Background In the north-eastern corner of Austria, the warm continental climate supports arable crops, orchards and vineyards on gently undulating hills. On steeper slopes and ridges, extreme conditions generated by dry conditions, minimal development of soil and barren surfaces has favoured highly specialised animal and plant communities. Unfortunately, the traditional pastures and hay meadows occupying these exteme habitats have been mostly abandoned, so that the management essential for these characteristic, but now very rare, plant and animal communities is lacking. Afforestation, overgrowth with exotic trees, eutrophication and biocide inflow originating from intensively used arable land nearby have also taken their toll on these habitats. Objectives The LIFE Nature Steppen project aimed to restore the last remaining patches of the priority habitat 'Pannonic steppes and dry grasslands' in eastern Austria. These sites, now very isolated, have an important stepping stone function, not only in Austria, but also for highly specialised and endangered species in neighbouring countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary). Thus, the project seeked to safeguard and restore the small remnants of steppe habitats left in various sites in Lower Austria and make them fit for the application of agri-environmental measures. It could serve as a model and give a practical boost to steppe grasslands conservation in all of Austria and, through extensive international networking, its eastern neighbours. Management plans would be prepared for 11 areas and monitoring systems established (priority-setting, indicator species). Two nature reserves were to be enlarged by purchasing adjoining land. The bulk of the project, however, would focus on non-recurring management activities, including the removal of trees and undergrowth and the clearing of small areas. Recurring management (grazing by livestock and mowing) was to follow these actions on steep, rough terrain. The beneficiary also aimed to change farmers’ and landowners’ attitudes towards dry habitats for the better, and to incite their participation in long-term management activities. Extensive public awareness work, including information about the importance of these habitats for biodiversity, plus international networking, would also be set up. The management would be closely monitored and indicator species evaluated. Finally, several hundred hectares would be restored and included in agri-environmental programmes. Results The project successfully elaborated management plans for the 11 project sites, gathering data about fauna which will be used as a basis for future management measures. The two nature protection sites targeted for expansion were enlarged by some 16.8 ha through measures such as clearance of non site-adapted pine forests and the invasive tree species ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima). These actions should aid the conservation in the project area of such valuable steppic grasslands and dry meadows species as Tatarian Sea-kale (Crambe tataria), the wild bee Hoplitis moscaryi, the Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) and the European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus). In total, more than 80 ha of steppic grasslands and dry meadows were restored and recurring management measures (i.e. grazing) will continue after the project end to maintain the favourable conservation status of the target area. Thanks to finance from the the Austrian agri-environmental scheme, ÖPUL, grazing will continue until 2013 on six of the project sites: Fehhaube-Kogelstein, Glaslauterriegel-Heferlberg, Hundsheimer Berg, Braunsberg, Spitzerberg, and Königswarte-Hindlerberg. The aims of the project were widely disseminated among the local community through such awareness-raising measures as public meetings with stakeholders, information panels and leaflets, a website and a project exhibition. Brochures in Czech, Hungarian and Slovak have also been published to help promote similar nature conservation projects in neighbouring countries. The Steppen project was also presented to experts from the Czech Republic, Germany and Hungary, as well as to participants of the International Botanical Congress, held in Vienna in 2005. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).