Grassland management for biodiversity in Europe

Grassland management in European permanent grasslands reverses biodiversity loss from intensified practices since the 1970s. Strategies include varied grazing and cutting, reduced nitrogen, native species oversowing, and habitat creation like hedgerows and wildflower margins. Native plants such as *Rhinanthus* and *Silene flos-cuculi* enhance plant-insect interactions and support pollinators. Trials in Hungary and Poland show improved biomass and species richness within three years. EU policy shifts under Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and CAP reforms promote ecosystem service payments, supporting moderate-input, multi-species grasslands for biodiversity and landscape resilience.