formations one plot was positioned dune top while another one lying downhill. Vegetation was surveyed in April, June and September. 25 soil samples per plot, 125 cm3 each, were collected in March, concentrated then spread in a thin layer onto potting soil. Samples were germinated in greenhouse till July then in September-October. Seedlings were removed, problematic taxa were transplanted and grown till identification.

Vegetation in grassland plots was significantly more species-rich than in thicket ones. Vertical position influenced species composition but not the species-richness. Grasslands had more dense and more species-rich seed banks than their thicket counterpart. Seed bank density was significantly higher downhill in both formations.

Seed longevity of 67 species was classified based on their distribution in vegetation and in soil strata. Persistence of Rumex acetosella, Verbascum phoeniceum, Potentilla arenaria, P. argentea, Arenaria serpyllifolia and Silene otites was supposed. Long-term persistence was found in Verbascum phlomoides, Polycnemum majus, Chenopodium album, Juncus spp. and Cyperus fuscus. Being present only in vegetation Eryngium campestre, Gagea pratensis, Galium verum, Ornithogalum kochii, Teucrium chamaedrys as well as dominant grasses, except Poa angustifolia, were considered as transient seeded.

Ecological restoration of the Schelde estuary: How to improve the ecosystem functions?

Meire, P., E. De Deckere, S. Vandamme & E. van den Berg

Department of Biology, Ecosystem management research group, University of Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1C, 2610 Wilrijk Antwerpen, Belgium

pmeire@uia.ua.ac.be

The Schelde estuary is one of the last European estuaries with a gradient from salt over brackish to fresh water tidal areas. The last of these is a particularly rare habitat. However, the ecological value of the area is strongly reduced due to water pollution, habitat loss and degradation. A restoration plan for the estuary aims at the restoration of the different habitats and the ecosystem functions. The description of ecosystem functioning was the subject of a large multidisciplinary project that resulted in an ecosystem model. This model describes the carbon and nutrient fluxes in the estuary. Next ecological quality objectives were derived mainly based on the different ecological functions of the estuary. These objectives were then translated into different restoration strategies.

In this presentation, we will focus on the description of the ecological quality objectives, following the principles of ecosystem health. The interaction between these objectives and the other economic functions of the area will be discussed. Then the first results of the restoration projects will be presented.

Soil erosion as limiting factor for herbaceous community development in reclaimed slopes from opencast mining

Departamento Interuniversitario de Ecología, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28803 Madrid, Spain

josem.nicolau@uah.es

In Mediterranean-continental environments water deficit is the main limiting factor for revegetation success. Lack of water is related to soil erosion because this reduces infiltration and water holding capacity of the soil. In fact, erosion can be considered abiotic exploitation of ecosystems through the extraction of nutrients, biological propagules and substrata, and the reduction of water availability to plants.

Since 1987 several studies have been conducted in order to monitor erosion rates and processes and plant cover and biomass under different treatments of topography, soil roughness and type of soil in reclaimed slopes. On overburden substrata, herbaceous communities are not able to establish: soil erosion rates are very high (50-100 t/ha/year), and plant cover (2-13%) and above biomass (20 g/m2) very low. On topsoil substrata erosion (0.2-4 t/ha) is controlled by the herbaceous community (30-60% of surface cover; 100-500 gm^-2 of biomass).

Two erosion models have been applied to predict the stability of the introduced herbaceous community against soil erosion. Models also allow selection of substrata and design of the micro- and macro-topography that are compatible with plant development. Thornes’ model is based on Lotka-Volterra equations representing the competition between erosion and plants for soil. Feed-back mechanisms between soil and plants are included as well as non-linearity in erosion-vegetation relationships. The erosion-vegetation system has been characterised by critical points of stability which determine thresholds of soil depth and plant cover for soil degradation or ecological succession in reclaimed slopes. RUSLE 1.06 for mined lands, construction sites and reclaimed lands is a classical erosion model that does not include the influence of erosion on vegetation. So a value of maximum soil loss tolerance of the slopes has been established, from the literature and empirical experience. Thornes’ model is more consistent but in practice RUSLE 1.06 is easier to apply.

