Thursday, July 9, 2026

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Room C1

---

Details

Grasslands are among the most widespread terrestrial ecosystems globally and play a pivotal role in providing essential ecosystem services, and supporting biodiversity, and agricultural production. In Europe, the most valuable semi-natural grasslands are sustained by traditional land-use practices, such as extensive grazing. These systems harbor a rich diversity of plant and animal species and contribute significantly to landscape heterogeneity and ecological resilience. However, over recent decades, profound transformations in agricultural policies and market dynamics have led to substantial changes in land management. Semi-natural grasslands are increasingly threatened by intensification, abandonment or conversion to arable land, resulting in habitat and biodiversity loss and/or degradation. These trends pose a major challenge to the conservation of grassland ecosystems and the services they provide. Despite these pressures, agricultural production and biodiversity conservation are not inherently incompatible. There is growing recognition that well-designed grazing systems can maintain or even enhance biodiversity while supporting viable livestock production. Achieving this balance requires a nuanced understanding of how different grazing regimes influence ecological processes and grassland communities. This symposium seeks to bring together ecologists, agronomists and conservation practitioners to address the complex interactions between grazing practices and biodiversity outcomes. We aim to invite researchers who have conducted empirical studies on the effects of grazing on plant and animal communities across diverse European biogeographic regions. As well as researchers who have explored innovative management strategies and policy frameworks that promote the coexistence of productive grassland farming and biodiversity conservation. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and regions, this symposium will contribute to the development of evidence-based approaches for sustainable grassland management. It will underscore the crucial role of grazing to sustain grassland diversity. And it will also highlight the importance of integrating ecological knowledge into agricultural decision-making to ensure the long-term viability of grassland ecosystems in Europe.

---

Speakers and Presentation Titles

---

Organiser