Project

Establishment of Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna L.) in river forelands

Management of river forelands with a focus on water retention for flood prevention and includes the creation of a mosaic landscape, where limited forest development is accepted. The latter is important because forest obstructs water discharge. Forest development can be suppressed by using grazing as a landscape forming process. The question arose to which extend forest will develop under the current management.

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Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna L.) is the dominant species in many forelands and can serve as refuge for species like oak  which are attractive for grazers. The research was focussed on the effects of grazing, vegetation (cover and height), inundation and precipitation on the germination and establishment of Hawthorn.

Cooperation

MSc theses

  • Decuyper, M.  (2007). Establishment of Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna L.) in the Afferdensche en Deestsche Waarden between 1997 and 2007. A reconstruction made by using dendrochronology. (supervision: Sass-Klaassen, in cooperation with Bokdam, Sykora/NCP-WU and Cornelissen/RWS)