Session

Central European grasslands are inherently important for the protection of natural resources, climate, and biodiversity. However, especially colline grasslands show extreme losses in biodiversity due to intensification. The landscape in the grassland region of Allgäu (Southern Germany) is dominated by species-poor intensively managed meadows. Farmers are usually well trained and skilled in grassland intensification. Conversely, techniques for restoring species-rich grassland are mainly unknown. Reasons for restoration efforts can be intrinsic motivation or obligations set out by authorities (restoration of lost biotope grassland or FFH meadows (habitat types 6510/20)). The main aim of the project is to develop and disseminate recommendations for restoration actions on farms. The study site is a 3.2 ha meadow near Leutkirch im Allgäu, which was previously managed intensively (6 cuts + fertilizer applications per year for silage production over many years). It was converted into a species-rich meadow by direct wild plant seeding and transfer of species-rich plant material. Methodically, the field was divided into 12 plots of equal size, which include different mowing regimes (two and three cuts), six different cultivation (tilling and harrowing) - and sowing ratios. In addition to the annually recorded hay yields, a monitoring of vegetation and two grassland-typical insect groups evaluates the ecological development of the plots every two years. Extensivation measures resulted in different developments over the years with overall positive results. Restoring the phytocoenosis, typical for the region, takes multiple years and is therefore still ongoing. The biodiversity of typical meadow insects continues to show a substantial positive trend. Despite strong fluctuations in weather conditions (dry summers 2018, 2019 & 2022), yields only fluctuate by -15 to +10 % around annual means. Recommendations for restorations action for species-rich meadows are derived from the results of this long-term study.