Earthworm popultaions in initial successional stages of restored species-rich meadows on arable soil

pizl@upb.cas.cz

Since 1920, a quarter of the historical grasslands in the Czech Republic has been transformed into arable soils by ploughing. However, landscape use has changed in recent decades and brought about problems of how to transform recent arable land back into grasslands and how to ensure high biodiversity of these restored areas. One possible way seems to be succession controlled by sowing with native haymeadow plants and by mowing.

To obtain basic data about the course of secondary succession in grassland restoration, a field experiment was established in which four treatments were compared: (1) spontaneous plant succession, (2) sowing with a native seed mixture, (3) sowing with a commercial seed mixture and (4) control (arable field). Among a number of parameters studied, earthworms were chosen, as both biomass and diversity of plants can affect their density and community structure. Conversely, earthworm activity may be an important factor in plant population dynamics and floristic composition.

Here, the results are presented on the development of earthworm communities during the initial years of succession. We found that compared to the control field, earthworm density and biomass increased at all restoration plots, and the development of earthworm communities was significantly faster in natural fallow and under a sown native plant mixture surrounded with a commercial plant mixture, than under the other treatments. Only two earthworm species were recorded from the field in general, while per site the number of species in restoration plots varied between 5 and 7. Earthworm preferences for treatments are discussed.

Spontaneous vegetation succession: Scientific knowledge and restoration practice

Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Ceske Budejovice and Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovská 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

prach@bf.jcu.cz

Jordan et al. (1987) wrote: Restoration is an acid test for ecological principles. This is especially true for the theory of succession. A principal task for scientists, regarding restoration programs, is prediction of successional processes operating on a restored site and comparison of results with the prediction.

We have in principle three possibilities to restore a disturbed site: (a) to rely completely upon spontaneous processes, (b) to adopt exclusively technical measures, and (c) to combine both previous approaches by directing succession. But spontaneous successional processes should be apparently considered in all cases, and scientists can provide knowledge on their rate and directions. As part of this process of consideration, various predictive models and expert systems are very powerful tools. Expert systems are advocated here in particular, as they can incorporate both exact, quantitative information and qualitative knowledge based on practical field experience.

A conceptual scheme for a successful implementation of scientific knowledge on spontaneous succession within restoration programmes is presented. Some positive examples are mentioned, that is those where scientific knowledge was successfully exploited in restoration projects. Negative examples, when technical restoration ignored scientific knowledge and led to less acceptable results than spontaneous succession, are illustrated especially by comparing spontaneously re-vegetated and technically reclaimed dumps from brown coal mining.

It was concluded that the great potential of successional theory to be applied in restoration programmes is still exploited to a low extent.

Resilience and species assembly in chalk grassland and lowland heathland communities following severe disturbance

Putwain, P.D. ¹, R.A. Hirst ², R.F. Pywell ² & N.R. Webb ³.

Regeneration dynamics of boreal and subarctic plamnts after disturbance

Department of Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland

anne.tolvanen@oulu.fi

Disturbances may considerably influence the vegetation dynamics and species composition in boreal and subarctic environment. Disturbances induce gaps in vegetation, which provide new sites for plant growth and regeneration. Sexual reproduction may become successful in gaps due to the reduced competition by understorey plants. The life form and morphology of plants are important in the revegetation process after disturbance. In the adverse conditions of the north, the predicted increase in temperature and nutrients may interact with mechanical disturbances.

We have been carrying out disturbance studies and environmental manipulations in northern Finland since the early 1990’s. The studies include a) experimental disturbances (simulations of herbivory, trampling, and removal of vegetation layers), b) monitoring of vegetation dynamics after grazing, recreation or clear-cutting, and c) experimental manipulations of environment (increased temperature and nutrients, transplant gardens). The ecophysiological part of the research helps to understand plant processes that result in visible changes in growth and reproduction, whereas plant population and community studies are keys for understanding interactions between plants and their environment. The keywords of the study are flexibility and regeneration.

General results of the research are reported. Fast rates of nutrient uptake and growth, large below-ground storage, and abundant aboveground or below-ground meristems accelerate the regeneration process and increase the possibility of a species to gain competitive advantage over less resilient species. Regeneration after disturbance occurs mainly by vegetative means. Only the most severe disturbances, e.g. removal of all organ layers or strong soil management, increase the establishment of new genets in the habitat.

