HjerkinnPRO restoration of removed roads

Study Extent

Three sites (road sections) covering 1.2 km of roads. The road section in each site was divided into three (four at the two sites where the No removal treatment was included) approximately 100 m long blocks, and restoration treatments were assigned randomly to the blocks. To monitor effects of restoration treatments, 55 permanent plots of 0.5 × 0.5 m were established in 2004, five for each restoration treatment at each site (Figure 2). The plots were randomly placed within blocks and were permanently marked with aluminum poles in the corners and marker sticks, and location was recorded with a handheld GPS. In 2014, we established 15 monitoring plots in intact vegetation in close proximity (10−20 m) to the road section sites to collect data on reference vegetation, i.e., the target for the restoration. At each site, a block of 100 m2 was established in undisturbed vegetation next to the road, and five plots were placed randomly within the block. The vegetation in the treatment plots were monitored in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019, i.e. two, seven, 12, and 17 years after restoration, respectively, and reference plots were monitored in 2014 and 2019.

Sampling

In each plot we recorded the abundance of all vascular plants as sub-plot frequency (i.e., presence-absence in 16 subplots per plot). In addition, we recorded total vegetation cover (visual estimate of percent cover, continuous scale), including cover of bryophytes and lichens.

Method steps

1. NA

1. Plantae
   common name: vascular plants rank: kingdom

Hjerkinn, Innlandet, Norway