Permanent Grassland Typology for European Ecosystem Services

This policy brief introduces a new European permanent grassland (PG) typology based on eight primary and 19 secondary indicators, including defoliation, fertilisation, renewal frequency, and productivity. Developed from multi-national stakeholder surveys, it classifies PGs by management intensity, ecosystem service potential, and habitat diversity—covering productive, marginal, shrub- and tree-influenced, and non-managed areas. The typology supports field- and regional-scale assessment, aligns with the European Nature Information System and Natura 2000 habitats, and enables improved policy communication, monitoring, and sustainable management. It is recommended for adoption across EU member states to inform decision-making and ecosystem service evaluation.