Nutzung ehemalig brachliegender Wildheuflächen im Erstfeldertal, Kanton Uri: eine Bilanz nach 10 Jahren

Abstract

After 1945, the use of natural hay-meadows in the Erstfeldertal located in Central Switzerland went through a constant decline. The use was totally discontinued in the beginning of the nineteenseventies and caused a decline in plant diversity of these meadows. In the Swiss federal project for the protection of the most important dry meadows and pastures in Switzerland, the dry meadows of the Erstfeldertal were classified as of national importance and were protected. The Canton of Uri is now in charge of implementing the national inventory. In 2002 he decided to start a project in order to reactivate the use of traditional hay-meadows in the Erstfeldertal. A scientific monitoring programme has been recording vegetation changes since the regular mowing was resumed. After cutting the abandoned fallows twice, the typical vegetation began to regenerate. The litter layer disappeared and flowering and reproduction of many species were intensified. Here, we describe the observed vegetation changes due to regular mowing and we suggest management measures for conservation.