Grünland kann was! Und was können wir für Grünland tun? Erkenntnisse aus dem inter-und transdisziplinären Forschungsprojekt Grassworks

Species-rich grassland provides essential ecosystem services but has suffered significant quantitative and qualitative losses in Central Europe. Protection and restoration of these grasslands are therefore major challenges. The research project 'Grassworks' studied methods and framework conditions for successful restoration and management on 187 dry to moderately moist sites in Germany. Success indicators were the diversity of plants, butterflies, and wild bees. The best results were achieved by using species-rich material from ancient grasslands and regional seeds from certified wild seed propagation. Management adaptations alone without active species introduction achieved moderate success, while standard seed mixtures resulted in species-poor vegetation. For the study areas, agricultural and economic aspects (including potential trade-offs) were surveyed as well. In addition, landscape conservation associations, land users, and local stakeholders were asked about their experience in restoring and managing species-rich grasslands. In real-world laboratories, restoration projects were planned and collaboratively tested. The following prerequisites for successful restoration of species-rich grassland were derived from the project results: (i) recognition by society of the importance of grassland and the public goods provided by agriculture, (ii) improved knowledge transfer, (iii) the broadest possible range of measures in restoring and managing species-rich grassland, (iv) simplification of application procedures, (v) securing value chains, and (vi) the promotion of sustainable economic practices.