GrassLife2- Restoring EU priority grassland habitats and building a new narrative for their management

Narrative

The GrassLIFE2 project aims to address the declining trend of all grassland habitats of EU importance in Latvia, which are currently in an unfavourable conservation status due to a long-term neglect of semi-natural grassland habitats. The project is a continuation of the successful GrassLIFE project, which restored 1,320 ha of EU priority grassland habitats in fourteen Natura 2000 sites. GrassLIFE2 will upscale this work by implementing a package of actions, including best-practice restoration, testing, and fine-tuning innovative restoration methods, and promoting multiple use of grasslands. The project targets five priority grassland habitats of EU importance and will restore 1,260 ha of EU priority habitats in eleven Natura 2000 sites. The project directly supports the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive and EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and aims to improve the conservation status of grassland habitats in Latvia while promoting sustainable grassland use and increasing public awareness of their importance. Through GrassLIFE2, the project partners aim to tackle the major factors that have led to the unfavourable conservation status of grassland habitats in Latvia, including lack of capacity and means for restoration and management, lack of practical knowledge on restoration, and lack of political will and financial incentives for grasslands. The project will establish a long-term sustainable management system for restored grassland areas and prepare recommendations for improving their conservation status and connectivity. It will also improve the economics aspect of sustainable grassland use, promoting multiple use of grasslands. By replicating the direct restoration impact to other EU countries and in Latvia, and through targeted communication and public awareness efforts, GrassLIFE2 aims to contribute to the preservation of priority grasslands in Latvia and the EU.

Financial data

Total Eligible Budget: 7,514,242 €

EU Contribution: 5,635,674 €

EU Funding Percentage = 74% 1/01/2023 - 31/12/2028

Recommendations

•   Invest in the restoration and management of semi-natural grassland habitats across the EU to improve the conservation status of these habitats and promote sustainable grassland use.
•   Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of restoration activities to measure the success of projects in improving the conservation status of target habitats.
•   Promote the use of innovative restoration methods and best practices to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of grassland restoration projects.
•   Support the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive and EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 through targeted restoration and conservation efforts for priority grassland habitats.
•   Increase public awareness about the importance of preserving grassland habitats and promote multiple use of grasslands to improve their economic viability while protecting biodiversity.