Revegetation of an Airstrip and Dirt Roads in Central East Greenland

Revegetation of an airstrip and associated dirt roads on Pingo Pass, central East Greenland (71˚48'N, 24˚15'W), was studied in 1991, 34 years after their construction and abandonment. Sixty-two of the 103 species occurring on the Pass were found on the study sites. This relatively fast rate of recolonization might be partially explained by the fact that the ecological conditions of the surrounding area with windswept and rather stony terraces are similar to the dry and compressed soil on the airstrip and on the dirt roads. Therefore, the species of the dry barren grounds and of the dry heath could reach the airstrip easily and start the process of recolonization as pioneer plants. For most species, two phases of colonization can be recognised: the initial establishment of pioneer individuals followed by the establishment around them of their progeny.