Wet grasslands are one of the most endangered and at the same time one of the most species-rich and important habitats in Europe. In recent years, they have been threatened by the abandonment of their former utilisation, often followed by overgrowth and the gradual loss of their ecosystem services and characteristic flora and fauna. The wet grassland complex along the Bloščiča River was subjected to intensive encroachment of forests into wet meadows, fens and other wetlands in the decades following the Second World War, resulting in a consequent loss of the habitat mosaic. In this work, the process and extent of encroachment from 1998 to 2023 and its effects on soil properties and vegetation species composition were investigated through spatial data analysis, field and laboratory work. We found that more than 22% of all wet grassland areas were overgrown in 25 years, while a minimal number was restored. At the same time, we found significant effects of overgrowth on soil properties and a loss of biodiversity of vegetation, especially protected species. In the future, it will be necessary to evaluate the success of the current measures and the protection of the Natura 2000 site and to gradually restore the overgrown wet grassland, which is still possible along the Bloščica River due to the relative preservation of the remaining wetlands. The possible inclusion of the complex in a protected area and the introduction of a new integrated management approach must also be considered.
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