Ecology, management and monitoring of dune grassland in Flanders, Belgium
Provoost, S.; Ampe, C.; Bonte, D.; Cosyns, E.; Hoffmann, M. (2002). Ecology, management and monitoring of dune grassland in Flanders, Belgium, in: Gomes, F.V. et al. (Ed.) Littoral 2002: 6th International Symposium Proceedings: a multi-disciplinary Symposium on Coastal Zone Research, Management and Planning, Porto, 22-26 September 2002: volume 2. pp. 11-20 In: Gomes, F.V.; Taveira Pinto, F.; das Neves, L. (Ed.) (2002). Littoral 2002 - 6th International Symposium Proceedings: A multi-disciplinary Symposium on Coastal Zone Research, Management and Planning, Porto, 22-26 September 2002: volume 2. EUROCOAST: Porto. ISBN 972-8558-09-0. XII, 614 pp., more |
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| Abstract | Being a priority habitat type of the EU Habitat Directive, conservation and management of grey dunes demands special attention. Therefore, basic ecological insight is important. Grey dune succession is initiated by fixation and driven by the complex of soil formation (humus accumulation) and vegetation development. Leaching and mobilisation of CaCO3 complicate the picture and are important in nutrient dynamics. Hut at present, rough grass- and scrub encroachment greatly overrule these fine scaled soil processes and cause substantial loss of regional biodiversity. Belgium has a shared international responsibility in grey dune conservation due to its limited range of its characteristic vegetation, flora and fauna. As biomass removal seems essential in grassland preservation, grazing is an important management tool. Evaluation of management measures focusses on biodiversity measurement, which is done on the levels of landscape, community and species. |
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