Vegetation change and the protection of the Csaroda relic mires, Hungary

Abstract

Study of vegetation change of the protected mires situated near Csaroda and Beregdaróc (the Great Hungarian Plain) are presented. These are the southermost mires with raised bog communities in the plains of Europe. In the past few decades (by the early 80-s) vegetation showed both qualitative and quantitative signs of degradation. These changes were caused by natural (climatic variation, succesion) and by human effects. Natural changes were following: the decline or extinction of hygrophytes, the expansion of hydromesophytes and mesophytes and the acceleration of forest growth. The most important human-caused change was the drainage of the bogs. The harmful processes had slight effect on the Sphagnum-dominated associations. The "original" (i.e. before drying out) state of mires has been recovered by blocking drainage canals, plantation of a buffor zone and prohibition of using chemicals.