GreeNet - Grassland conservation across Europe

^{Duration: 01.04.2023- 31.03.2027}

^{Funded by Austrian Science Fund (FWF)}

European permanent grassland is the result of interactions between humans and the environment. It makes a significant contribution to biodiversity and ecosystem services (ES) in agricultural landscapes, but is threatened by abandonment, soil sealing, conversion to arable land, and intensification. Holistic strategies that take the landscape level into account in planning, incorporate local knowledge, and reconcile ecological conservation goals with agricultural production methods are needed for long-term conservation and high ecological effectiveness. The main objective of GreeNet is to develop sustainable management strategies under a combined “land sparing” and “land sharing” paradigm, i.e., the conservation of uncultivated areas (sparing) together with conservation measures on agricultural land (sharing) within the same landscape. Further objectives are the analysis of:
i) the biodiversity and ecosystem services of grassland habitats and the management measures necessary for their conservation,
ii) efficient incentive systems, and
iii) the potential and challenges of cooperation between farms for coordinated landscape management.

GreeNet is conducting case studies in Austria, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland. The selected landscapes form a gradient of protection status ranging from currently unprotected landscapes to Natura 2000 sites, biosphere reserves, nature parks, and national parks. The Austrian case study is located at the Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel region and deals with the conservation of ecologically valuable grassland. The research activities include:
i) the development of integrated management options for nature conservation,
ii) the assessment of the multifunctionality of landscapes,
iii) the empirical assessment and modeling of farmers' attitudes, preferences, and constraints,
iv) the analysis of the cost-effectiveness of incentive systems for nature conservation, and
v) the analysis of governance strategies for the long-term protection of grassland.

GreeNet will collaborate with stakeholders at the international, national, regional, and farm levels, including planners of agri-environmental and nature conservation measures, citizens, agricultural advisors, non-governmental organizations, administrators, and policymakers. GreeNet identifies barriers and factors that enable effective landscape conservation that is acceptable to farmers, conservationists, and the public. GreeNet addresses challenges at the local landscape level, national biodiversity strategies, pan-European policy objectives, and global sustainable development goals to support regional and national integrated protected area management.

Contact: Elias Kapitany; Thomas Wrkba