Military Training Areas Research Articles

More bang for your buck: Managing the military training and environmental values of military training areas

Abstract Management of military training areas (MTA) is complex. These areas are environmentally significant, covering an estimated 250M hectares globally. Often the dedicated military training values of these sites are in competition with the potential for protection of local environmental values. Globally, no current MTA management approach effectively integrates both the military training and environmental values of these areas. We present a new conceptual model of how military training and environmental values of an MTA can be integrated into management. Our approach identifies and assigns a value to all military training and environmental values that occur on an MTA, allowing for management trade-offs to be made. We demonstrate the application of our model with a case study.

Grazing by wild red deer maintains characteristic vegetation of semi‐natural open habitats: Evidence from a three‐year exclusion experiment

AbstractQuestionsConservation management of semi‐natural open habitats today has to compensate for the decline of traditional practices of agricultural land use. Can wild and free‐ranging ungulates, such as red deer, contribute to the preservation of characteristic open habitat plant communities?LocationGrafenwöhr military training area, Germany.MethodsWe set up a grazing exclusion experiment in grasslands (lowland hay meadows) and heathlands (European dry heaths) and monitored structural vegetation characteristics (sward height, bare soil, biomass contribution of Calluna vulgaris, litter height, woody species individuals) in open and fenced plots within a three‐year study period. We compared plant species richness, diversity and community composition before and after the experimental period.ResultsIn grasslands, plant species diversity was significantly reduced in fenced compared to open plots and in both habitat types, plant community composition responded to the exclusion of red deer. When fences prevented red deer grazing, increasing height of sward and litter in both habitat types as well as reduced cover of bare soil and increasing number of woody plant individuals in heathlands indicated beginning succession. In annually mown grasslands, where the regrowth provides attractive forage for red deer, the differences between open and fenced plots were most pronounced.ConclusionsOverall, our results indicate that the conservation value of the studied open habitat types started to decrease after red deer exclusion. Grazing by wild red deer can hence provide benefits to vegetation structure and diversity and could therefore enrich the set of tools available for the conservation management of semi‐natural open vegetation types.

Return of the Local Democracy to the Territory of the Military Training Areas (Case Study the Czech Republic)

The return of the local democracy to the military training areas raises a number of complex challenges even under the conditions of a democratic state. In the municipalities that were established in the Czech Republic on 1 January 2016 by a separation from the territory of the military training areas, a nondemocratic paternalist system has dominated for many decades at the local level, which in some cases was deepened by a presence of the foreign Soviet army. While other municipalities in the post-communist period after 1989 have undergone a complex development and have gradually responded to new challenges (e.g., the use of subsidy titles, intermunicipal cooperation), and, in the case of the settlements in the territory of the military training area districts, nondemocratic local paternalism was preserved until the end of 2015. In the first phase of their term, the elected representatives of the local government primarily focused on securing the basic functions of the municipality (issues of housing and basic amenities of the village—school facilities, shops), saving local sights as remnants of historical memory, and developing cooperation within different networks of actors on a general level (e.g., issues of tourism development, environmental protection).

Phytocenotic features of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill. in Ukrainian Polesie

