Donkey grazing on sand dunes

Controlling scrub development on under-grazed sand dunes is a major conservation requirement when seeking to restore open species rich vegetation. A number of grazing animals have been tried some such as the donkey deliberately chosen for their hardiness and presumed ability to browse. Results from a study in a Flemish coastal area (Hoffmann et al. 2001) suggest that whilst they will eat a variety of grass species, browsing woody species was relatively limited.

References

Hoffmann, M., Cosyns, E., Deconinck, M., Lamoot, I. & Zwaenepoel, A. 2001. Donkey diet in a Flemish coastal dune area in the first year of grazing. In: Coastal Dune Management: Shared Experience of European Conservation Practice, eds.Houston, J.A., Edmondson, S.E. & Rooney, P.J.Liverpool University Press, 95-107. Abstract...