Katastrophen und Naturschutz: Aufwertung von Wirtschaftsgrünland nach einem Überflutungsereignis

Disaster and nature conservation: Restoring agricultural grassland following a flood event // Climate change is leading to an increase in extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall. In the summer of 2025, a severe flooding event occurred in an Alpine valley in the Salzburg region (Austria). Intensive studies of habitat structures and arthropod diversity had already been carried out on the affected meadows prior to the event. This made it possible to study the effects of the flooding and the subsequent recovery. Data of Vascular plants and arthropods were recorded using standardised methods before and after the flooding. The further development of the ecosystem was monitored, with one sub-plot being supported by the transfer of mown vegetation from an ecologically valuable area. It was found that flooding has a significant impact on plant and arthropod diversity. Both the habitat structure and the species composition changed. The transfer of mown material led to an increase in species diversity as early as the first year following the disturbance and can therefore contribute to ecological enhancement.