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Modifying saltmarsh grazing management - Moderately grazed
(State 2) to Ungrazed or lightly grazed (State 3)
Saltmarshes with current stocking levels ranging from low intensity regimes
to moderate stocking rates (State
2) provide a range of opportunities for conservation management.
As stock densities (of sheep and cattle) decrease there is a shift in nature
conservation value, towards the creation of swards with greater structural
diversity. In the early and middle stages of succession the plant communities
tend to be impoverished as grazing sensitive species are eliminated. This form
of restoration is most likely to be appropriate where stock have been introduced
onto formerly ungrazed or only lightly grazed saltmarsh (State
3).
| General guidance: A decrease in stocking density and/or period
of grazing will reduce grazing intensity. In turn this should result in
an increase in structural diversity, potentially helping to enhance the
plant community diversity and invertebrate and breeding bird fauna. Check
the appropriate grazing
levels for each state. |
Caution: It will be important when undertaking such a change in management
to ensure that grazing is maintained at a level suitable to prevent the rapid
growth of grasses (such as common saltmarsh grass Puccinellia
maritima and red fescue Festuca rubra).
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