Examples of our services:

Conservation management of species-rich meadows

Soil monitoring

Restoring species-rich grasslands

Heathland restoration

Soil assessment

Restoration of wet grasslands

Monitoring acid grassland

Research on hedgerows

Environmental mitigation

Sustainable weed control

Research on rare soils

Globally unique soils formed on gyprock ('hard gypsum') within gypsum karst landscapes in the north-west Russia are named 'Sulpho rendzinas'.

The typical Sulpho-rendzina has a raw-humus organic horizon and pure gypsum mineral part. The soil cover dominated by these gypsum soils supports species-rich oligotrophic taiga communities - 'open woodlands' - with rare and endangered plants (Gypsophila uralensis etc.).

The high solubility of gypsum means that Sulpho-rendzinas are highly susceptible to the effects of climate change. Soil loss through gypsum dissolution can cause damage to the vegetation cover, and consequently, trigger soil erosion. However, the major threats to gypsum soils and associated gypsum karst ecosystems come from commercial gypsum mining.  

Please have a look at Sulphorendzinas on the study sites and in the laboratory, consider our findings and the model of soil genesis and read about the world-wide diversity of soils on gypsum rocks. Then I hope to exchange some ideas regarding their future research and conservation. Please feel free to contact us for discussion!

Open woodland in the gypsum karst landscape.

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