Article Dans Une Revue (Article De Synthèse) Current Biology Année : 2024

Agricultural practices and biodiversity: Conservation policies for semi-natural grasslands in Europe

Esther Frei
Ariel Bergamini
  • Fonction : Auteur
Steffen Boch
  • Fonction : Auteur
Tobias Schulz
  • Fonction : Auteur
Christian Ginzler
  • Fonction : Auteur
Marco Barandun
  • Fonction : Auteur
Peter Bebi
  • Fonction : Auteur
Janine Bolliger
  • Fonction : Auteur
Kurt Bollmann
  • Fonction : Auteur
Noémie Delpouve
Martin Gossner
  • Fonction : Auteur
Catherine Graham
  • Fonction : Auteur
Frank Krumm
  • Fonction : Auteur
Mauro Marty
  • Fonction : Auteur
Noémie Pichon
  • Fonction : Auteur
Andreas Rigling
  • Fonction : Auteur
Christian Rixen
  • Fonction : Auteur

Résumé

Europe's semi-natural grasslands support notably high levels of temperate biodiversity across multiple taxonomic groups. However, these ecosystems face unique conservation challenges. Contemporary agricultural practices have replaced historical traditional low-intensity agriculture in many regions, resulting in a spectrum of management intensities within these ecosystems, ranging from highly intensive methods to complete abandonment. Paradoxically, both extremes along this spectrum of management intensity can be detrimental to biodiversity of semi-natural grasslands. Moreover, while anthropogenic climate change is an overarching threat to these ecosystems, rapid changes in land use and its intensity often present more immediate pressures. Often occurring at a faster rate than climate change itself, these land-use changes have the potential to rapidly impact the biodiversity of these grasslands. Here, we divide the ecological processes, threats, and developments to semi-natural grasslands into three sections. First, we examine the different impacts of agricultural intensification and abandonment on these ecosystems, considering their different consequences for biodiversity. Second, we review seminal works on various evidence-based management practices and offer a concise summary that provides support for various conservation and management strategies. However, the socio-economic factors that drive both abandonment and intensification in semi-natural grasslands can also be used to develop solutions through strategic governmental and non-governmental interventions. Accordingly, we conclude with a way forward by providing several key policy recommendations. By synthesizing existing knowledge and identifying research gaps, this essay aims to provide valuable insights for advancing the sustainable management of semi-natural grasslands.

Dates et versions

hal-05094173 , version 1 (02-06-2025)

Identifiants

Citer

J. Ryan Shipley, Esther Frei, Ariel Bergamini, Steffen Boch, Tobias Schulz, et al.. Agricultural practices and biodiversity: Conservation policies for semi-natural grasslands in Europe. Current Biology, 2024, 34 (16), pp.R753-R761. ⟨10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.062⟩. ⟨hal-05094173⟩
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