Management and mechanisms: The relationship between environmental heterogeneity and aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity

Verberk, W.C.E.P., G.A. van Duinen & H. Esselink

Bargerveen Foundation, Department of Environmental Studies, Animal Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands

wilcov@sci.kun.nl

Heterogeneous landscapes have a large variation in environmental conditions over a small area. This variation is rooted in geomorphology and hydrology, which together constrain the potential richness in biota. A high environmental heterogeneity leads to a high species diversity. But what mechanisms underpin this relationship? Species occurrence can be linked to factors operating on different scales. Animal species in particular use their surroundings on a range of scales. Because of their mobility they can make use of different biotopes and combinations of biotopes (e.g. during different stages of their lifecycle). In addition heterogeneity can decrease the rate of extinction, thereby increasing species richness at the equilibrium.

Chronic non-localised disturbance (N-deposition, desiccation) threatens landscape heterogeneity by levelling the present variation. Knowledge concerning the causal mechanisms is important for effective restoration; restoration must not induce a further decrease of plant and animal species richness. Knowledge on how restoration must be then, is limited and fragmented.

To investigate how, and at what scale level, heterogeneity could function a case study is being performed. Data on aquatic macroinvertebrates is being collected in Korenburgerveen, a heterogeneous landscape under hydrological restoration. Results indicate that macroinvertebrates can use the landscape on a scale of 2000 m2. This provides an important clue that habitat heterogeneity could function on this scale level. Results are discussed in the light of restoration practice and recommendations are given: small scale measures, phased in space and time, with a monitoring programme to assess starting conditions and to observe changes in biotic and abiotic conditions.

The abiotic filter and plant community assembly on a recovering site after alkaline dust pollution

Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University, Dornburger Strasse 159, 07743 Jena, Germany

markus.wagner@oekologie.uni-jena.de

Alkaline dust emissions from a phosphorus fertiliser factory over three decades caused severe ecosystem degradation in the vicinity. Only one plant species, the halophyte Puccinellia distans, being tolerant, was able to cope with the adverse conditions. Fertiliser production ceased in 1990 and re-colonisation by less tolerant plant species occurred in parallel with natural soil amelioration.

In this paper, the role of edaphic factors and their change is discussed in relation to the spatial and temporal patterns of plant community reassembly.

Selection of plant species for restoration of habitats contaminated by toxic trace elements

Boscagli, A., M. Boddi & F. Riccobono

Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy

boscagli@unisit.it

The aim of the study was to select plant species potentially exploitable for restoration of habitats contaminated by toxic trace elements (TTE). Such species must be (i) adapted to the chemical, physical, climatic and biological features of these habitats and (ii) TTE excluders, to avoid the risk of food chain contamination.

Eighty-two plant species, common in dry or wet habitats, were analysed for the contents of TTE in their roots, shoots and leaves. The habitats are located in old mining areas of S. Tuscany (Italy) and have a Mediterranean or sub-Mediterranean climate. The following TTE were considered: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl and Zn.

The major elements in soils or stream sediments were As (up to 2035 and 8 mg kg^-1; total and soluble contents, respectively), Cu (up to 2232 and 7 mg kg^-1), Fe (up to 172000 and 494 mg kg^-1), Mn (up to 3421 and 15 mg kg^-1), Pb (up to 3201 and 1.5 mg kg^-1), Sb (up to 1689 and 16 mg kg^-1) and Zn (up to 1108 and 11 mg kg^-1).

The following species were found to be excluders: the herbs Petasites hybridus (L.) Gaertner, Polygonum persicaria L., Ranunculus velutinus Ten., Bromus hordeaceus L., Bromus madritensis L. and Hedysarum coronarium L.; the chamephyte Dorycnium hirsutum (L.) Ser.; the shrubs Rosa canina L., Rubus ulmifolius Schott, Spartium junceum L., Tamarix gallica L.; the trees Quercus cerris L., Quercus ilex L., Ulmus minor Miller.

Ecological restoration: An opportunity to test ecological theory

School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Auckland, Merton Road, Private Bag 92019 Glen Innes, Auckland, New Zealand

s.burke@auckland.ac.nz

Around the world ecological restoration has become an integral part of conservation and remediation practices. Ecological restoration practice offers the opportunity to repair the extant damage to our natural environment, as well as buffer further adverse ecological impacts. However, in the haste to set restoration projects in place as quickly as possible, many restoration management plans have failed to incorporate a theoretical foundation to goals, objectives and methodologies. Subsequently, many restoration projects to date have been implemented on an ad hoc, consensus basis with variable success.

