LIFE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DRY GRASSLANDS.. (LIFE TO GRASSLANDS)
LIFE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DRY GRASSLANDS IN EASTERN SLOVENIA
(LIFE TO GRASSLANDS)
Start date: Nov 1, 2015,
End date: Oct 31, 2020
PROJECT
FINISHED
Background
Dry grasslands â semi-natural dry grasslands on calcareous substrates (6210) and species-rich Nardus grasslands on siliceous substrates in mountain areas (6230) â have a bad/unfavourable conservation status in Slovenia. Overgrowth resulting from land abandonment is a critical threat for these habitat types. Additionally in the past few decades, orchards have been disappearing rapidly for economic reasons.
Objectives
The LIFE TO GRASSLANDS project aims to:
Restore 260 ha of habitat type 6210 and 257 ha of 6230 through the removal of overgrowth;
Reintroduce grazing/mowing management aimed at maintaining open patches of 6230 in the forest (on around 5 ha);
Establish the long-term sustainable use of target areas;
Revitalise 45.5 ha of traditional orchards, thus preventing land sliding and enhancing species diversity;
Incorporate sustainable dry grassland management into agricultural and environmental policy in Slovenia;
Establish a network of landowners and potential land users to reduce land use fragmentation;
Improve the viability of sustainable dry grassland use by identifying alternative activities; and
Increase public awareness of the importance of dry grasslands.
Expected results:
Conservation guidelines for sustainable management of 6210 and HT 6230;
At least 15 ha of dry grasslands leased and 18 ha purchased;
Overgrowth of at least 81 ha cleared from 6210 and 52.57 ha from 6230;
Appropriate long-term use of dry grasslands on a surface of more than 500 ha;
Traditional orchards revitalised on a surface of at least 45.50 ha of dry grasslands;
Online platform for the networking of landowners in the Haloze project sub-area;
At least 49 farm management plans for dry grasslands drawn up;
Prepared expert proposal for AEP measures for integration into the 2021- 2027 rural development programme of the Republic of Slovenia;
Identified economic interest for further sustainable use of dry grasslands;
Improved social and economic perspective of agriculture in target areas and beyond;
Increased awareness on the importance of dry grassland; and
Improvement of conservation status of 6210 on 2 342 ha, and of 6230 on 309.57 ha.
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