A Local Rich Fen Fed by Calcareous Seepage from an Artificial River Water Infiltration System

The habitat of low growing, herbaceous rich-fen vegetation (Caricion davallianae) is now threatened throughout Western Europe. Its conservation, restoration and even recreation receives increasing attention. In the Campine area of Belgium a rich fen, that depends entirely on an artificial river water infiltration system for its alkaline discharge, is present. The rich fen vegetation cannot be older then a century, i.e. the age of the infiltration system. This illustrates that poor-fen precursors can be transformed into rich fen by alkaline ground-water discharge. The possibilities for restoration and the difficulties with use of allochtonous water for nature conservation are discussed. Finally, the hydrochemical consequences of the alkaline discharge in the fen soil are considered: in dry summers periodical acidification of the peat soils occurs.