There are number of concepts within the field of ecology that are relevant to restoration e.g. succession. However, there appears to be difficulty in unifying the various ecological theories that may be relevant to restoration management. Added to this, the lack of clarity in definition of ecological terminology has caused problems with interpretation, and hence, application of such terms.

Despite these uncertainties, this paper argues that ecological restoration can be seen as a means by which to test ecological theory and to adapt it appropriately. It shows how questions arising from ecological theory can be developed into hypotheses. These may serve as starting points for a number of experiments that could be undertaken through restoration.

It is concluded that restoration projects should not only aim to reinstate some functioning ecological condition, but to also test some ecological hypothesis regarding the nature of ecology. Ecological restoration may then serve to heal our planet, further our knowledge, and refine our practice.

Grazing impacts in Periploca laevigata

Castro, H., C. Nabais & H. Freitas

Departament of Botany, University of Coimbra, 3000 Coimbra, Portugal

helenaicastro@hotmail.com

Mediterranean areas are threatened with desertification, leading to a reduction of biodiversity. Although it is known that overgrazing leads to land degradation, grazing abandonment may also have adverse consequences. In environments with long history of grazing, such as the Mediterranean ecosystem, grazing is considered essential to maintain species diversity. An understanding of the functional mechanisms of grazing impact on vegetation at an individual scale is an important step to construct remediation plans for sustainable use of grazing resources in the Mediterranean areas.

In this work the impact of grazing on photosynthesis and nutritional status of Periploca laevigata was studied. Periploca laevigata, a woody and highly palatable shrub, is an important grazing species in the dry season. The study was carried out at Cabo de Gata Natural Park (Almeria, Spain). Seasonal and diurnal courses of net photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance were measured using a portable gas-exchange system. The concentrations of Mg, Ca, K, Na, P and N were quantified seasonally in the leaves.

Leaves of Periploca laevigata under high grazing pressure showed a reduction in net photosynthesis and lower transpiration rate at midday when compared with the same species under low grazing pressure. Stomatal conductance rates were also slightly lower in leaves under high grazing. The concentrations of Mg, Ca, K, Na, P and N in the leaves of Periploca laevigata were higher in plants under low grazing pressure.

Assessing habitat changes in two Portuguese estuaries during recent decaces

Castro, P., F. Campelo, & H. Freitas

Department of Botany, University of Coimbra, 3000 Coimbra, Portugal

pcastro@ci.uc.pt

Destruction of habitat and nutrient enrichment as a result of anthropogenic activity are growing problems in coastal wetlands. To effectively manage coastal environments, more information is needed on the importance of losing different key habitats, and on the major nutrient sources including their effects on coastal ecosystems.

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in estuarine habitats and seagrass meadows over recent decades, and to evaluate how the effects of eutrophication have altered the salt marsh and eelgrass area in the Mondego and Mira estuaries. To assess the loss of salt marshes and seagrass beds, two key estuarine habitats were studied by mapping their area during the last century using a series of aerial photographs. The effects of eutrophication on species composition and production, was measured in salt marsh plants using transects spanning low to high tide marshes: Change in seagrass meadows was assessed by collecting sediment cores and counting seagrass seed coats through the sedimentary record. Analysis of C, N and N isotope in vertical profiles of the sediment was used to evaluate the changes in N loading during recent decades.

The information collected in this work will be valuable to investigate whole-estuary human impacts on coastal ecosystems and to provide useful ecological information for managers, policy makers, and the stakeholders involved in estuary restoration.

Ecological study of Betaula pendula patches in hyrcanian forests, north of Iran

Ejtehadi, H. ¹ & H. Zare ²

1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 1436, 91775Mashhad, Iran

hejtehadi@science1.um.ac.ir

1Institute of Botany, Department of Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Poricí 3b, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic

fiala@brno.cas.cz

naszradi@freemail.hu

Road traffic burdens the environment in several ways. One of the most important factors causing environmental pressure is the heavy metal load of vehicular traffic. A significant part of the air pollutants is deposited directly onto the surface of the road then washed off by precipitation thus contaminating surrounding areas.

