Ecological verge management in Flanders Belgium Practical aspects

Ecological verge management in Flanders (Belgium) Practical aspects Marleen Moelants (Agency for Roads and Traffic) Andy Van Kerckvoorde (Research Institute for Nature and Forest) Ophrys apifera Dianthus deltoides Calluna vulgaris Ephippiger ephippiger Callophrys rubi Sciurus vulgaris The ideal ecological verge Only possible on broad verges and in large junctions Road/Towpath Safety strip Herbal grassland Scrubs Shrubs Forest edge Regular management of grassland verges • Ecological management plans based on an inventory of the present vegetation • Maximizing the ecological potential by planning the appropriate mowing frequencies and periods • Managing long sections at a time for traffic safety reasons Reality along roads and waterways • • • Narrow verges with only space for grassland or bushes Traffic disturbance during management activities High cost in adapting management to specific vegetation type Crash barriers, signs, distance markers and other signage must be kept free of vegetation Spots hard to reach for mowing and picking machines such as steep slopes Alternatives for management of verges along infrastructure Alternatives for the management of steep slopes and unreachable spots • • Spontaneous vegetation development Scrubs: mowing once every 3 or 4 years Planting bushes Grazing by sheep or other grazing animals Benefits of grazing • • • Selective grazing leads to more diversity Sprout control of invasive alien species of Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia sp), … Cost effective management technique Considerations • • • Alternative for the management of dense bushes • Removing the trees closest to the infrastructure • Coppice management in hedgerows Benefits of coppice management • Creation of a new, young, compact, and vital vegetation • More diverse green screen Execution • • Cutting the trees to 10 -20 cm from ground level in winter Every 9– 15 years (or 5 -6 years for fast growing trees) Cutting in alternating strips of 50<200 m every year in order to let species resettle The cut has to be clean and slant to get a good regrowth Choice of the grazing animals Stocking densities Shelter Grazing regime adapted to maintain the target vegetation Mob grazing in alternating compartments No grazing in winter Drinking water supply Supplementary feeding necessary? Avoiding overgrazing Along roads: in a fence (120 cm high) • Only sheep • The shepherd takes care of the flock Disadvantages • • Along waterways: herds or in a fence • • Sheep, cattle, horses, … Herds: with shepherd and dog Poor execution results in a bad regrowth Negative public opinion (Martes foina)