Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5.
B
EST
P
RACTICE FOR
M
ANAGEMENT
A crucial point in the conservation of alkali marshes is to provide astatic water regime.
Either permanent increase or decrease in water supply can have negative effects on the
diversity and structure of alkali marshes (Molnár & Borhidi 2003). In such cases when natural
water regime was modified, active restoration measures are needed. These measures include
the restoration of former water catchment areas, elimination of drainage canals and if
necessary the establishment of water supply channels (Török et al. 2010).
Ensuring proper management is essential for maintaining the diversity of alkali marsh
stands. Even alkali marshes can persist without management, grazing of traditional breeds
(Hungarian grey cattle, water buffalo and mangalitsa swine) with different grazing pressure
considerably enhances species richness. Grazing results in a mosaic-like structure of closed
stands with various amounts of litter, patches with sparse vegetation and open muddy
surfaces. This heterogeneous habitat structure can harbour a much higher diversity of plant
and animal taxa compared to unmanaged or regularly harvested stands. As reed harvest
results in the homogenisation of vegetation, it should be neglected or applied only in small
patches. Even studies on the application of burning in alkali marshes are lacking, field
observations after wildfires suggest that prescribed burning could be a feasible tool for the
management of alkali marshes. Patch burning could be especially effective for forming a
heterogeneous, patchy structure in homogeneous reed stands (Valkó et al. 2014b).
In such cases when alkali marshes are surrounded by arable lands, establishment of buffer
zones of nature-close vegetation contribute considerably to their conservation (Csorba &
Szabó 2012). The most effective way to create natural-like buffer zones is to restore
grasslands by sowing low-diversity seed mixtures (Török et al. 2010). These buffer zones
play an important role in (i) the restoration of the natural zonation of alkali landscapes, (ii)
providing water catchment areas for wetlands, (iii) mitigating the infiltration of chemicals to
alkali marshes, (iv) providing habitats for several grassland species and (v) they can act as
green corridors (Török et al. 2010).
Conservation of alkali marshes is crucial from the nature conservation point of view, as
they play a crucial role in preserving species and landscape-scale biodiversity. Besides, these
habitats are important from sociological and economical point of view, and they provide
several ecosystem services like water retention, improving water quality by bio-filtration,
provide pastures for traditional breeds and they also can be integrated to the local ecotourism.
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to Z. Végvári for proofreading the manuscript. Authors were supported
by the European Union and the State of Hungary, co-financed by the European Social Fund in
the framework of TÁMOP-4.2.4.-A/2-11-1-2012-0001 ‗National Excellence Program'. The
work was supported by TAMOP-4.2.2/B-10/1-2010-0024, and TAMOP-4.2.2.C-11/1/KONV-
2012-0010 projects. P.T. was supported by the OTKA-PD100192 research grant.
