Developing new-generation machinery for vegetation management on protected wetlands in Poland

• Main Authors: A.P. Dubowski, K. Zembrowski, A. Rakowicz, T. Pawlowski, S. Weymann, L. Wojnilowicz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Mire Conservation Group and International Peat Society 2014-08-01
• Series: Mires and Peat
• Subjects: ATV; biodegradable oil; biomass bales train; hovercraft; ratrak; snow groomer; tractor
• Online Access: http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map13/map_13_11.pdf

Many protected wetlands and (especially) fen peatlands in Poland require vegetation management to restore and maintain them as breeding areas for endangered bird species. The current practice of harvesting, baling and transporting grasses, reeds and other vegetation using tracked snow groomers and wheeled farm tractors can conflict with the nature conservation goals for these sites through disturbance of the ground surface and accidents leading to spillage of oil. To address these problems, the Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering (PIMR) is developing new-generation agricultural machinery that will also be applicable in formal paludiculture. This article describes an innovative method for towing large bales of harvested biomass across wetlands that minimises ground pressure using any vehicle, and the development of amphibian tracked (ATV) and hovercraft vehicles for biomass harvesting operations in wetlands.