Summary
This systematic review synthesised evidence from 696 peer-reviewed papers (published since 1980) to assess how land use change and management intensification affect the multifunctionality of permanent grasslands across Europe. The authors found that conversion to cropland and increased management intensity both decreased multifunctionality; conversely, lower-intensity management and increased botanical diversity enhanced multiple ecosystem services simultaneously without major trade-offs in production. The findings suggest prioritising protection of permanent grasslands whilst adopting low-intensity management to balance climate, biodiversity and provisioning services.
UK applicability
Given that the United Kingdom is a major permanent grassland user within Europe, these findings are directly applicable to UK agricultural policy and land management. The review's emphasis on protecting permanent grasslands and supporting low-intensity management aligns with emerging UK environmental land management schemes and climate targets, though the tension between reducing ruminant emissions and maintaining grassland ecosystem services requires careful policy navigation.
Key measures
19 grassland ecosystem service indicators; multifunctionality scores; biodiversity metrics; climate regulation; water purification; animal feed quality; species diversity in sward
Outcomes reported
The study examined effects of land use change and management intensity on 19 grassland ecosystem service indicators through systematic literature review of 696 papers. It measured multifunctionality outcomes across biodiversity, climate regulation, water purification, feed production and other services.
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