... coupled with intensified land management. Britain originally had 1,200,000 hectares of wet grassland, but this is now only 220,000, of which only 20,000 is agriculturally unimproved of a high conservation value. To save this ecosystem, a positive and sympathetic water and land management plan is needed (RSPB). Undisturbed raised mires are ombotrophic peats fed by precipitation and the mire surface is isolated from the regional water table. Western Europe has very few undisturbed mires left; in Britain, 98% have been transformed and utilised leaving only 1170hectares remaining. Positive action is needed to save them. Water requirements to conserve the wetlands Certain water requirements need to be met to conserve these ecosystems. Most wetlands have been lost through drainage, and one being drained is unhealthy and in decline, and can only be restored by restoring its original water regime. In the case of wet grasslands, drainage, intensified land use, conversion to arable land and ...

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