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Coastal grazing marsh - State 2 'Improved' to State 1 Traditional
- summary of approaches
Restoring
traditional management on 'improved' grazing marsh is the key to
re-creating the interest associated with the low intensity agriculture typical
of the best areas. This involves moving the system from State
2 to State
1, requiring a return to regimes approaching those in existence before
the intensification of agricultural use.
There are two principle approaches namely:
- Restoring the habitat for breeding and wintering birds;
- Restoring vegetation,
including plant (and invertebrate)
diversity.
Comment: Whilst the two approaches are not mutually exclusive, the
first is relatively easy and well documented and involves restoring water and
grazing regimes. The case of the Holkham
NNR on the North Norfolk coast is a good example. The second approach
is more complex. In addition to grazing and water management it may also involve
the restoration of topographic features, introduction of plants and reduction
in nutrient levels. The methods for achieving these changes is much less well
documented.
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