THE PINUS ROTUNDATA LINK BOG FORESTS ON MINED PEAT BOGS - IS THE CONSERVATION OF UNDISTURBED EDGE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR ITS PROTECTION?

Peat mining has a serious impact on the Pinus rotundata Link habitat. The possibility of sustaining a vital Pinus rotundata bog forest on undisturbed edges of mined peat bog was assessed. 28.7 ha of undisturbed edge of Borkovicka blata peat bog were sampled by regular grid of circular sample plots. Data about tree layer, natural regeneration of woody species as well as herb layer were collected. The impact of mined area drainage on vegetation communities in the undisturbed edge of peat bogs was discovered. The original Pinus rotundata bog forest is getting older and it is gradually being replaced by forest stands dominated by Picea abies (L.) Karsten, Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh. The character of vegetation changes more rapidly with the increasing vertical distance of the remaining fragment and the mined part. This secondary elevation represents a serious problem in the water regime restoration and consequent revi-talisation of the Pinus rotundata bog forest on the undisturbed edge of the mined peat bog.