Succession of abandoned meadows on drained mires in Finnish Lapland

Ongoing intensification of land use, as well as the abandonment of less productive sites has considerably diminished the diversity of species in many parts of Europe. The subject of this thesis is the succession of abandoned meadows on drained aapamires in Finnish-Lapland. The goal of the investigation was to estimate the extent of human impact and predict the future development of the fields. Furthermore, the danger to the abandoned meadows and mires was evaluated and future possibilities of use were discussed using two specific examples.In field experiments that took place in 1997 to 1998 the vegetation and soil of abandoned meadows and adjacent habitats in 14 settlements of Salla, a community in the east of the province of Lapland, were closely investigated. The phytosociological relevés included investigations on the vegetational structure. Soil samples were taken and physical as well as chemical soil properties were investigated.Cluster analysis was used to classify eleven vegetation units on abandoned meadows which were between 1 and 48 years old. The classification and description of vegetation units was followed by the division of meadows and their vegetation into four age groups. Several parameters of vegetation and soil were described and compared with the adjacent mire, forest and meadow stands. Using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) it was possible to detect those factors which had a statistical impact on the vegetation pattern. A model of succession for vegetation and soil of abandoned meadows on drained aapamires was developed afterwards. Finally, the need for conservation of abandoned meadows and mires was discussed and future usage possibilities contributing to the conservation of cultural landscapes were debated on the basis of two examples