Conservation and biodiversity: The influence of maintenance regimes on tree stands in historic rural parks

This study investigates the condition, management, and ecological dynamics of historic manor parks in Wielkopolska, Poland, highlighting their importance for biodiversity and cultural heritage. It analyzes shifts in tree species composition, focusing on native, non-native, and invasive species, and compares these shifts between maintained and unmanaged parks. Historical and present field data show significant declines in coniferous trees, particularly in unmanaged parks, where over half have disappeared since the 1970s. Maintained parks display greater stability, but still face rising numbers of invasive species. Biodiversity, measured by the Shannon–Wiener index, is generally higher in maintained parks, though invasive species continue to spread. The study concludes that neglect and limited maintenance promote secondary succession, which reduces especially the number of introduced species.