Ecology and restoration of drained mires in the Šumava National Park (Czech Republic)

Pre-restoration study from Šumava NP showing ~70% of peatlands affected by drainage. Three years of monitoring compared drained vs intact sites: drained mires had lower water tables with greater fluctuations, lower pH, higher DOC (in groundwater/ditches), and elevated SO₄/NH₄; vegetation shifted toward Molinia, dwarf shrubs, and tree encroachment. Programme aimed to raise water tables by blocking ditches with wooden dams; monitoring included water table, hydrochemistry, peat chemistry, precipitation, vegetation, runoff.