Beschrijving
LOCATION + COORDINATES
Lage Rooy, Hoogstraten (BE)
Bog restoration: 51°27'43.7"N 4°48'46.2"E (Google Maps: 51.462139, 4.812833)
CATEGORY
Demonstration sites for infiltration restoration through forest conversion.
Demonstration sites for permanent natural water retention
DESCRIPTION SITE
The site Den Rooy, a reserve of 42 ha, includes a degraded bog relict, pine plantations and decaying poplar plantations. It lies within the catchment of the river Mark. The bog relict is degraded due to a drainage ditch and reduced infiltration from pine plantations. To restore the bog relict, 3 ha of pine plantation will be converted to heathland in the catchment. By converting high interception vegetation types (i.e. pine plantations) to low interception vegetation types (i.e. heathland, a European target habitat), additional infiltration capacity will be restored. The drainage ditch will be gradually filled up to keep the water into the bog rather than draining it. The remaining 2.1 ha will consist of restored forest edges, including deciduous species (e.g. hazel, linden). Further restoration of a network of different bog relicts in the direct region of the site, will help counter both droughts and floods in the area.
MEASURES
- 5,1 ha pine plantations will be converted to bog, heathland and deciduous forest edges
- Valuable trees as oaks and structure rich pines will be conserved (5% of the total surface)
- Drainage ditch will be filled up to restore hydrology of former bog