DEGRADATION AND RESTORATION OF WET AND MOIST MEADOWS IN THE CZECH-REPUBLIC - GENERAL TRENDS AND CASE-STUDIES

The main stages of well managed and degraded wet and moist meadows are reviewed together with their respective species diversity. Results of three case studies are presented, demonstrating changes in species di versity under various management and experimental treatments.;he studi es are of (a) alluvial meadows; (b) wet meadows adjacent to a standing water body; (c) submontane moist meadows. Results indicate that despi te the great degradation of the majority of moist (i.e. slightly wet) and wet meadows in the Czech Republic, potential still exists to resto re many of them. Re-establishment of a regular cutting regime and a de crease in nutrient inputs are necessary for successful restoration or rehabilitation of the meadows, which can be rapid under certain condit ions, especially if the input of diaspores of desirable species is ens ured, such as in many flooded alluvial meadows.