The potential of land-use extensification as grassland restoration tool

The potential of land-use extensification as grassland restoration tool | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 26 March 2025 V1 View latest version Share on The potential of land-use extensification as grassland restoration tool Authors : Falk-Rudhard Schreiner 0009-0006-7407-1153 [email protected] , Norbert Hölzel , Ute Hamer , Judith Hinderling , Veronika Irmscher , Nahid Rasouli Paeenroudposhti , Luis Daniel Prada-Salcedo , Daniel Prati , Selma Vieira , and Lena Neuenkamp Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174301727.75757946/v1 501 views 181 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract 1. Land-use extensification could be a straightforward restoration strategy to reverse grassland degradation. However, the potential of extensification to achieve comprehensive restoration goals is still unclear and may depend on site-specific conditions. 2. We used a land-use reduction experiment (45 grasslands within three German regions) to measure extensification response for a broad set of parameters related to abiotic conditions, taxonomic and functional diversity and community composition of plants and soil microbes, and ecosystem functioning and services. For each parameter, we analysed the variation in extensification response between regions and along a gradient of pre-extensification land-use intensity. To evaluate extensification effects we applied a new framework that provides a comprehensive perspective on ecosystem restoration by incorporating multiple restoration goals. The framework assigns indicators to each goal and sets targets against which goal achievement can be assessed. 3. After three years of extensification, we found notable response in light and microsites availability along with clear effects on plant community taxonomic and functional composition, probably as a result of the altered biomass removal regime in extensified plots, but only weak effects on soil properties and nutrient availability paired with missing effects on soil microbes and soil-related functions. For some parameters, extensification effects varied strongly between regions, along the gradient of pre-extensification land-use intensity or were mediated by an interaction of both. The observed pattern of effects suggests a temporal ordering of extensification response cascading from abiotic conditions, taxonomic and functional diversity and composition to ecosystem functions and services. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that short-term extensification measures in grassland may be not particularly efficient in achieving comprehensive restoration goals. These findings call for policies that should be designed to promote a long-term reduction in grassland management intensity on constant areas, rather than short-term measures such as the ‘Eco-schemes’ implemented in current European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the outstanding importance of context in predicting extensification response and in identifying circumstances where extensification may be an appropriate measure. Supplementary Material File (the potential of land-use extensification as grassland restoration tool 20250326.pdf) Download 1.53 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 26 March 2025 V2 Version 2 14 April 2025 V3 Version 3 12 August 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License Keywords context dependence extensification grassland restoration holistic evaluation land-use intensity Authors Affiliations Falk-Rudhard Schreiner 0009-0006-7407-1153 [email protected] Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster View all articles by this author Norbert Hölzel Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster View all articles by this author Ute Hamer Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster View all articles by this author Judith Hinderling Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern View all articles by this author Veronika Irmscher Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resources Management, Justus Liebig University View all articles by this author Nahid Rasouli Paeenroudposhti Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research View all articles by this author Luis Daniel Prada-Salcedo Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research View all articles by this author Daniel Prati Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern View all articles by this author Selma Vieira Leibniz Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany View all articles by this author Lena Neuenkamp Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Germany View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 501 views 181 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Falk-Rudhard Schreiner, Norbert Hölzel, Ute Hamer, et al. The potential of land-use extensification as grassland restoration tool. Authorea . 26 March 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174301727.75757946/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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