Middle-aged pine and birch-pine forests of the Dicrano-Pinenion suballiance are the most common biotopes of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill. in Ukrainian Polesie. This species occurs mostly as solitary plants in forest phytocenoses; rarely its projective coverage can reach 40-45%. C. vulgaris has the highest constancy in phytocenoses of the Peucedano-Pinetum association in Right-bank Polesie. The forests of the Piceo-Vaccinienion uliginosi Seibert in Oberd. (ed.) 1992 suballiance and the Piceion excelsae Pawłowski et al. 1928 alliance are rare habitats of C. vulgaris; they occur only in Right-bank Polesie of Ukraine. Heathlands are rare ecosystems for Ukrainian Polesie, their vegetation is represented by plant communities of the Calluno-Ulicetea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Klika et Hadač 1944 and the Nardetea strictae Rivas Goday et Borja Carbonell in Rivas Goday et Mayor Lopez 1966 classes. They are forming in the significantly anthropogenically disrupted territories (e.g. areas after wildfires) or in the areas with intensive human activities, firstly in the military training areas. The phytocenoses of the Calluno-Genistetum pilosae R. Tx. 1937 association occur only in Right-bank Polesie and are the largest heathlands of Ukrainian Polesie in general. For example, in the Rivne region, their area is up to 20 km2. The area of heathlands, belonging to the Calluno-Nardetum strictae Hrync. 1959 association, does not exceed several hectares. The phytocenoses of the Scabioso canescentis-Genistetum Balcerk. et Brzeg 1993 association are represented with small plots in landscapes of pine forests and less frequently in mixed forests on upland terraces of Left-bank Polesie rivers. The characteristic feature of Calluna vulgaris spreading in Right-bank Polesie of Ukraine is its large participation (sometimes with the projective cover up to 80%) and high constancy (92,7%) in phytocenoses of oligotrophic bogs of the Ledo-Sphagnetum magellanici (Malc. 1929) Kästner et Flössner 1933 association. The populations of Calluna vulgaris, explored in the forest phytocenoses of the Cladonio-Pinetum Juraszek 1927 association on the territory of Ukrainian Polesie, are incomplete. Their age spectrum maximum falls on generative individuals. The “Right-bank” population of Calluna vulgaris are characterized by more active proliferation of plants and spreading on new territories. Aging processes dominate among the “left-bank” populations. Generally, environmental conditions of Ukrainian Right-bank Polesie are more favorable to Calluna vulgaris, than conditions of Left-bank Polesie.

Heathland plant species composition and vegetation structures reflect soil‐related paths of development and site history

AbstractQuestionsTo improve our knowledge on how environmental conditions determine the development of high‐value Calluna vulgaris heathland habitats, we studied the floristic and structural characteristics of heathland plant communities across North Germany and how they are influenced by edaphic, climatic and management factors. We ask how heathland development is related to these factors and what are the implications for conservation management and restoration.LocationNorth German Plain.MethodsWe collected 350 relevés in 18 dry Calluna heathland areas. Plant communities were classified using Isopam, and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) determined effects of environmental conditions. Potential pathways of development and the nature conservation status of the communities were identified on a multifactorial basis.ResultsWe found nine floristically and structurally distinct heathland plant communities. Heathland vegetation showed distinct patterns along Calluna age development stages and environmental conditions. Soil conditions and related effects of long‐term site history and recent management turned out to be the predominant factors influencing species composition and diversity, resulting in three potential heathland succession pathways. Mosaic‐like communities with particularly high taxonomic diversity and conservation value occurred on early‐successional inland dunes or as regeneration stage growing on nutrient‐poor sandy soils without humus accumulation.ConclusionsThe study reveals fundamental differences between historically farmed heathland in the oceanic Northwest and former military training areas mainly in northeastern Germany with consequences for restoration ecology. Present nature conservation criteria turned out to be insufficient in predicting habitat quality, as lichens are frequently disregarded. Our findings highlight the need for intense soil disturbance to maintain early‐stage soil conditions and a diverse Calluna growth‐phase composition, as these factors essentially determine species richness in lowland heaths.

Problems of Transforming Military Training Areas in a Post-Communist Space: Local Community Perceptions and Policy Implications

The integration of socio-economically marginalized areas into regional systems in the context of post-communist transformation has been an important subject of social science research in general. The military training areas (MTA), as specific type of peripheries, have been so far little explored. Based on the results of an extensive questionnaire survey (N = 1,362), the authors of this study analyze local community perceptions of MTA in the Czech Republic, assess positive and negative impacts of MTA on the quality of life, and discuss possible future development scenarios of the areas. The results show that local communities in the hinterland of MTA perceive similar problems as those living in other peripheral and/or rural areas, particularly unemployment, limited options of obtaining own housing, maintenance of road infrastructure, limited options of leisure activities, etc. Ensuring a harmony between local development and MTA activities is considered a specific issue. Problems are perceived more likely by older and highly educated people, and those living in smaller municipalities with higher unemployment and municipalities located closer to MTA. On the other hand, young and less educated people living in larger municipalities with higher unemployment rates, which are located at a greater distance from county seats, perceive more likely positive impacts of MTA.

