How to restore semi-natural grasslands?

Natural grasslands and their diverse community of plants and living creatures came into being in centuries-long processes – they were trodden down by ancient herbivores, they were allowed to flourish by the peasants who mowed and grazed them. How can we restore them? What does the restoration of grasslands require from man and nature? Scientists have concluded that it takes several decades for a homogeneous grassland to become a species-rich natural grassland, during which time it must be specially managed. If the grassland already has the features of a natural grassland, then this time might be shorter. But it will definitely not be a one-summer activity. The grassland is a multi-layered community: it contains both several plant layers and a specific population of living organisms in the soil. It is a whole single system that must also be restored as a coherent whole. The grasslands are different. They are more or less distant from the condition of a natural grassland. Therefore, the methods of their restoration are different – more or less complex. What can we do?

  • Cut down bushes in order to free up space for plants
  • Put out cows, horses or sheep to graze in the grassland or adjust existing carrying capacity – graze more intensively or, conversely, more extensively
  • Sow additional plants of the natural grassland
  • Transplant the sod
  • Perform rototilling, harrowing or leveling the soil, do deep ploughing, remove the topsoil – these are vigorous methods that help reduce soil fertility and combat alien species or expansive species with a deep root system

Our, GrassLIFE, aim is to restore 1320 ha of semi-natural grasslands in Latvia.

Why reduce the fertility of grasslands?

Usually farmers do their best to increase soil fertility. Fertility reduction is often essential for the restoration of semi-natural grasslands. If the soil is too fertile, the strongest plants will become even stronger and suppress the others. Consequently, individual plants will prevail and the diversity of plant community in the grassland will decrease. Have you seen grasslands with lots of red clover, cow parsley, ground elder or stinging nettle, but with few other flowers? This indicates that there is too much nutrient in the soil. Besides, many types of natural grasslands have historically developed precisely in poor soils, and therefore the plant communities in them are in danger of extinction if the grassland soil becomes too fertile.

What and how will GrassLIFE restore?

Project GrassLIFE brings together 12 farms from all across Latvia and experts of Latvian Fund for Nature, University of Latvia and Institute of Environmental Solutions. Together we will restore semi natural grasslands in 14 sites of the Natura 2000 protected areas network. Our aim is to restore 1320 ha of semi-natural grasslands in Latvia. It doesn't seem a lot. However, we have chosen exactly those areas that are most important for conservation of semi-natural grasslands in Latvia. These are locations where semi-natural grasslands are still preserved, and where it is possible to create sufficiently large grassland areas, so they could become islands of life for semi-natural grasslands and leave a lasting impact on conservation of biodiversity. It is also important that there is a connectivity of individual restoration areas, as it ensures the spreading of seeds, the migration of living beings between grasslands and, consequently, the conservation and expansion of grasslands.

The spread of species is the most important process that allows biodiversity to remain in grasslands. Thus species are able to evolve stable, genetically diverse populations. However, semi-natural grassland plant and invertebrate species are not able to travel long distances: plant seeds cover a distance of 300 meters in 5-10 years or even more. Therefore, grasslands must be connected in the landscape – this is the connectivity of the grasslands. But nowadays the opposite process – grassland fragmentation – is becoming more and more widespread both in Latvia and all over the world. Many grasslands are isolated from each other through forests, buildings or intensive agricultural land. Therefore, during the restoration of semi-natural grasslands it is necessary to take into account not only the situation in a particular grassland, but also its connections with other grasslands. Just as in ancient times our ancestors were looking for the brides in outermost villages to make the family genetically diverse and strong, natural grassland also cannot exist in isolation. After completion of the restoration work, it is very important to continue to manage grasslands in a grassland-friendly manner. Extensive grazing is best for our, GrassLIFE, grasslands. Every grassland manager must comply with the principle of not bringing additional nutrients into the grassland with his activities, but allow a grassland to flourish living on the sun and water that naturally reaches it. It means to ensure extensive grazing and mowing, followed by the removal of hay from the grassland. GrassLIFE will further manage the restored grasslands by both grazing and mowing. In order to ensure continuity of semi-natural grassland management after the end of the project, management infrastructure is being created in the areas of GrassLIFE farms – it includes purchase of cattle and equipment and setting up grazing territories.

After completion of the restoration work, it is very important to continue to manage grasslands in a grassland-friendly manner. Extensive grazing is best for our, GrassLIFE, grasslands. Every grassland manager must comply with the principle of not bringing additional nutrients into the grassland with his activities, but allow a grassland to flourish living on the sun and water that naturally reaches it. It means to ensure extensive grazing and mowing, followed by the removal of hay from the grassland. GrassLIFE will further manage the restored grasslands by both grazing and mowing.

In order to ensure continuity of semi-natural grassland management after the end of the project, management infrastructure is being created in the areas of GrassLIFE farms – it includes purchase of cattle and equipment and setting up grazing territories.

Grassland restoration methods:
  • Removal of overgrowth
  • Rotary tillage
  • Harrowing and soil leveling
  • Intensive mowing or grazing
  • Seed transfer
  • Sod transplantation
  • Deep plowing
  • Removal of topsoil