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Restoring reedbeds - summary
Succession
in reedbeds is the primary cause of movement between the three identified states
(shown below). Restoring or managing existing interests is mainly achieved by
reversing or arresting this trend.
Caption:
Blue arrows show the successional relationships; red arrows the main sequence
in decreasing conservation values and the green arrows the principle 'routes
to restoration'
There are two principle routes to reedbed restoration - creation of new reedbeds
and control (management) of existing reed. These are summarised below.
- Creation (of new habitat);
The creation
of new reedbed is a key objective, not least in helping to restore
bittern populations in the UK. Once created subsequent management is still crucial
to the survival of the rare birds, invertebrates and plants which colonise these
areas. Thus overall a management regime which seeks to maintain a mosaic of
all the stages in reedbed succession together with open water is a preferred
strategy.
- Control (including the restoration of drying
degenerate habitat);
For the first of these involves the management of successional change. The
sequence of states shown in the diagram reflects the essential pattern of growth
and decay of the reedbed and its return to earlier stages of succession. These
restoration/management activities move from State
3 to State 2 or even State
3 to State 1.
Caveat: When considering control ensure that transitions to other
habitats (e.g. scrub and carr woodland) where they have high wildlife interest
are not disturbed or destroyed.
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