GREEN SPACES IN CITIES AND SURROUNDINGS. SEARCH FOR THE WAYS TO OPTIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS IN THE CONCEPT OF «GREAT LVIV»

Forming of green spaces in Lviv has a long-lasting historical tradition starting from city inclusion into Austro-Hungarian Empire and continuing in the period be-tween wars (Polish) (1919–1939) and German-Soviet period (1939–1989). Landscap-ing was treated differently in these periods. Relevant approaches to city landscaping and architectural techniques were formed. Currently the intensification and concen-tration of developments is taking place in the city, anthropological pressure on bio-logically active city territories is growing, “green islands” are disappearing, air pollu-tion is increasing, integrity and continuity of green spaces are being violated and the requirements enshrined in the laws, rules and urban planning documents are not com-plied with. The number of green spaces in the city is reducing and their quality is de-teriorating. Characteristics of natural-landscape conditions of Lviv suburban zone and its resources indicates the unique natural-landscape peculiarities of the territory: it is lo-cated on the main European watershed. There are certain natural areas here with complicated configuration (geomorphological area of Lviv Roztochya, Lviv plateau, Hryadove Pobuzhzhya (banks along the tributaries of the Western Bug River), plain of Small Polissya, etc). The corresponding regimen of “nature’s life” was formed. The system of settlement in suburban areas has been formed historically and is de-pendent on natural-landscape conditions: the khutir (isolated farmstead) system is preserved in the Western direction; established settlement system was ruined in the course of construction of military training area; settlements are concentrated towards the direction of Lviv and transport communications. New construction within the area under research is characterized by non-systemic and chaotic nature — the decisive role here is played by specialists in land management, who set the perspectives of set-tlements development and urbanization processes expansion by their local decisions. In general, the territories have considerable natural-landscape capacity and reserves for development. However, the integral concept of landscapes protection and per-spective use and development of Lviv suburbs is lacking. Main activity is taking place at the level of newly created territorial communities, creating environmental and social-economic threats for Lviv and the territories in future. The problems of green spaces and their interaction with surroundings are out-lined. Main attention is focused on project mistakes and violations of standards and requirements of urban planning documents. Analysis of strategic documents devel-oped in the recent decades shows that they are of declarative nature; there isn’t any objective statistics; the structure is not developed and city processes are not moni-tored; local programs and experts’ views are manipulated. Of special concern are the issues of ignoring of master plan requirements, speculative approach of local territo-rial communities to development and use of territories (including the development of nature protection areas); orientation solely on capital inflow. Existing suggestions on improvement of environmental situation in the city and optimization of city interac-tion with surroundings are examined and the authors’ suggestions are outlined. Lviv and its suburbs will have to change — to be oriented on human-centered and envi-ronmentally sound approach to co-existence, improvement of socio-environmental-economic efficiency of the use of resources, — which the concept of urban planning system “Great Lviv” is oriented on.

So close and yet so different: The importance of considering temporal dynamics to understand habitat selection

Habitat selection of animals is influenced by spatial heterogeneity as well as temporal environmental dynamics. In addition, human activities potentially have severe influences on the habitat selection of animals, often resulting in more nocturnal behavior. We investigated seasonal and circadian habitat selection patterns of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on a military training area in Bavaria (Germany). Individual deer ranged on two neighboring, but non-overlapping sites differing in landscape composition and human activity. Using GPS telemetry data, we visually investigated selection patterns and then fitted step-selection functions to assess multiple approaches to account for temporal (i.e., diel and seasonal) effects and for the impact of habitat conditions on selection. We first showed that the way in which time of day is considered in step-selection functions is essential for obtaining ecologically meaningful results, and that the usual ways of including time (i.e., either based on clock-time or based on night vs. day categories) can lead to incomplete or misleading conclusions. Furthermore, we found that individuals followed either circadian or seasonal habitat selection patterns, depending on the site they inhabited. This can be explained by differences in disturbance between the two sites. Except in winter, individuals selected for open habitats during the night irrespective of human activity level, but only individuals from the more disturbed site selected for covered habitats during the day. Our results highlight the importance of carefully considering the appropriate temporal scale for habitat selection analyses. Our findings also indicate that red deer are not a crepuscular or nocturnal species per se, as is often observed in human-dominated landscapes. Instead, our results imply that nocturnality in red deer is an effect of adaption to human activities.

