Grasslands for biodiversity: supporting the protection of the biodiversity-rich grasslands and related management practices in the Alps and Carpathians

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Semi-natural grasslands are among the most species-rich habitats in Europe but have sharply declined in spatial extent and biodiversity in recent decades. Within Europe, the grasslands of the Alps and the Carpathians harbour extraordinary plant diversity but their biodiversity varies significantly due to local environmental conditions and management intensities. Thus, there is general agreement that, in order to prevent further grassland biodiversity loss, the protection, enhancement and potential expansion of species-rich grasslands is necessary. Knowledge of the areas suitable for protection, enhancement and potential expansion comes largely from vegetation samples and experimental studies. However, these are unaffordable and unfeasible for systematic evaluation of biodiversity patterns over large areas. Further, existing monitoring programs generally lack information on grassland management regimes and a historical perspective, both of which can strongly influence current biodiversity. Fortunately, the availability of earth observational data over large areas now allows extrapolation of field measurements over time and space with acceptable accuracy. Combining these data with biodiversity datasets and an understanding of the socioeconomic context offers powerful opportunities for reaching conservation targets. The aims of the proposed project are to (1) identify diversity-rich grasslands and their distribution in the Alps and Carpathians; (2) identify diversity-supporting grassland management practices and their change and persistence; (3) identify the areas suitable for expanding the grassland protection network; and (4) propose new protection areas and their management across Alps and Carpathians. By addressing these aims we will cooperate with stakeholders to (i) identify effective methods for extrapolation of vegetation samples across the mountain ranges; (ii) identify the grassland management drivers and legacy effects on grassland diversity; (iii) identify constraints and motivations for biodiversity-supporting management practices (iv) provide scientific background for expanding the protection area network in the Alps and Carpathians. The proposed research provides a great opportunity to strengthen the cooperation, data and knowledge exchange between the researchers and stakeholders across the two largest mountain ranges in Europe: the Alps and the Carpathians.