Reed bed systems in bioremediation, or a better understanding of the processes of natural systems in polluted conditions

Department of Nature Conservation, Szent István University, Páter 1, 2100 Gödöllõ, Hungary

nemethn@hotmail.com

Phragmites australis has a world wide distribution with a wide ecological amplitude. It has been long recognised that reed communities play a complex role from the point of view of water quality management because they are able to purify water by taking up nutrients and dissolved pollutants (Wetzel, 1993), and provide habitat for many species. Constructed wetlands have all the good features of natural systems and their further advantage is that the favourable natural processes can be strengthened. Bioremediation requires many physicho-chemical and biological participants therefore the wetland should be viewed as an integrated system. In the research work nutrient (Total-P, Total-N, N-NO₃, N-NH₄) and element uptake (Al, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Zn) and distribution in the plant were investigated. The different parts of the reed were examined separately and the seasonal differences in the element and nutrient concentrations were also considered. The concentrations of the same nutrients and elements were measured in soil and water samples taken from different points of the system.

Today when the contamination of our environment is a great problem, it is important to understand how plants survive in an environment with higher nutrient and heavy metal concentrations than in natural reed habitats. By learning more about the effect of contamination and the different processes taking place in constructed wetlands we can understand better how natural ecological systems function, which is fundamental for the ecological basis of the restoration of wetlands.

Spontaneous vegetation succession as a way of restoration of stone quarries

Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Èeské Budìjovice, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske budejovice, Czech Republic

jan.novak@tix.bf.jcu.cz

Spontaneous successional processes may certainly lead to natural vegetation especially if natural habitats remain preserved near a quarry. Abandoned quarries may become refugia for rare plant species. In conclusion, spontaneous succession is much cheaper than technical reclamation and spontaneously re-vegetated quarries usually exhibit higher natural values than those technically reclaimed.

Mycoflora of initial successional stages at spoil heaps

Institute of Soil Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

alena@upb.cas.cz

Soil saprotrophic micromycetes were studied in the Sokolov post-mining area on spoil heaps without reclamation. Heaps consist mainly of dumped tertiary cypric clay. Species diversity and quantitative micromycetes occurrence (CFU-counts, total mycelial length and fungal biomass) were estimated. The soil dilution plate method and different isolation media were used for micromycetes isolation and two direct microscopic methods (epifluorescent and membrane filter) were used for the estimation of quantitative parameters. The lowest number of isolated species and CFU-counts were recorded in the initial stage of succession, species diversity increased with age, plant cover and humus layer of spoil heaps. Differences were found in fungal occurrence between top and bottom positions on spoil dumps.

Understanding the propagation of Mediterranean trees and shrubs from seed to preserve their biodiversity

Italian Environment Protection Agency – ANPA, Via V. Brancati 48, 00144 Roma, Italy

piotto@anpa.it

Nearly 27% of the Italian territory, mainly located in areas with Mediterranean climate and vegetation, is threatened by processes of soil degradation, erosion or desertification. Mediterranean vegetation needs particular attention: the role of plant cover is essential for mitigating desertification processes because vegetation and connectivity of 'green areas' strongly condition the quality and evolution of soil. The Mediterranean flora is well described from a botanical point of view but much less is known about their natural and artificial regeneration. This lack of knowledge is particularly serious because it represents a limit for multipurpose afforestation, restoration and reclamation, and explains the fact that plantings are often carried out employing a narrow range of species which are easy to grow in the nursery. This practice greatly reduces levels of biodiversity. Up to 70% of Mediterranean trees and shrubs growing in Italy are threatened in at least one of the 21 Italian Regions. Lack of knowledge as to their propagation is related to seed storage (Mediterranean oaks), to dormancy and seed dispersal by birds or small mammals (Ruscus aculeatus, Smilax aspera, Lonicera spp., etc.), to dormancy removal in seeds that show the morphophysiological type often associated with secondary dormancy (Daphne spp., Rhus spp., etc.), to germination response of Mediterranean species to smoke, heat and fire exposure (Erica spp., Cistus spp., etc.) and growing techniques able to preserve biodiversity.