Military Training Areas as Semicommons: The Territorial Valorization of Quirra (Sardinia) from Easements to Ecosystem Services

The paper addresses the issue of the concurrent use of coastal areas for military training and civil activities, namely tourism. In the paper, starting from the consideration of publicly owned assets as ‘semi-commons’, we propose a method based on the comparison of planning instruments related to the different uses, and try to model them in a grid, where different weights and degrees of evaluation can be considered, in order to promote, rather than blocking, possible activities, compatible with concurrent use. The military areas in Sardinia (region and island, Italy) are around 234 km2, which constitutes 60% of the national surface affected by military easements. This situation is due to its geographic position, considered centrality in the Mediterranean for strategic reasons. This contribution evaluates the performance of the Local Coastline Plan (LCP) and the Site management plan of Community Interest (SCI) in conditions of military constraint. The case study is the municipality of Villaputzu South Sardinia, Italy), where an important coastal military easement and the use of the coast for recreational tourism purposes coexist together through specific planning, a consequence of institutional agreements between the Municipal Administration of Villaputzu and the Ministry of Defense. The idea is considering the concurrent possible land uses guaranteed by the different planning instruments, instead of focusing, as it is generally the rule, on the sum of constraints provided by the laws. The local coastline plan has been identified as the ideal planning tool, which addresses the co-existence of apparently opposite land uses and interests, as those expressed by the local municipal planning and those expressed by the military. An evaluation of the congruence of the specific objectives of the LCP and SCI shows how their combined action favors the environmental enhancement of Sardinia, contributing to the formation of ecosystem services, even in particular conditions arising from military easements. These are sites that evolve from ‘anticommons’ to ‘semicommons’. In fact, the military release process in Sardinia, together with the promiscuous military and civil use, activates unique governance policies of their kind that find a significant field of application in Sardinia to guarantee sustainable renewal of economic development of the ‘semi-commons’ awaiting to become ‘commons’.

Military Training Areas and Vegetation – the Effect of Explosion Craters on Species Diversity along a Moisture Gradient

Military training areas, where ecosystems are shaped under a complex disturbance regime, are recognized to be favourable pieces of land for maintaining high biological diversity. Our study focused on explosion craters – a small-scale disturbance type of high severity, and their effect on species diversity including vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens. The research was carried out on an active military training area in Nowa Deba (SE Poland). The examined vegetation represented open communities on nutrient-poor soils with a wide range of soil moisture conditions. We compared 76 pairs of vegetation samples, each pair consisting of a crater and a closely located control plot of the same size. Out of 135 species recorded (72 vascular plants, 33 mosses, 9 liverworts, 22 lichens), 37 were found only in craters, while 19 occurred only in control plots. Both, species number and diversity were significantly higher for craters than controls. In general, the positive effect of cratering on all studied groups rises from dry to wet habitats. The highest increase of diversity was observed in relation to bryophytes in the moist habitats. Moreover, craters within habitats of higher moisture turned out to be more resistant to alien colonization and at the same time were characterized by significantly higher number of red-listed species compared to the control plots. Differences in species composition between craters and undisturbed plots were most visible in moderately moist habitats. We found several species with a strong preference for craters, and the plants of the highest indicative value are Atrichum tenellum and Dicranella cerviculata.

Vulnerability assessment of wild fish population to heavy metals in military training area: Synthesis of a framework with example from Czech Republic

We present an alternative approach to understand and assess vulnerability of wild fish communities subjected to persistent heavy metal burdens from point-sources. The framework parameterized with some synthetic parameters have been coined as VAHMB (Vulnerability assessment for heavy metal bioaccumulation). Tissue metal concentrations (Cadmium, Lead, Mercury) in brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) and habitat metal signatures (sediment loads) was studied in six brooks inside Boletice Military Training Area (Boletice MTA), Czech Republic. Heavy metal burdens in the sediments of military area brooks were flagged safe. The tissue concentration of metals never touched critical limits but numerous cases of breaching Q3-ceilings (>75% of the critical limit) were recorded. Majority of vulnerable bioaccumulation cases were restricted to shooting area (large gears) brooks and observed for Hg. Highest bio-affinity was exhibited by Hg followed by Cd and Pb. Significantly strong, positive multicollinearity exists among heavy metals and between sediment-flesh metal concentrations. No morpho-biological dependency on heavy metal uptake was observed, however, negative implications on population fitness (Fulton’s condition factor) was apparent. A ‘nascent heavy metal exposure (NHME)’ at certain sediment metal concentrations was observed during which population fitness steeply deteriorates. It is followed by a ‘range of active adaptation (RAA)’ where deterioration of population fitness finally stabilizes. Under prevailing conditions in Boletice MTA, bioaccumulation of Cd and Pb up to critical levels seem difficult; even though Cd can bioaccumulate beyond Q3-ceilings. Prominent threat exists for reaching critical Hg bioaccumulation levels. Brooks adjacent to shooting areas should be subjected to periodic monitoring of Hg.

