Agri-environmental payments drive the conservation and forage value of semi-natural grasslands by modifying fine-scale grazing intensity

Napoleone, Francesca; Probo, Massimiliano; Mariotte, Pierre; Enri, Simone Ravetto; Lonati, Michele; Argenti, Giovanni; Burrascano, Sabina

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109531

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…The chemical attributes of pastures and mowed/grazed meadows have rarely been analysed in combination with both PV and floristic-vegetation traits, mainly in the alpine context [155,156]. More often, forage yield and quality have been evaluated through proxies [157][158][159]. A point of novelty of our research is that it combines floristic and phytosociological characterisation with chemical attributes, pastoral value, and remote sensing, proposing an integrated approach for the conservative management of seminatural grasslands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seminatural Grasslands: An Emblematic Challenge for Nature Conservation in Protected Areas

Gigante,

Angelucci,

Bonini

et al. 2024

Land

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Seminatural grasslands are among the most threatened habitats in Europe and worldwide, mainly due to changes in/abandonment of their traditional extensive use by grazing animals. This study aimed to develop an innovative model that integrates plant biodiversity, animal husbandry, and geo-informatics to manage and preserve seminatural grasslands in protected areas. With this objective, an integrated study was conducted on the seminatural grasslands in the hilly, montane, and (to a minimum extent) subalpine belts of the Maiella National Park, one of Europe’s most biodiversity-rich protected sites. Plant biodiversity was investigated through 141 phytosociological relevés in homogeneous areas; the pastoral value was calculated, and grasslands’ productivity was measured together with the main nutritional parameters. Uni- and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify the main grassland vegetation types, their indicator species and ecological–environmental characteristics, and their pastoral and nutritional values’ variability and differences. A total of 17 grassland types, most of which correspond to habitat types listed in Annex I to the 92/43/EEC Directive, were identified and characterised in terms of their biodiversity and potential animal load. To allow for near-real-time analysis of grasslands, an NDVI-based web interface running on Google Earth Engine was implemented. This integrated approach can provide decision-making support for protected-area managers seeking to develop and implement sustainable grassland management practices that ensure the long-term maintenance of their biodiversity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seminatural Grasslands: An Emblematic Challenge for Nature Conservation in Protected Areas

Gigante,

Angelucci,

Bonini

et al. 2024

Land

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“…For each plot we calculated the current average grazing pressure and the difference in grazing pressure between present and past. To check that this remote sensing-based index properly captured grazing pressure in our study sites, we correlated it with classic field-based grazing proxies (Napoleone et al, 2022) such as evidence of biting, trampling, and the type and number of droppings deposited by grazing animals. We found significant agreement between them (Appendix S1), supporting the validity of our remote sensing index.…”

Section: Drivers Of Shrub Distribution and Encroachmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of dwarf shrubs in Mediterranean high‐mountain ecosystems

Toma

Carboni

Bazzichetto

et al. 2022

J Vegetation Science

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Question: Vegetation around the alpine-treeline ecotone faces changes in both climate and land use (i.e. grazing abandonment). Broad-scale shrub encroachment is considered an effect of these changes, but it remains unclear how this process is mediated by local-scale environmental heterogeneity. Our goal is to determine which local-scale environmental factors shape the spatial distribution and temporal trends of alpine dwarf shrub vegetation dominated by Juniperus communis in Mediterranean mountains. Location: Three sites in the Central Apennine Mountain Range (Italy): Mt. Terminillo, Mt. Duchessa and Mt. Ernici. Methods: Combining a set of environmental variables obtained at a fine scale (25-m resolution) from multi-year remote sensing imagery and field-collected vegetation data, we modelled the occurrence and cover of Juniperus communis-dominated dwarf shrubland, as well as its change over time, as a function of local climate, topography and land use, using linear and generalized mixed effects models. Results: Over a period of almost 60 years (1954-2012) shrubland occurrence increased by 12% and shrubland cover by 10% in our study sites. Its current distribution and change over time appear to be strongly shaped by the joint influences of fine-scale topography, above-ground biomass, land use and microclimate. Shrublands have been favoured locally in areas with harsher alpine environmental constraints and stronger resource limitations. Conclusions:Our study shows that in the Mediterranean high-mountain environment J. communis dwarf shrubland acts as a stress-tolerant pioneer vegetation, occurring in areas that are otherwise sparsely vegetated. Contrary to our expectations, at fine scales, warmer temperatures and the regional decline in grazing did not favour shrub encroachment. Despite increasing overall, J. communis shrubs have little competitive ability to successfully encroach grasslands, and remain restricted to less-productive areas. Our results confirm that fine-scale environmental heterogeneity can strongly influence shrub distribution and dynamics, thereby modulating future responses in evolving alpine ecosystems.

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“…High conservation values associated with temperate grasslands, which historically have been maintained by low-intensity livestock grazing, have thus been put in peril (e.g., Gossner et al 2016;Habel et al 2019). The biodiversity loss associated with grazing abandonment has led to proposals for mitigation (Marriott et al 2009;MacDonald et al 2000), including the introduction of agri-environmental schemes involving subsidies for sustained grazing of high nature value non-arable farmland (e.g., Pykälä 2003; Kaiser et al 2019; Napoleone et al 2022). Despite these efforts, both the extent of resumed grazing and the quality of grazing management has been assessed as inadequate for proper conservation and restoration of biodiversity associated with semi-natural habitats (Pykälä 2003, Kindvall et al 2022.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities and barriers for promoting biodiversity in Danish beef production

Ejrnaes,

Dalby,

Bladt

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Despite being a key process in ecosystems, natural grazing is rare, whereas abandonment and overgrazing frequently results in loss of threatened species. Here, we evaluate a biodiversity-promotion strategy of a Danish beef producing company involving nature conservation by livestock grazing. Using field surveys, a national biodiversity map and interviews with livestock farmers, we evaluate the potential nature conservation by farmers committed to a conservation grazing scheme. We found that most farmers practiced summer-grazing, primarily grazed areas of low conservation value, and with stocking rates far above carrying capacity. We conclude that a conservation grazing beef brand will only have real value for threatened and habitat-typical species if committed and held accountable to a scientifically informed grazing scheme. Our results point to agricultural traditions, regulations, and economic incentives as responsible for the observed obstruction of a beneficial natural grazing practice. Hence, the results of this study call for a critical and scientifically informed approach to future land-sharing policies.

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Agri-environmental payments drive the conservation and forage value of semi-natural grasslands by modifying fine-scale grazing intensity

Cited by 5 publications

References 71 publications

Seminatural Grasslands: An Emblematic Challenge for Nature Conservation in Protected Areas

Seminatural Grasslands: An Emblematic Challenge for Nature Conservation in Protected Areas

Dynamics of dwarf shrubs in Mediterranean high‐mountain ecosystems

Opportunities and barriers for promoting biodiversity in Danish beef production

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