When to start restoration practice? (Effect of landscape context on succession)

Department of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány 1, 1118 Budapest, Hungary

reszter@personal.ro

The character and species composition of the secondary forming vegetation varied, depending on the local circumstances, landscape context and chance. In the Romanian study area, the relatively gentle land use maintained scattered remnants of semi-natural vegetation in good condition, there is a relatively good possibility of regeneration of natural-like vegetation on abandoned lands, although this process is time-consuming. In contrast, in the Hungarian study area where the majority of natural vegetation has been destroyed, spontaneous regeneration was rarely successful, and was restricted to few special localities. Results suggest that anthropogenic transformation of a landscape has a threshold of irreversibility, after which the cheaper spontaneous regeneration of disturbed areas becomes impossible. Here energy and money-consuming restoration practice must be applied.

Phosphate as a key factor for nature restoration on former arable land

Sival, F.P. & W.J. Chardon

Alterra, Department of Soil and Land Use, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

f.p.sival@alterra-wag-ur.nl

Recent nature policy in the Netherlands has as a goal the transfer more than 150000 ha of arable land into nature. The main problem is achieving nature adapted to nutrient poor conditions. Due to fertilisation the arable land mostly contains a large amount of nutrients. In The Netherlands, removing the topsoil is a common practice for reducing the amount of nutrients, but it has many disadvantages. There are also other options, but the effectiveness of these options is not known.

The objectives of our study were (I) to identify the problem for nature development of a high soil content of phosphate, (ii) to describe the present knowledge and (iii) to identify knowledge gaps. The effectiveness of the management practices in common use and practical aspects were also objectives of our research. Both national and international researchers and nature conservationists were consulted about this subject. The results of the inquiry and further literature research are the basis of the final report.

Our conclusion is that a high availability of phosphate is generally considered a problem for nutrient poor vegetation types. However, in most cases the optimum level of P availability for different ‘target’ vegetation types is unknown. Different methods of soil P testing used in practice make it very hard to compare results of different studies.

The available P content of a soil may increase due to re-wetting with sulphate or bicarbonate rich water. However, it is unknown at which groundwater level this becomes a problem.

The common management practices to reduce the P availability are 1) removing the topsoil; 2) soil mixing by deep tillage; 3) extraction of nutrients by cropping; 4) mowing with removal of the biomass; 5) grazing; 6) a combination of these practices. All practices have the potential to reduce P availability. However, the effectiveness of the individual practices is uncertain, and most practices can have negative side effects like removing of the soil seed bank and increasing of P leaching.

Influence of tree plantations on bird-fauna of surface mines at Mt. of Fruska Gora

Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Tre Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Yugoslavia

beki@stupid.com

Ornithological investigations at two surface mines at Fruska gora took place in the Spring and early Summer of years 2000 and 2001. One surface mine is for exploitation of marl, and the other one is for Miocene lime. There were no similar, previous investigations on these localities. Succession of herbaceous vegetation was spontaneous. Trees and bushes were planted during recultivation programmes, but there were also some wild growing trees. Five bird species dependent on trees are breeding on these partially recovered ecosystems. Spontaneous succession combined with human impact provided good habitat for these birds. The specific bird-fauna of restored sites was compared with that of surrounding areas. Monitoring of further development of these ecosystems is planned for following seasons.

Long-term abiotic/biotic effects of the dropping groundwater level and the scientific basis of the ecological restoration in the salt-affected and sandy regions of Danube-Tisza Interfluve of Hungary

Tóth, T. ¹ & L. Kuti ²

1Research Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary, Herman O. 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary

tibor@rissac.hu

The Global Terrestrial Observing System: Global data on the biophysical environment, ecosystem processes and the socio-economic forces that influence them.

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy

reuben.sessa@fao.org

The Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) is a programme for observation, modelling, and analysis of terrestrial ecosystems by facilitating the access to information on terrestrial ecosystems so that researchers and policy makers can detect and manage global and regional environmental change.

To achieve its objectives GTOS has undertaken a number of activities including:

The Global Terrestrial Network (GT-Net) linking the world's terrestrial research networks allowing harmonisation of efforts and sharing of data and information.

Regional programmes to strengthen national capacities for the participation in global change studies.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites (TEMS) database which is an international directory of sites and networks useful to scientific and policy-making communities.

Thematic demonstration projects (e.g. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) showing the benefits of co-operation between different scientific communities.

The creation of the Terrestrial Observation Panel on Climate (TOPC), the Global Observation of Landcover Dynamics (GOFC/GOLD) panel and the panel of Terrestrial Carbon Observation (TCO). The panels provide regional and global datasets and promote globally consistent data synthesis.