Cumulative energetic costs of military aircraft, recreational and natural disturbance in roosting shorebirds

AbstractKnowing the consequences of disturbance for multiple species and all disturbance sources is crucial to mitigate disturbance impacts in densely populated areas. However, studies that observe the complete disturbance landscape to estimate cumulative costs of disturbance are scarce. Therefore, we quantified responses, frequencies and energetic costs of disturbance of four shorebird species on five high tide roosts in the Wadden Sea. Roosts were located either in a military air force training area or were predominantly affected by recreational disturbance. In the military training area, infrequent transport airplanes and bombing jets elicited the strongest responses, whereas regular, predictable activities of jet fighters and small civil airplanes elicited far smaller responses. Disturbance occurred more frequently at roosts near recreational than near military activities, as recreation was prohibited in the military area during operation days. On average, birds took flight due to military, recreational or natural disturbance (e.g. raptors) 0.20–1.27 times per hour. High tide disturbance increased daily energy expenditure by 0.1%–1.4%, of which 51% was due to anthropogenic disturbance in contrast to natural disturbance. Costs were low for curlews Numenius arquata, oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus and gulls Larus spp, but higher – and potentially critical – for bar‐tailed godwits Limosa lapponica as they were most susceptible to aircraft and raptors. Given that bar‐tailed godwits have previously been found to be least susceptible to walker disturbances, our results suggest that interspecific differences in susceptibility depend on disturbance source type. In our study area, aircraft disturbance impacts can be reduced by avoiding jet fighter activities during periods when high water levels force birds closer to military targets and by limiting bombing and transport airplane exercises.

Implementation Study of Public Policies, Synergity of Policy for Defense Area and National Area Spatial in Grati Pasuruan

The development of a global, regional and national strategic environment has led to the development of factual and potential threats that must be faced by Indonesia. A strong defense is needed that is supported by all available resources, one of which is related to the area of defense. This research will analyze the implementation of defense areas, especially military training areas in Grati Pasuruan. Problems arise in several regions of Indonesia related to defense areas, even to the point of causing fatalities as happened in the TNI AL Grati Pasuruan training area. For this reason, this research is aimed at analyzing how the spatial planning of defense policy is currently implemented. The theory used is the theory of Van Matter and Van Horn policy implementation. The method used in this research is a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. The results showed that the implementation of the defense area policy could not be carried out, due to the finding of inhibiting factors, namely the lack of coordination from the regional government and the Ministry of Home Affairs in planning and ratifying the regional spatial planning, resulting in overlapping in the utilization of an area. The supporting factors are that all policies related to regional spatial regulation already exist. So that in this research suggestion is to bring back an independent government agency, whose task is to coordinate and make decisions regarding spatial planning, this independent institution will act as a policy force driver in national spatial planning. As a recommendation, the Pasuruan Regency regional regulation related to spatial planning to be evaluated and an independent institution be formed immediately by strengthening policies to the operational level. Keywords: Defense Area, Spatial Planning, Implementation DOI : 10.7176/PPAR/9-11-04 Publication date: November 30 th 2019

Effectiveness of gravity based particle separation and soil washing for reduction of Pb in a clay loam shooting range soil

Abstract A heavy particle concentrator (HPC), which can separate heavy metal particles from soil based on density, was examined for remediation of shooting range soil contaminated with lead (Pb) from a military training area. Concentrations of Pb in the stockpiles ranged between 1403 and 4300 mg/kg. The soils had high clay and silt content and were found to have relatively high exchangeable Pb, between 238 and 1480 mg/kg. After initial treatment by HPC, total Pb in the soil was reduced by 28%–56%. The fine soil fraction ( 250 μ m ) was found to still have relatively high Pb after HPC treatment. A greater removal efficiency was achieved by passing contaminated soil through the HPC a second time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the treated stockpile indicated Pb present in the soil sorbed on soil particles or as very fine discrete particles ( 20 μ m ) after initial HPC treatment. The addition of a chemical washing agent, ethylenediamine-N, N’-disuccinic acid (EDDS) was effective for removal of 68% of residual Pb after a single HPC treatment and may be considered for high clay soils.

