Master’s Thesis 2016 60 ECTS Department of Plant Sciences (IPV) Restoration and management plan of Tananger coastal heathland Marta Bosque Fajardo General Ecology 1 Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 7 1. PAST: Cause and effect .............................................................................................................. 8 1.1 Coastal heathlands ............................................................................................................ 10 1.2 Norwegian coastal heathland creation ............................................................................. 10 1.3 Traditional management of Norwegian heathlands ......................................................... 12 1.4 Heathland vegetation composition ................................................................................... 16 1.5 The decline of heathlands ................................................................................................. 16 1.6 Threats to the heathlands ................................................................................................. 17 1.7 Legal framework for coastal heathlands in Norway ......................................................... 20 1.8 Goals of the thesis ............................................................................................................. 21 2. PRESENT: Determinants and consequences ........................................................................... 24 2.1 Materials and methods ..................................................................................................... 26 2.1.1 Study area................................................................................................................... 26 2.1.2 Climate ....................................................................................................................... 28 2.1.3 Sampling ..................................................................................................................... 28 2.1.4 Data processing .......................................................................................................... 34 2.2 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................. 36 2.2.1 Vegetation types ........................................................................................................ 36 2.2.2 Regionally important species ..................................................................................... 39 2.3.1 Section A ......................................................................................................................... 40 2.3.1 a) Vegetation composition per vegetation type ........................................................ 41 2.3.1 b) Area state variable ................................................................................................. 45 2.3.1 c) Regrowth (GG) ........................................................................................................ 46 2.3.1 d) Alien species ........................................................................................................... 47 2.3.2 Section B ......................................................................................................................... 48 2.3.2 a) Vegetation composition per vegetation type ........................................................ 49 2.3.2 b) Area state variable ................................................................................................. 53 2.3.2 c) Regrowth (GG) ........................................................................................................ 54 2.3.2 d) Alien species ........................................................................................................... 55 2.3.3 Section C ......................................................................................................................... 56 2.3.3 a) Vegetation composition per vegetation type ........................................................ 57 2.3.3 b) Area state variable ................................................................................................. 60 2.3.3 c) Regrowth (GG) ........................................................................................................ 61 2.3.3 d) Alien species ........................................................................................................... 61 2 2.4 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 62 2.4.1 Implications for a restoration and extended management plan, Tananger coastal heathland. ........................................................................................................................... 71 3. FUTURE: Proposed restoration and management plan for Tananger coastal heathland ....... 74 3.1 Objectives of the restoration and management plan ....................................................... 76 3.2 General advice on restoration of Tananger coastal heathland ......................................... 77 3.2.1 Removal of trees and shrubs ...................................................................................... 77 3.2.2 Removal of seedlings .................................................................................................. 79 3.2.3 Cutting old Calluna plants .......................................................................................... 79 3.2.4 Controlled burning ..................................................................................................... 80 3.2.5 Addition of Calluna seeds ........................................................................................... 80 3.2.6 Erecting fences and gates and water stations ........................................................... 81 3.2.7 Information measures ................................................................................................ 81 3.3 General advice on management of Tananger coastal heathland ..................................... 82 3.3.1 Grazing ....................................................................................................................... 82 3.3.2 Clearing new seedlings of trees and bushes establishing .......................................... 85 3.3.3 Burning regime ........................................................................................................... 85 3.3.4 Monitoring.................................................................................................................. 86 3.4. Proposed measures in the different management areas ................................................ 89 3.5 Management Section A ..................................................................................................... 89 3.5.1 Management area A1.1 .................................................................................................. 90 3.5.2 Restoration actions suggested for management area A1.1 ....................................... 91 3.5.3 Management actions suggested for management area A1.1 .................................... 93 3.5.4 Management area A1.2 .................................................................................................. 95 3.5.6 Restoration actions suggested for management area A 1.2 ...................................... 96 3.5.7 Management actions suggested for management area A 1.2 ................................... 98 3.5.8 Management area A1.3 .................................................................................................. 99 3.5.9 Restoration actions suggested for management area A1.3 ..................................... 100 3.5.10 Management actions suggested area A1.3 ............................................................ 102 3.5.11 Management area A1.4 .............................................................................................. 104 3.5.12 Restoration actions suggested for management area A1.4 ................................... 105 3.5.13 Management actions suggested in area A1.4 ........................................................ 106 3.6 Management Section B ................................................................................................... 108 3.6.1 Management area B1.1 ................................................................................................ 108 3.6.2 Restoration actions suggested for management area B1.1 ..................................... 109 3.6.3 Management actions suggested in area B1.1 .......................................................... 111 3 3.6.4 Management area B1.2 ................................................................................................ 112 3.6.5 Restoration actions suggested for management area B1.2 ..................................... 113 3.6.6 Management actions suggested in area B1.2 .......................................................... 115 3.7 Management Section C ................................................................................................... 116 3.7.1 Management area C1.1 ................................................................................................ 117 3.7.2 Restoration actions suggested