Grassland is valued not only as a source of fodder, but also as a habitat for a variety of plant and animal species and for its aesthetic and cultural value. Nevertheless, ecologically important grassland areas are under threat in many parts of Europe. Conservation measures are required to halt this deterioration. To be effective, these measures must take into account the landscape level.
Objective
The main objective of the project is to identify proven and cost-effective conservation measures and their spatial arrangement that enhance and protect the landscape and ensure the long-term resilience of European grasslands to biophysical degradation and adverse socio-economic developments.
GreeNet brings together agronomists, agricultural economists, biologists and landscape ecologists to analyze the interaction of conservation measures between fields, farms and the landscape in several European case studies. The results will feed into the scientific debate on resilient landscapes and support policy planners in developing effective strategies to protect biodiversity in European landscapes while maintaining the provision of diverse ecosystem services to local communities and society as a whole.
GreeNet develops, modifies and applies a range of ecological methods (e.g. models, indicator assessments) to identify biodiversity and ecosystem service targets and analyze appropriate conservation actions at both field and landscape scales. The integration of results from bioeconomic farm models, the application of a landscape-level action planning model and the application of scenarios for future global change allow the derivation of optimal strategies to maintain or improve the resilience of landscapes. GreeNet will analyze the agricultural perspective by incorporating surveys of conservation decisions at the farm level. Finally, GreeNet will develop proven conservation incentive schemes and management strategies. This and the upscaling of the results to comparable grassland areas in Europe will allow to inform administration and policy makers about the need for protected landscapes and incentive options across Europe. Therefore, stakeholder involvement in several project steps is crucial.
Planned work 2024
Management of the international consortium, management of work package 1, survey of farmers (discrete choice experiment); creation and application of a farm model, co-supervision of the AT case study, development of nature conservation measures in agri-environmental programs, supervision of participatory processes
Timetable
roject start: 01.04.2023
Project end: 31.03.2026
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