Discovery of Cocirculating Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus At Wide Bay Military Training Area, Northeastern Australia.

An arbovirus surveillance military exercise was conducted to assess the risk of Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Wide Bay training area (WBTA), northeastern Australia, in April 2018. Of the 5,540 female mosquitoes collected, 3,702 were screened for RRV and BFV by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in a field laboratory. One pool of Verrallina funerea was positive for RRV and 8 pools (7 pools of Aedes vigilax and 1 pool of Culex annulirostris) were positive for BFV. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of the E2 protein subgrouped both RRV and BFV with viruses previously isolated from human infections, indicating the potential risk of RRV and BFV infection to ADF personnel while training in WBTA. This is the 1st time that both RRV and BFV have been detected in a military training area.

Settlement percolation: A study of building connectivity and poles of inaccessibility

In many countries and regions there is a strong interest in limiting urban sprawl and further land consumption. Thus, here we empirically assess to what extent the landscape is already overbuilt in the present day in Germany. Therefore, we analyze building locations as they provide the best possible information on built-up areas. Specifically, we apply the City Clustering Algorithm (CCA) and employ the percolation concept in order to quantify the connectivity of buildings. We find that at a critical distance of (830 ± 10) m the building stock in Germany undergoes a transition to a country-spanning building cluster. From this rather short critical distance we infer that the country is covered by a contiguous and dense mesh of buildings. Additionally, we find that the building density decreases as a power-law with an exponent close to 0.75. Complementarily, we identify the sites furthest away from any building. Ironically, the top five largest holes in that mesh are or were military training areas. The largest one corresponds to a radius of only 6.3 km. The results significantly contribute to a deeper understanding of landscape degradation. Settlement connectivity and poles of inaccessibility can serve for monitoring of settlement and landscape changes.

The colors of heath flowering – quantifying spatial patterns of phenology in Calluna life‐cycle phases using high‐resolution drone imagery

AbstractRecent developments in high‐resolution ecosystem mapping using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) open up promising perspectives for the monitoring of fine‐scale vegetation patterns and ecological functioning. In this study, we examine the potential of UAV imagery to track the structural composition and related phenological traits of the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris on a former military training area. On a European Natura 2000 heathland site, habitat management is shown to be evaluated on the basis of flowering dynamics and reproductive recovery as a proxy of functional changes that are generated after fire destruction. In particular, we utilize true color camera information and digital surface models to determine the spatiotemporal evolution of Calluna life‐cycle phases and flowering phenology 2 years after controlled burning. A stepwise methodological framework is presented that extracts Calluna pixels, spatially separates juvenile and mature life‐cycle phases, differentiates between generative and vegetative shoot extension and finally quantifies proportions of flowers, fruits and vegetative growth in two consecutive peak flowering periods. We show that Calluna life‐cycle phases can be spatially differentiated in pioneer, building and mature phases in UAV imagery. In the juvenile phase, regeneration from germination is low (<10%) and sprouting from the stem base dominates recovery patterns after fire management. The study further reveals that the distribution of flowering and fruiting during peak flowering time is spatially heterogeneous with high variations between years. In the fire unaffected mature phase, proportions of flowers and fruits are reduced indicating a decrease in reproductive capacity of unmanaged Calluna stands. A phenological phase shift is detected from flowering to fruiting that is related to an increase of Calluna growth height. The study shows that the functional patterns of growth and reproduction can be mapped for heathland ecosystems using simple true color drone cameras.

Thorny Shrubs Limit the Browsing Pressure of Large Herbivores on Tree Regeneration in Temperate Lowland Forested Landscapes

Thorny shrubs are considered as an important driver in the natural development of temperate forest structures, particularly in European lowland forests. We assessed the current role of thorny shrubs in the regeneration of deciduous tree species under heavy browsing pressure in a central European temperate forested landscape. The study’s military training area offered a unique opportunity to investigate the processes in which deciduous tree seedlings grew under thorny shrubs and in the close vicinity of thorny shrubs in a landscape with a high density of large herbivores (red deer and sika deer). We assessed the number of seedlings, species composition, seedling height, and degree of browsing damage, and their relationship to study plots elevation, thorny shrub species, coverage, and height. The regenerated tree seedlings were mostly detected as common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and wild cherry (Cerasus avium). The species of thorny shrubs were blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), and wild rose (Rosa sp.). We found that the thorny shrubs protected the tree seedlings from browsers to a large extent. However, the effects of thorny shrubs on the tree seedlings’ characteristics varied among the shrub species. While results revealed significant effects of hawthorn and wild rose on the tree seedlings’ abundance and survival, blackthorn’s negative effect of shading the tree seedlings outweighed its protective role. These results indicated a possible mechanism that enabled the regeneration of deciduous tree species under large herbivore pressure. These results can be applied in the landscape planning and forest management of deciduous tree regeneration and forest restoration in temperate forested lowland landscapes, where high densities of large herbivores (without the presence of large predators) usually occur.

