How much grazing livestock do Europe’s semi-natural habitats need? New EEA report and briefing published

Resources & Knowledge Base
1

Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in conservation grazing, habitat restoration and extensive livestock systems.

A new report published by the European Environment Agency highlights the critical role of extensive livestock systems in maintaining Europe’s biodiversity-rich semi-natural habitats — many of which depend on continued low-intensity grazing to survive.

A core element of the study is the attempt to estimate the grazing needs of these habitats in order to approximate the total number of livestock needed across the EU for their long-term management and conservation. To do this, experts from across Europe were consulted on suitable stocking densities for habitats linked to extensive farming and grazing. These expert estimates were then combined with habitat area data reported by Member States under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive.

The report also discusses how grazing management needs to be adapted to habitat type, local productivity and conservation objectives, and how extensive grazing can contribute not only to biodiversity conservation, but also to wildfire prevention, landscape management and climate resilience.

:blue_book: Report:
“Managing and restoring semi-natural habitats – a review of the links with extensive grazing systems”

:page_facing_up: Related EEA briefing:

“Extensive livestock systems and Europe’s nature”