What future for permanent grassland areas in a mixed crop-livestock territory?

This study uses the spatially explicit Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) dataset (Registre Parcellaire Graphique) from 2006 to 2010 to assess net changes in permanent grassland in the Niort Plain. The authors quantify land-use conversions affecting grassland and analyze whether grassland loss is concentrated in farms undergoing parcel restructuring. Results reveal a modest but continuous reduction in grassland areas across all farms, with over 90% of permanent grasslands remaining in their original location. When conversions occurred, grasslands were replaced by three main cash crops or temporary grasses. Farms with stable parcel structures retained grasslands more effectively, indicating that farm strategy and local support measures jointly influence grassland persistence.