Grazing by wild red deer: Management options for the conservation of semi‐natural open habitats

Abstract Maintaining semi‐natural open habitats requires biomass removal, which can be achieved by extensive grazing with livestock species. However, implementing this established conservation management strategy in large or access‐restricted areas is often not possible. We investigated grazing by wild and free‐ranging red deer Cervus elaphus as an alternative conservation management approach on an active military training area in Germany. In grasslands and heathlands protected under the EU Habitats Directive, we quantified above‐ground net primary productivity, forage quality and forage removal by red deer over three successive years. To assess synergistic effects between wildlife grazing and additional grassland management measures removing vegetation biomass (i.e. burning, mowing), we conducted our grazing experiment in burnt, mown and untreated grasslands. Annual forage removal by red deer amounted to 35%, 44%, 48% and 59% of the above‐ground net primary productivity in burnt, mown and untreated grasslands, and untreated heathlands, respectively. Theoretically, a similar annual biomass removal could be obtained by livestock grazing with 0.54 animal units ha−1 in grasslands and 0.45 animal units ha−1 in heathlands. In grasslands, daily rates of forage removal peaked in spring and early summer, whereas in heathlands, forage removal rates were only significant in winter. Forage removal rates in grasslands increased with productivity and forage quality, which were both enhanced in mown grasslands. This suggests mowing can increase grassland attractiveness to red deer. Forage removal rates in heathlands did not relate to productivity or forage quality but to standing biomass. Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate that the quantity of forage removed by wild red deer can be comparable to that of livestock in common conservation grazing systems. The seasonal patterns of forage removal by red deer in grasslands and heathlands coincided with the different grazing requirements of these habitats. Especially in large areas of conservation interest, we therefore encourage attempts to modify current wildlife management strategies to allow red deer to forage in open landscapes, which can contribute to the conservation of semi‐natural open habitats and also help to reduce damage in forest stands.

Into the future: Donkergat Military Training Area and the Langebaan Ramsar site

Militaries need natural areas for offensive and defensive combat-readiness programmes. Here soldiers, war machinery and munitions are employed to prepare forces to execute warfighting tactics. Integration of environmental considerations into military activities is a growing global challenge. This study is based on a qualitative approach underpinned by an extensive literature review. The potential for the contribution of the military to a sensitive and diminishing wetland on the West Coast of South Africa (SA) is addressed. Donkergat Military Training Area (DMTA) in the Western Cape province, SA, provides diverse, seaborne training and warfighting facilities for the South African Special Forces (SASF), a specialist branch of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). This facility borders the Atlantic Ocean and Langebaan Lagoon, a Ramsar site (no. 398). One of only 15 island ecosystems on the southern African coastline, lies within the boundaries of the area. Saldanha Bay was identified as an economic development node by the national government. The 4 Special Forces Regiment (4 SFR) is thus obliged to contribute to the conservation of these environmental assets. Industrial development includes Operation Phakisa by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) that envisages expanded aquaculture practices in Saldanha Bay. Developers of fish and bivalve farms are allowed up-scaling aquaculture operations. These result in the loss of ecological attributes of the Langebaan Lagoon Wetland system. In the study, we recommend that parts of DMTA should be incorporated in the Ramsar definition for the Langebaan Lagoon Wetland system. Ecosystem indicators monitoring bird life, water and sediment quality, fish and rocky intertidal macrofauna in the DMTA waters should be intensified. The DMTA as a benchmark ecosystem in the Saldanha Bay area will facilitate environmentally sound planning amidst recent developments. Integrating sections of the Langebaan Lagoon that is part of the DMTA into the existing internationally recognised wetland area, the military can contribute significantly to wetland conservation. Management of these areas should be formulated in a Military Integrated Environmental Management (MIEM) plan by incorporating international guidelines.