Further details on the GTOS and its activities

Environmental information management using the Dynamic Atlas software of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy

reuben.sessa@fao.org

Dynamic Atlas is an information management and publishing software suite of the Food and Agricultural Organisation that enables the integration of spatial (map), tabular (spreadsheet), and unstructured (document) data and metadata. The software allows the user to store, organise, recall, and publish information in a format which is easy for anyone to access and use. The software package includes:

- Dynamic Maps: for desktop data visualisation and mapping.

- Dynamic Web Maps: for internet access of maps, tabular data, and documents from the warehouse(s).

- Dynamic Knowledgebase: for information and data registration in a structured warehouse.

Dynamic Atlas has been used in FAO's SDRN Technical Cooperation Projects in Afghanistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen as well as in the Africover project. The Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) is also using the software to support regional data management and exchange in Southern Africa and Central and Eastern Europe.

Additional information can be obtained from gtos@fao.org, www.fao.org/gtos/atlas.html.

Thermal desorption – Biolgical remediation integrated soil decontamination and efficient reuse of land “Clean Soil”

Terra Humana Clean Technology Engineering Ltd., Szechenyi 59, 1222 Budapest, Hungary

edward@terrenum.net

www.terrenum.net

At former production sites, at improper storage facilities and in their immediate surroundings complex toxic – persistent and dense - compounds contaminate soils. Also in dense contaminated soil the toxic substances have tendency for accumulation – without degradation - to reach low and medium level of concentration. These toxic substances penetrate the soil matrix with different flow, composition and high and medium concentration, be set on the soil particle surface and be fixed inside the internal structure of the soil as well. Often biological soil degradation or decontamination methods are not viable. The major biological transformation problem of persistent and/or chlorinated organics contamination is not only that the degradation is slow, but also after partial degradation xenophobic toxic and non biodegradable breakdown persistent agents will occur (e.g. from Aldrin and Heptachlor biodegradation carcinogenic metabolites), which are (despite of lower concentration) more toxic after biodegradation than the original species of contamination.

Indirectly heated patented low temperature thermal decomposition is used in combination with on-site integrated biological remediation, e.g. a specially designed, indirectly fired, horizontally arranged rotary kiln reactor with no creation of dioxin D and furan F gasses by its nature. True reductive environment and vacuum is achieved with gentle removal of volatile contaminations.

Cost effective: thermal desorption average costs: US$115-165/ton, revitalization US$20–40/ton.

Short decontamination time: predictable short time of decontamination procedure resulting fast cleansed land capitalisation. Stops further groundwater contamination.

Comprehensive safe solution for any concentration levels of complex soil pollutions.

Legal acceptance.

Multipurpose organic farming applications of high P / Ca content animal bone charcoal “PROTECTOR”

Terra Humana Clean Technology Engineering Ltd., Szechenyi 59, 1222 Budapest, Hungary

edward@terrenum.net

www.terrenum.net

The overall objective of the PROTECTOR is to find ways to close mineral cycles in agriculture. Especially, closing the phosphorus cycle should be interesting as the main feedstock for phosphorus containing fertilisers are important minerals.

The past decades of extensive and continuous use of chemical pesticide and artificial phosphorus content fertilisers harmfully damaged, decreased and changed the functional microbiological biodiversity and sustainable productivity in the agro soils and negatively impacted the highly complex natural soil fertility structure. These past long termed negative effects of man made impacts on valuable food productive agro land / soils in European dimension need to be urgently restored, both for traditional and organic farming systems as well. One of the most critical elements in soil is the phosphorus supply, which is so important to maintain and restore the natural resistance of plants against diseases. Today, organic farmers have no efficient natural phosphorus products available for application, less products with combined effects, which would promote the development of cost efficient sustainable bio farming.

The patented PROTECTOR animal bone charcoal technology for non-food applications, first in the world, offers combined and integrated solution which is technically and economically efficient as well:

Cost efficient natural P / Ca supply to soil and plant.

Biopesticide effect of the complex bio substance.

Sustainable restoration of natural biodiversity and ecosystem.

Safe, value added thermal treatment of animal bone, where any biological risk is total eliminated by the TDT-3R high temperature treatment process over 850 °C.