Impact of Management Changes on Seminatural Grasslands and Their Sustainable Use
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 9885
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Seminatural grasslands were established in the process of long-term interaction of man with the surrounding nature. Their existence fully depends on agricultural use (mostly grazing or mowing) that is low in intensity and therefore does not change the site conditions or the structure of a grassland. Due to the combination of diverse site conditions and specific methods and the intensity of farming, a wide variety of grassland types have emerged. Sometimes, grassland types are locally or regionally specific, and this variability is often overlooked. The agriculture intensification in the second half of the 20th century greatly affected seminatural grasslands: Their area was significantly reduced by conversion to arable land, forests, and urban areas; the structure of many remaining grasslands changed considerably due to intensive use, eutrophication, drainage, abandonment, and other pressures. Despite grassland conservation efforts, these processes continue.
In this respect, we need to improve our current knowledge about the impact of management changes on grasslands in its whole extent and variability. In this Special Issue, we will explore the effects of changes in grassland management regimes and intensity of farming or even its abandonment on the biodiversity, structure, and composition of seminatural grasslands. Articles focusing on the impact of management changes on grassland functioning and ecosystem services provision are welcome as well. We also invite papers that discuss and document promising ways for maintenance of valuable seminatural grasslands and the role of relevant policy instruments (such as the EU Common Agricultural Policy and Green Infrastructure Strategy) in achieving their sustainable use.
I am convinced that this Special Issue will contribute to better knowledge on the consequences of changing grassland management regimes and bridge the gap between agricultural production and seminatural grassland conservation.
Thank you for your contributions.
Dr. Ľuboš Halada
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- grassland management
- land use change
- management regime
- biodiversity
- seminatural grasslands
