New Release

Grasslands in Europe of high nature value

Edited by P. Veen, R. Jefferson, J. de Smidt and J. van der Straaten (2009)

KNNV Publishing, 320 pages

ISBN 9789050113168

Grasslands are an important part of European nature, sustaining about 50% of the endemic plant species of Europe. They are (part of) the habitat of a wealth of animal species, among which a large proportion is officially listed as vulnerable or endangered with extinction. Most of European grasslands are part of traditional agricultural landscapes. Modern agriculture, however, is a threat to the survival of biodiverse grasslands across the whole of Europe.

Biodiversity-rich grasslands are still quite common in the Central and Eastern European countries. In other regions in Europe, these grasslands are much more localised or mainly found in protected areas. Since the 1990’s, biodiversity-rich grasslands obtained a special status as ‘High Nature Value Areas’ (HNV areas), receiving increased attention in the EU agricultural policy.

The book presents 24 geographic case studies in which an international team of experts describe the large variety of grasslands in Europe, ranging from the grasslands of Gotland and Öland (Sweden) to the Spanish Dehesas, and from the hay meadows of the British Pennine Dales to the steppes of Turkish Anatolia. Not forgetting the grasslands in the different mountainous regions in Europe, each with their large number of endemics. Each case study gives information on typical plant and animal communities, the cultural and agricultural context in which they evolved and the threats they are facing today. Measures are suggested for revalorisation, maintenance or restoration of these ecological valuable grasslands. The accessible text is accompanied by a wealth of beautiful colour photos, graphs and maps.

The 24 case studies are preceded by thematic chapters on the history of agriculture, the fauna of grasslands, the grassland communities, and the connection between grasslands and climate. The final part of the book analyses the opportunities and risks of EU policy to conserve these grasslands. It offers a farmer-centred outlook to manage and to maintain the European grasslands of high nature value for future generations.

With its comprehensive approach the publication of this book may be considered a milestone event in the communication on the ecological and cultural importance of European grassland ecosystems. It can be warmly recommended for every body involved in or concerned with the subject. Hopefully it can contribute to halt the ongoing loss of semi-natural and natural grasslands in Europe. When you open the book, you don’t need to be an expert to get enthusiastic about this aim!

Kris Decleer

May 2010

• September 2008 - New release: Ecological Restoration in Flanders. Edited by Kris Decleer, Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Belgium

Flanders is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and consequently its natural environment has been under large pressure. Ecological restoration has become more and more important in the Flemish nature conservation policy during the last two decades. In this beautifully illustrated book the results of 40 nature restoration projects in Flanders, both successes and failures, are discussed.

Many projects prove that ecological restoration can really work and deliver results up or even beyond expectations. On the other hand some critical reflections remain necessary. The major points of attention for a succesful future restoration strategy are:

-         In densely populated regions it is beneficial to strive for mutual win-win projects with other forms of land use such as water management, military use, recreation, harbours, agriculture.

-         Prior to the execution of measures in the field, it is crucial to pin-point the ecological constraints (especially abiotics) and subsequent objectives and necessary measures on a scientific basis.

-         In order to enlarge public support for ecological restoration an appropriate communication strategy needs to be implemented from the beginning, besides instruments to compensate for any individual income loss.

-         More efforts are needed for monitoring afterwards, in order to increase knowledge and enable the proper adjustments if necessary

Reference: Decleer,K. (ed.) (2008). Ecological Restoration in Flanders (Belgium). Mededelingen van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek INBO.M.2008.04, 160 pp. ISBN 978-90-403-0278-7.

The book can be ordered through the following link (13 euro incl. postage costs)

• New international postgraduate MSc programme "Landscape ecology and nature conservation" at the University of Greifswald (Germany) from 1 October 2007. This two-year programme is directed at postgraduates and graduates with practical work experience. The application deadline is 15 July 2007. For further information, visit http://www.botanik.uni-greifswald.de/msclenc/ or download this flyer.

• March 2007 - SER Europe concerned about the future of the prestine Rospuda valley mire in Poland. Read the letter of concern. More information: http://www.imcg.net/

• January 2007 – New release: “Handbook near-natural re-vegetation of raw soil.” More information on this new manual is available in this pdf document and on the http://www.surenet.info website. 

• September 2006 -- Elise Buisson, Associate Professor in Avignon University (IUT, Department of Biological Engineering) from the ecological restoration team (UMR CNRS 6116) , has just published a book from her Ph. D thesis entitled «Ecological restoration of Mediterranean grasslands in Provence and Californa » realised with the supervision of Pr. Thierry Dutoit.and Pr Karen Holl (Univ. Santa Cruz, USA) This book is available free of charge : thierry.dutoit@univ-avignon.fr

 Ecological restoration of Mediterranean grasslands in Provence and California.

Disturbances and resilience are major factors in ecosystem dynamics. The first objective of this work was to assess the resilience of plant communities after anthropogenic exogenous disturbances. The absence or low long-term resilience of the ecosystems studied suggested that they were dysfunctional. The second objective of this thesis was thus to isolate several factors to better understand the whole functioning of these ecosystems. Perennial grassland species were planted in degraded ecosystems and environmental factors were manipulated. In both the Mediterranean areas studied, seed emergence was low, suggesting that transplanting may be a better option to reintroduce perennial species to degraded ecosystems. Survival and establishment of sowed Nassella pulchra and the other transplanted species were greatly enhanced by habitat manipulation. In La Crau, stone cover should be restored, and sheep stocking rates and arable weed competition reduced. In California, exotic annual competition should drastically be reduced and topsoil removal looked like a promising method to achieve this.

Link: http://www.iut.univ-avignon.fr/recherche/imep/index.html

Click here to see the cover of the book (1.7MB!).

More information on the ecological restoration team can be found here. 

• September 2006 -- New release: "New Nature in Northeast Germany. A field guide". This guide describes 9 restoration sites in NE Germany in 123 pages and is beautifully illustrated with many coloured figures and photographs. Price is € 9,8 + € 4 for shipping and handling. It is available from

• July 2006 -- Decision support system for the restoration of sea dunes and raised bogs

The Radboud University of Nijmegen (Netherlands) and partners developed a decision support system for the restoration of sea dunes and raised bogs.  It is very useful for the planning and execution of restoration projects for these habitat types. Ecological knowledge and practical experiences of 130 site-managers and scientists from 13 countries were implemented. This decision support system is now available on the internet site of the project: www.barger.science.ru.nl/life. There you can also find the reports, powerpoint presentations and pictures of the two workshops that were held during this project.

Please use the decision support system in practice and send your suggestions for improvements, questions, useful literature, missing knowledge, and practical examples to Gert-Jan van Duinen

(G.vanDuinen@science.ru.nl). We are looking forward to your response!

• September 2005 -- New book on restoration ecology