Open AccessEstablishing sustainable roadside vegetation communities of high botanical and aesthetic value: the basic concept statement and experimental justification
Author(s) -
I. P. Voznyachuk,
N. B. Vlasava,
Иосиф Михайлович Степанович,
A. T. Godneva,
В. Н. Решетников
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
vescì nacyânalʹnaj akadèmìì navuk belarusì. seryâ bìâlagìčnyh navuk
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2524-230X
pISSN - 1029-8940
DOI - 10.29235/1029-8940-2019-64-2-238-254
Subject(s) - native plant , edaphic , vegetation (pathology) , flora (microbiology) , geography , plant community , restoration ecology , greening , sustainable development , agroforestry , ecology , environmental resource management , introduced species , environmental science , ecological succession , biology , medicine , genetics , pathology , soil water , bacteria
The basic principles for the development of a new greening system for the region of Belarus aimed at creation and restoration of sustainable roadside plant communities of high botanical and aesthetic value are formulated on the basis of the use of conservation, restoration and “incorporation” methods of flowering native plant species, characteristic of a particular region. The statements of the concept are developed and recommended for roadways and highways in the Republic of Belarus and tested on the model site between the city of Myadel and the resort village of Naroch of Highway P28. Roadside vegetation management practices in other countries as well as our research has shown that along the investigated roads there is a high adaptive potential of native flora; by changing the mowing regime, sustainable plant communities can be established while enhancing the aesthetics and expressiveness of key elements of the landscape of the roadsides. The implementation of the strategy for each geobotanical region depends on the development of an assortment of native plant species that can be used for the greening of roadside areas. This should be done by taking into account their geobotanical and edaphic features, creation of a seed bank for grass mixtures, the formation of natural genetic reserves (field banks) of meadow flora to conserve the local and overall ecosystem and genetic balance. For examples, the atlas of plants “Roadside flowers” developed for the National Park “Narochansky” is recommended for use in roadsides (verges) greening within the boundaries of the Oshmyany– Minsk geobotanical district. To expand the use of gained positive experience on increasing the biodiversity of roadside ecosystems and reducing the cost of their maintenance, it is desirable to implement this strategy for the entire road network of Belarus, which will require adjustment in technologies for managing roadside ecosystems, based on priorities of conservation, restoration and formation of native plant communities, including meadows and wetlands.