Factors affecting vegetation in a fen restoration site: A case study of an excavation project on unused pasture.

Abstract

Restoring mires in abandoned pastures benefits biodiversity conservation and enhances ecosystem services. The relationship between vegetation and hydrochemical environmental factors was examined at the Hororo restoration area of the Kushiro Mire, where an excavation project is being carried out. Our findings indicate that the maximum value of relative groundwater level from April to September had the strongest influence on vegetation, and the spatial variation of the maximum relative groundwater level was determined by the distance from the drainage channel that floods during high-water events and by ground surface elevation. Our results suggest that harnessing the natural flooding of rivers and drainage channels can aid effective restoration of mires.