Alluvial woodlands along the river Rába
These habitats are important for providing food and breeding areas for insects, amphibians and birds.
It is important to prioritise conservation over economic value in these habitats and possibly stop timber production.
In the existing stands, continuous restoration of the natural forest character in accordance with the relevant habitat type, species composition, structure, and age class is of paramount importance.
Avoid great areas of clear fells. If planting new stands of such woodland, try to create the natural forest character.
Leave more deadwood (both standing and fallen) on-site to protect the associated fauna.
Avoid chemical herbicides when dealing with invasive and alien species. Remove stands consisting of non-native tree species, and restore the habitat to original alluvial woodlands, if possible.
Thankfully beavers are coming back to this Natura 2000 site along with the ecosystem services they provide, which include the following:
- Reducing flooding.
- Lessening the impact of drought.
- Engineering a mosaic of habitats.
- Improving water quality.
Photos by Linda Magyar, CEEweb for Biodiversity
